Big vs Small Gov't [Derailed SurGen thread] - Page 3

On July 14 2009 08:33 Grommit wrote:


You could actually argue that the CAFE standards were the government's way of trying to get the American auto industry back on track. The CAFE standards aimed to help improve fuel economy, which was actually a very good idea considering the tension between America and the oil-producing nations of the world today. Asian made cars such as Honda, Hyundai, etc. adapted to the market and were very successful. These companies are subject to the same penalties if their cars are sold in the United States, yet they don't pay any, while American companies pay huge sums in penalty fees. Now you're telling me that it's the government's fault that these companies couldn't adapt to the changing market and political landscape?

You really think the Escalade and similar cars that are profitable now are going to be the American cars of the future? If you honestly think that, then you are right and the CAFE standards are out of place. The fact is, oil isn't going to be around forever, and America is not the country that controls it's production. In that sense, CAFE is encouraging companies to think ahead and develop alternative energy or higher-mileage cars so America won't be stuck paying the OPEC nations 6 dollars a gallon for our 10-MPG Hummers in 10 years

Edit: I'm not saying that all government run programs and ideas are wonderful..in fact..most of them aren't...I was just trying to make a point that sometimes private industry can be just as stupid...kind of de-railed the thread =\

On July 14 2009 08:42 Aegraen wrote:


Increasing costs to produce cars mandated by a bloated government overstepping it's constitutional bounds, coupled with shitty cars = failed business. What happens? They don't let it fail! So, more of our money is thrown down the toilet and flushed away, and worse yet, 9 months into FY09 we're 1.1Trillion in the hole and expected to climb higher, and for FY10 expected to be even higher than 09.

You know what you let happen to a business with a bad business model? You let them fail. Leaner, smarter, more financial capable businesses will popup in their place.

Not only that, in order to comply with CAFE standards the car makers were forced to use lighterweight materials which in turn caused increased fatalities that otherwise would not have occurred. Oh yes, lovely government at work.

Asian made cars are more successful because they are better built, PERIOD.

On July 14 2009 08:47 Grommit wrote:


As of last year, there were more than 239,000 American's employed by Detroit's "Big 3." Letting them go bankrupt and letting 239,000 people get laid off isn't necessarily a good idea either.

I think we may just have to agree to disagree on this one

On July 14 2009 11:03 aRod wrote:
Before people utter anymore weight nonse understand that weight is LARGELY genetic. Adoptions studies have been done putting children from fat parents in the hands of skinny parents and children from skinny parents in the hands of fat parents. The environmental upbringing had almost no influence on the childrens resulting adult weight. The children born from fat parents became fat and the children born of skinny parents became skinny. Genetics largely wins. There are a whole host of physiologic and metabolic factors that contribute to weight that cannot be controlled. Appetite for instance. Have you ever found yourself wandering around the kitchen just looking at food even though you KNOW everything that is in the fridge. You may have just ate, but yet there you are staring at your food. I find myself doing this all the time. The drive to eat isn't entirely in the realm of conscious throught. I say people litterally can't control their hunger or their resulting eating much less the behavior leading to the process.


Buddha looks different depending on where you are. By all realistic standards, he was actually a stick figure.