Replies

RE: Here’s what should have been done:

Step 1: Tariffs on Japanese and Korean cars
Step 2: Disband the UAW
Step 3: Get rid of or ease CAFE restrictions (another wonderful idea of Jimmy Carter)
Step 4: Bring back Oldsmobile and/or Plymouth.

Step 1: Tariffs on Japanese and Korean cars. So-call Japanese and Korean cars are built in the US (non-union) with 75% US parts compared to US nameplates built in Mexico, Belgium, and China with few US parts?

Step 2: Disband the UAW. I would starve the organization out.

Step 3: Get rid of or ease CAFE restrictions (another wonderful idea of Jimmy Carter). CAFE standards were enacted under Nixon-Ford administrations. Honda Motor Company already had the ability to exceed CAFE and emission standards by 1971 with simple cheap technology using leaded fuels. The BIG FOUR refused to use the simple technology, building it under license.

Step 4: Bring back Oldsmobile and/or Plymouth.Why did you ignore DeSoto, Merkur, and Edsel? Not sure why marketing gimmicks warrant excessive corporate flab? You forgot Pontiac, Saturn, Mercury, American/ Alliance, and GEO.

Seriously.

Merkur and Edsel lasted all of five minutes. DeSoto was a loser nameplate that always stood in the shadow of Chrysler’s other divisions. Geo was just a label used for rebadged Japanese cars. AMC’s ghost lived on for some while in the form of Eagle. As for the other nameplates, there was no real reason to drop them.

Ok, CAFE was a Nixon idea, but came into effect under Carter. It had a very unfortunate side effect in creating the SUV epidemic of the 1990s. Since huge, V8-powered cars were no longer feasible, everyone simply built huge, V8-powered trucks. I do agree that modern engine technology is much more efficient, and that there’s no real need anymore for fuel mileage taxes.

As for the UAW, it made sense back when union members were beaten up by Henry Ford’s hired goons, but it’s a horrible relic in this day and age. I think Toyota had it right in terms of what’s appropriate for worker pay/benefits.