Posted on 06/07/2011 8:23:45 AM PDT by Lazlo in PA
Detroit — General Motors Co. CEO Dan Akerson wants the federal gas tax boosted as much as $1 a gallon to nudge consumers toward more fuel-efficient cars, and he's confident the government will soon shed its remaining 26 percent stake in the once-bankrupt automaker.
"I actually think the government will be out this year — within the next 12 months, hopefully within the next six months," Akerson said in a two-hour interview with The Detroit News last week.
He is grateful for the government's rescue of GM — "I have nothing but good things to say about them" — but Akerson said the time for that relationship to end is coming because it's wearing on GM.
“It’s kind of like your in-laws: It was a nice long weekend. We didn’t say a week,” Akerson said with a laugh.
And while he is eager to say goodbye to the government as a part owner of GM, Akerson would like to see it step up to the challenge of setting a higher gas tax, as part of a comprehensive energy policy.
A government-imposed tax hike, Akerson believes, will prompt more people to buy small cars and do more good for the environment than forcing automakers to comply with higher gas-mileage standards.
(Excerpt) Read more at investmentwatchblog.com ...
I will never buy GM again either.
That is what is incredible with this idiots push for higher gas prices. What says that folks are going to buy his stuff? Most people are going to buy their economy cars from people who know how to build cheap econo-boxes. Overseas.
Naw. I’d prefer to see the CEO’s of major car companies taxed at a 99.9999% level.
It is painful.
LLS
Well, when you’re sucking at the ol’ government teat, higher taxes are a win.
Until the teat runs dry.
Just ask any citizen of the former Soviet Union.
I will never buy a new US vehicle ....
The uaw an their socialist handlers can kiss my butt.
And isn’t price fixing against the law ?
Ooooops sorry. I thought the law might apply to this band of criminals.
This is nightmare that just won’t end IMO.
Stay Safe....
Ford cancelled Mercury in a way to make Ford healthier when they were restructuring, without Gov’t help. If GM would have cleaned house years ago like this instead of looking for Obama help, they would be making a profit now instead of circling the drain.
The other part of this marxist plan is that Joe Six-pack will be buying that Cruze for what a suburban now costs. That is the easiest way for the government to steal the private wealth of the middle class euro style. Pay more get less.
He can’t sell the disaster known as the Chevy Volt to anyone with a brain, little wonder the government and GE(a branch of the government) will buy them.
Cheap energy is what is needed, not phony green energy and small cars.
like 'falling' and not hitting the ground, or 'running' and the slow moving zombies still gain ground, or when ya finnally shoot em, the bullet just bounce of kinda nightmares ???
uAW aside, i give props to Ford for re-structuring and biting the bullet several yrs ago and saving their bottom line, at substantial cost in the process...gubmint motors and cries-ler, not so much...
ive never had new vehicle, and looks like i never will, especially micro junk with black box systems mandated...
$1/gallon tax hike ??? Bite me !!!
Could it be that he is admiting GM can't meet the hew standards?
... yeah, but now we get to and HAVE to pay for both conspiring against us. Now we have Government Motors as the gubermint. No longer a force pushing the government or wrestling with the government. Now its them against us.
I see the CEO of Governtment Motors is just another Champaign Socialist.
Rich environmentalists don’t care if they pay $5/gallon normal working people do.
It is the ultimate goal of radical environmentalists and the elite to “nudge” us little people into urban bubbles. Note to GOP, please make this an issue in 2012.
We will never buy a Government Motors product, big or small. We will buy Fords or Toyotas.
Have always been a chevy guy. Still own a 2003 s-10(before Obeamer)and will never, ever, let me repeat that, never ever buy a GM car nor consider a Chrysler. Ford will be the only way to go. Oh, btw, did I say I’d never buy a GM ahain!
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