June 2009 archive

Ridiculous, outrageous, intolerable… there are a host of adjectives – some much more colorful than the mere Chinese curse of “Interesting Times” – that could be used to describe the current state of affairs in the United States as well as the rest of the world. But the best description I’ve ever heard about the general situation came to me by way of a now-retired foreign service officer who at the time was Deputy Undersecretary of State for Peacekeeping (ha!) during the Balkan ugliness, not long after the demise of the old USSR.

I asked, at my father’s funeral, which was the first time I’d seen him in years, “How’s the world situation?” He answered immediately and without hesitation or even a trace of irony:

“Desperate, as usual.”

No, it wasn’t just incurable barbarians in Bosnia or Croatia or Whateverstan or deepest, darkest Africa that he was talking about, as incurable barbarians waging pointless genocidal wars against their one-time friends, neighbors and countrymen in obscure corners of the globe is something that has been endemic throughout the entirety of history and will probably keep right on going as far into the future as human beings dare to look. It was a very pointed indictment of the craft this man practiced – as a certifiable ‘expert’ functionary in the wider world – for We Who Rule The World. And cause, fix or maintain the situations. The world situation is desperate, as usual, because it’s kept that way on purpose.

…the better to control you with, my dear.

When I started writing on blogs, like many others, I used a pseudonym in order to protect my identity.  Living in South Carolina, and having an anti-Republican mindset, my opinions could have opened my family up for retribution from employers, neighbors, and the occasional psychotic.

I “outed” myself for two main reasons; first, I really stopped caring if people knew who I was or not, and second, if I was going to change anything, than it had to come from me, not from an internet moniker.

One:  The real roots of the auto crisis.

Listening to Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren talk about auto woes last week left David Cole grinding his teeth.  So, too, about a dozen other national reporters and anchors who have called the usually mild-mannered expert in recent weeks for his wisdom on the trials and tribulations of the Detroit Three and broader auto industry.

Cole, a scientist and engineer by training, is chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, MI.  He has been seen on nearly every national TV news program explaining the challenges and perils of the troubled automotive industry.  He says the local media is well-informed as are some at the national level who are assigned to cover autos.  “It’s when you get to the general national media that things fall apart.”

Cole said, “This entire conversation is about the industrial future of our country.  The  auto crisis is not a result of a management problem, but is attributable to the massive collapse of financial markets.

And not having a true national energy policy.

And that most automakers around the world have received aid from their governments.

America is the only one that has not supported its manufacturers — that is, until recently.  

Cole added that it isn’t only some journalists who don’t get it.  

“Too many people are listening to what these experts and pundits are saying, and it isn’t only hurting Detroit, but the nation,” he said.  –snip–

“Of all the industrialized countries in the world, we are the only country that does not understand the role manufacturing plays in our economy,” Cole said. “It is so important in our economy … and it is right on the edge of a cliff.”

He added: “If GM doesn’t make it through this bankruptcy in a surgical way, this will be a catastrophe for Detroit and the nation.”

So now that our government is supporting US autos, how’s that going?