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Detroit Bailout: MARDU Speaks
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MARDU , one of our most popular contributing writers, in previous articles has reminded us what time it is in America; he’s shared his expressed his anger over 700 billion dollars to save the financial markets; In October, when most of us were expecting a surprise, he told us of his optimism. Today MARDU tells us what he thinks of the American auto industry and what he thinks should be done if the government gives more money to the companies...and now MARDU speaks.
The decades old arrogance of America’s auto-makers, has finally come home to roost.
Since I was a child in the middle-ages, Detroit has treated its clientele like chattels. Dragging buyers around by the nose, incrementally up-scaling its products to increase revenue in its captive market.
After WWII, you’ll remember it, It was in all the papers. Europeans began to invade the market with low cost autos with tiny more fuel efficient power plants and Spartan accommodations. They were largely ignored by Detroit as a nuisance. Over the years we have seen the Japanese and now other Asian sources capture a large slice of the domestic auto market. Still, Detroit ignored the hand-writing on the wall, billboards, the news, and the American roads.
Now they are in the toilet as America feels the pinch of global fuel prices from which they have enjoyed immunity as our dependence on imported petroleum has escalated three-fold. If the auto industry is to survive, It will require propping up, by the tax-payers.
I believe it is essential that we do this. When we do, whatever is loaned to them must carry with it enforceable caveats with respect to what they must do to come along into the 21st century with the rest of our crumbling planet. Draconian fuel efficiency requirements must be attached to any bail-out, along with restrictions on green-house gas emissions.
In short, they must re-take the leadership and produce a basically electric fleet, perhaps fueled by Hydrogen fuel cells. The technologies for this exist now. It will also require a distribution system for Hydrogen, which will create new jobs. The love affair with performance can be satisfied , since electro-motive systems will be capable of far better performance than the century old internal combustion technology.
Currently a high performance fully electric state-of the-art roadster, the Tesla, is available. This unit goes like a rocket, because of the inherent superiority of electric drive systems and accelerates to 60mph in under 6 seconds it has a range over 200 miles, and it lithium-ion battery pack is rechargeable in 3.5 hours. It is priced at $109,000, but the company promises a competitively priced sports sedan in 2010.
If this smells like creeping socialism, too bad! The free markets and un-restrained capitalistic greed have led us to the abyss in which we find ourselves. Socialism is a fete accompli. The bankers have been awarded a un-restricted free ride; The larcenous traitors who created this mess must be held to account. The new administration must enact Draconian restraints and over-sight on the bailout of the banking system as well as any aid to the auto industry.
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