Jennifer Rubin, who’s quickly emerging as one of the conservative movements most important voices, today sites a George Will editorial which considers just this. Says Rubin:
The problem with government gobbling up private firms, controlling more of the country’s resources, raising taxes and nationalizing healthcare — quite apart from any attachment one may have to individual freedom — is that the public holds government responsible for more and more of what goes wrong. And if the record of European governments in delivering jobs, prosperity, and innovative healthcare is less than sterling, it might give you a picture of the current misguided scheme. The more the government does, the more the voters will have to complain to and about the government. (Complain loudly, if the AIG fiasco is any guide.)
At the very least, the statist micro-management approach to governance is a leap of faith. It has no record of ever succeeding. But I’m sure the Obama team has it all figured out
And Will says:
The two best-selling vehicles in America this year are large pickup trucks (Ford F-Series and Chevy Silverado). In February, Toyota sold 13,600 Tundra and Tacoma pickups and 7,232 Priuses. It sells the Prius at a loss, which it can afford to do because it makes pots of money selling pickups. Has the Car Designer in Chief, a.k.a. the president, considered the possibility that what he calls “the cars of tomorrow” will forever be that?
His administration cannot be faulted for failing to do well what cannot be done well — industrial policy, wherein the political class, with negligible experience in commerce, flounders. The administration can, however, be faulted for trying. The government’s wallow in the automobile industry, under this and the previous administration, merits a hockey coach’s evaluation of his team: “Every day you guys look worse and worse. And today you played like tomorrow.”
If Rubin and Will are correct, its further evidence that Obama has no interest in saving GM but it is two other things he cannot tell you about. First, its to reward and protect a voting constituency and bankroller of Democrat candidates. Second, it is to strongarm an industry into only making a type of vehicle he prefers.
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This post was written by bobsikes on April 4, 2009
