Posted at LP blog by Donny Ferguson. Reposted to IPR by Paulie.
In his weekly Atlanta Journal-Constitution column, 2008 Libertarian Party presidential nominee Congressman Bob Barr takes the Obama administration to task for its innovation-killing government takeover of General Motors.
You may read the entire column by clicking here, or at http://www.BobBarr.org.
Ronald Reagan once quipped —- not altogether in jest —- that the nine most frightening words in the English language were, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” To these nine might be added 11 words spoken by President Barack Obama in his March 30 news conference announcing the terms under which the federal government would now be effectively running General Motors and Chrysler: “Starting today, the United States government will stand behind your warranty.”
Boy, if there were ever a reassuring statement, Obama’s from last week would be right on the money —- a statement signifying that an organization which has run up debt faster and to greater levels than any government in peacetime, and which is utterly unable and unwilling to balance its books, would be standing behind the warranty on my Dodge Magnum…
…And poor Chrysler. This venerable company formerly headed by Lee Iacocca, and whose muscle cars once ruled America’s freeways and racetracks, has been placed in the unenviable position of negotiating with Italian carmaker Fiat under an Obama-imposed deadline of 30 days or face bankruptcy. In those negotiations, who would you rather be —- Chrysler or Fiat?…
…In this new age of government-run businesses, in which bureaucrats tell us what cars we can have, what light bulbs we can use and which toilets we can flush, it is likely that Encyclopedia Britannica’s future editions of the world’s “great inventions” will not only be considerably shortened, but contain far fewer American entries.
Bob Barr, an Atlanta attorney, is a former Georgia congressman and Libertarian Party presidential candidate.
Michael,
I realize you are a bit challenged, but I have a surprise for you: Those mid-size sedan cars can drive just as fast as your mustang, because we all have the same, rather well enforced in most places, speed limits.
Mind you, on most of our Massachusetts interstates, ability to drive fast is not much of an issue, on account all lanes are adequately full.
George, driving a muscle car isn’t about comfort. That’s what overpriced luxury cars are for. Driving a muscle car is about pure power and speed. Gimme a ’69 Mustang Mach I with the 428 Cobra Jet V8 any day, and strap in, because you gonna go places real fast! 🙂
I still don’t see the problem with the ad. As a matter of fact our County Libertarian Party is planning a strong turnout at one being held here, as are several other Counties across the state at their “local” teaparties.
We are shooting for June or July for state convention.
Steve has said “To be clear, I’ve not joined the Republican Party, but am working with the libertarian caucus affiliated with it.”
He also has, as far as I know, indicated no intention of resigning from the LP national platform committee.
The ad George is referring to:
The Tea Party Ad in question, which is at the Gordon web site, specifically says that health care is the industry Obama will wreck next…after talking about the car industry.
I an sorry if I created confusion between the full Barr article not seen here, which I did not discuss, and the item on the Gordon web site, which is just plain nuts.
And I have nothing against Dixecrats. They are fine Republicans, and serve to remind Americans of what Republicans are really like. Mind you, I would continue to defend their freedom of speech even if they were not using it to shoot their party in the feet, but they are, so I will cheer them on.
With respect to Bryan’s comment that the Government should not be telling companies what to do, I agreee; the correct point is “Obama should not have given these morons money”. But he did, and like any large investor, he has an interest in getting what is quite literally our money (I mailed the ^*&&^(*^ income *)(&)^ tax checks yesterday) back. Mind you, I would not bet that we will ever see the cash again.
The Chrysler-Fix It Again, Tony merger statement from Obama was not ‘do it’, it was actually “if you don’t we will stop giving you money”. That’s a feeble step in the right direction, at least if he carries out his threat.
Note that Ford declined to kiss government backside.
You are correct on one point, though, I do object to people who go over to the Republicans *and* continue to chair our state party organizations. There’s an ethics issue here, and I will continue to blow the whistle on them.
Having said that, I do not object to Eric Dondero being honest about being a Republican. That’s honesty. By the way, Eric, if you read this, congratulations on recruiting the hopefully-soon-to-be-former chair of our Alabama state party into your party. I am sorry to lose a libertarian to your party, but I see no reason not to be polite when have earned the compliment.
Now, now. The eminent Dr Phillies is too busy looking for Dixiecrats under his bed to be bothered reading the articles he rants about.
The Tea Party website mentions five things regarding the auto industry…
1-Obama is “trying to take over the auto industry. (I am sure he and his supporters would disagree, but this is essentially what he is doing.)
2-Obama “more or less fired GM CEO Rick Wagoner.” (I’ve not seen anyone dispute his departure occurred due to government “pressure”.)
3-Obama “even tried to appoint a “car czar”. (At least this didn’t happen, but he did try.)
4-Obama “has ordered” a Chrysler/Fiat merger. (Although I have not seen anything specifying an order, I have seen comments made that would be considered something just this side of an order.)
5-Obama says “…our auto company’s may go bankrupt anyway.” I have seen statements that basically said this.
I don’t think the government should be dictating who corporate boards can or cannot have at the head of their company.
I don’t think the government should interfere with the operations/strategy of a company.
The government should never have started bailouts in the first place. Businesses “go under” everyday, some large, some small, if this is to be their fate, so be it. The operative word in “#5” is may, I have seen comments that if they jump through the right hoops, and operate in a way acceptable to the government, we…may not…have seen the end of auto bailouts.
The Barr article, the original topic, pointed out the regulations that started some of the auto companies woes. The Tea Party ad, pointed out Obama’s desire to “control” the American auto industry. There are many, many issues which fall in between, for example poor management decisions and even worse labor negotiations.
But, George, it really appears that you have a problem with the people behind the articles and websites…and are looking for points to hit them with.
Oh, and although my “fast car” phase is 25 years behind me…if you ran the car I had at the “legal speed limit”…you weren’t doing it right…
Mr. Gordon is now in the leadership of the Alabama Republican Liberty Caucus http://alrlc.org/ as can be seen by searching their web pages.
Bryan, go to the point I referenced, which is not the Barr article but the YouTube clip at the Gordon Unleashed site http://www.gordonunleashed.com/blog/ The sentence “The Tea Party folks who are claiming that the near financial mess in Detroit is the fault of President Obama ” is a reference to the tea party folks. They are quite explicit about asking which is the next industry Obama will wreck.
Incidentally, I did once drive a Mustang. It was the most miserably uncomfortable driving experience I can recall. It did however, drive the same legal speed limit as my current far more comfortable Camry (made in Tennessee, iirc) or my contemporary Audi 100 LS (1975 model).
I notice that George makes no mention of how Chrysler is being all but forced into a merger with Fiat, or how he pushed for the head of GM to resign, or any number of practices which are NOT the place of the President of the United States.
I have plenty of issues with Bob Barr, don’t get me wrong. But I’m pretty much in agreement with him on this. Step away from the business, and if they fail, they fail. It’s just a fact of life and business. Some thrive, some fail. It always will be.
You must not have read the entire article. Barr stated that… “While Obama can hardly be blamed for initiating the process …”
You may not like him, but if you’re going to trash him, at least read the whole article.
You also devoted two paragraphs to the muscle car statement. Give me a break, government regulation was the prime reason for their demise, along with higher gas prices. I really couldn’t see where you were going with these two paragraphs. (I would like to say, if you ever get the chance to drive one of the muscle cars, go for it. I had a bored out 351 Mustang, that thing would fly…but only got about 8-10 mpg, making it less than cost efficient in todays world.)
How exactly is gordonunleashed now “a Republican site”? I’m not sure what exactly you refer to.
Evidence supporting the claim that the Feds would be challenged to runa car company…which theya re not doing..is the former Congressman here proposing that it was a positive feature of Chrysler that “…whose muscle cars once ruled America’s freeways and racetracks…”
Let me offer a few clues: #1) The race track cars are stock cars in name only. It was long notorious that “stock” car racing was a cash sink that chewed up vast amounts of engineering talent and money that might otherwise have gone into, oh, for example, improving reliability of cars that people actually bought.
#2) Those sports cars have the same speed limits as everyone else. Of course, there is a reason that funny color is known as “Arrest Me Red” but it’s not that the huge horsepower actually gave you cars you can drive faster on real roads, especially not real roads filled shoulder to shoulder with Camrys, Accords, and Kias.
For real humor, go to the GordonUnleashed site — it’s now a Republican site, raising yet more questions about whether we had a Republican takeover last year — and look at the Tea Party ad. The Tea Party folks who are claiming that the near financial mess in Detroit is the fault of President Obama — guys it happened while Obama was a Senator and before that a practicing lawyer — really do mush to remind real Libertarians that there are reasons why the Republican Party is said to be the Party of Stupid.
George
Who wants to unite the Republican Party — with the Whigs, the Federalists, and the Know-Nothings.