Toyota witch hunt?

There's precedence for what is being done by the U.S. government with Toyota. Ronnie Schreiber with Pajamas Media reported on the hype built up against Toyota:

“This is a dangerous condition, it is not fail-safe,” said [Dave] Gilbert on ABC’s World News Tonight.

Still, there was something in the back of my mind that made me a little bit skeptical. In 1992, Dateline NBC got caught rigging GM pickup trucks with model rocket engines when they couldn’t get the supposedly defective gas tanks to explode and provide them with the dramatic fiery footage they needed.

Who is Dave Gilbert, and how did he come to be an “expert” witness before Congress? All due respect to Gilbert — after all, he’s got a PhD — but he’s not an automotive engineer. I have all the regard in the world for capable mechanics, troubleshooters, and technicians, but Southern Illinois University at Carbondale’s automotive technology program is a glorified auto shop program that I’d expect at a vocational high school or a community college. Frankly, I’m a bit shocked that a four-year college offers a BS in automotive technology.

There is a witch hunt going on in America right now ... something does not add up. The article details others instances when auto makers were targeted ... be sure to read the comments section, too.

Is America bullying Toyota?

The Washington Examiner today points out the obvious:

Regardless whether one loves or hates Toyota, a herd of huge elephants in the living room of this controversy have thus far been completely ignored in news reports and analysis. These include, first, a pair of related conflicts of interest underlying the government's role, and, second, the disreputable records of several key "expert" witnesses in the mounting crusade against the besieged automaker.

The conflicts of interest begin with the fact the federal government is itself the controlling owner of General Motors, having invested billions of U.S. tax dollars in one of Toyota's two main American competitors. There is no creditable way to separate federal policy decisions from their commercial effect on both Toyota and GM as long as the government is simultaneously prosecutor, judge and jury. At the very least, the government must divest its GM shares as soon as possible.

The other conflict of interest is with the government's major partner in GM ownership, the United Auto Workers union. Aside from the fact Toyota has for decades successfully resisted UAW attempts to organize the Japanese automaker's U.S. work force, the UAW is among the most powerful special interests doling out campaign contributions to congressmen sitting in judgment of the stricken car company on two key House panels.

Is America bullying Toyota?

SWAC Chamber of Commerce criticized by Dem chair

Waynesboro Democrat Chairman and Augusta Free Press owner Chris Graham has a beef with the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce ... but I think he's mixing apples and oranges.

He writes about a memo sent out by the Chamber that encouraged employers to comply with the new federal minimum wage increase that takes effect today despite sobering unemployment statistics since the last minimum wage increase.

His complaint? He quotes the memo:

The “sobering statistics” were a look at how unemployment has doubled since the May 2007 passage of legislation raising the minimum wage from $6.55 an hour to $7.25 an hour.

“The federal minimum wage increase comes amid an ongoing recession and disagreements among economists and political commentators about what effect, if any, the hike will have on the unemployment rate,” the Chamber memo reads. And yet we get nothing indicating the disagreements among economists and political commentators about the impact, if any. Just the one side of the story. That a minimum-wage increase is bad because the Chamber of Commerce says it’s bad.

Mr. Graham apparently has his own reasons why unemployment has increased. But then Mr. Graham goes further to makes some back-handed accusations against the Chamber:

This same Chamber of Commerce, supposedly a nonprofit barred from engaging in partisan political activity as a condition of maintaining its nonprofit status, has advocated partisan Republican positions on the Employee Free Choice Act and local conservative bloc partisan positions on proposed stormwater utility fees in Waynesboro.

Mr. Graham concludes by saying:

There’s a reason why Augusta Free Press Publishing is not renewing its membership with the Chamber this year.

Some facts need to be put in place for Mr. Graham the reporter who should be separate from Mr. Graham the Democrat Chairman. I know ... the sound you hear is the howl of those who are laughing hysterically at my use of "Chris Graham" and "reporter" in the same sentence. (Sorry, Chris ... had to take a dig back after your "Del. SWAC Girl?" post.)

The Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) organization which means they are allowed by law to endorse issues and candidates. The local Chamber's Board of Directors chooses not to endorse candidates but they do take a stand on free enterprise issues so they are perfectly within their 501(c)(6) rights. Mr. Graham is casting doubt where none should be cast. Our local Chamber works with legislators on issues that have a positive or negative impact on the business community.

Besides Chambers of Commerce, other organizations that fall under the 501(c)(6) catetory include Business Leagues and Real Estate Boards.

Chambers of Commerce are in the business of promoting and protecting the free enterprise system. Businesses prosper most with lower business taxes, fewer burdensome regulations, and when government gets out of the way to allow the free enterprise system to work.

Mr. Graham's mixing of apples and oranges is in blaming the Chamber for politics when it is actually promoting the free enterprise system. And who believes the most in free enterprise?Republicans. I can see where a Democrat chairman could get confused. He's mixing business and politics.

But, still, kind of a weak excuse for not rejoining the Chamber.

"Give a man a fish and feed him for a day...."

My Blogger and Facebook profiles feature a quote I grew up with:

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

When my children were young, they asked the difference between Republicans and Democrats, and I used that quote as a springboard into a conversation that continues to this day with my two conservative young people.

Today I received an email from a reader, Paul Ross, and with his permission I share it:

I just wanted to drop you a line and say that I love your quote, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

When I am teaching around the country, I say it like this:

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man how to own the fishing pond and you’ll feed his children’s children. Teach him to own fishing ponds in multiple markets and you’ll feed his family to the fourth generation."

Gotta love our free enterprise system. Just an interesting thought – be blessed.

I worry for the future of our free enterprise system with our government that is intent on funding everyone and everything, taking over private companies, and will soon be unanswerable to anyone if a filibuster-proof Senate is in place.

We need more who are willing to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, work hard, take personal responsibility, and strive for the American dream.