Re: Car Craft Ramblings (and Perception)

[JOE FULTON <piper_pa20@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> planting that much of a 
> single crop creates a biodiversity nightmare.
> 
For what it is worth.
> 
> Todd Wallis

Biodiversity?  It's words like that and "environmental
justice" that are a part of our new high tech standard
of living and are a big part of the problem.  I've
been involved with environmental permitting and
environmental regulations for 30 years both here in
CA, and in the midwest and in Alaska.  I've always
been employed by industry and have never been a
government regulator.  I've seen the South Coast AQMD
Rule Book increase from one four inch binder to three
four inch binders the last time I checked (in a little
over 15 years).   You can't do anything called a
"project" here in CA without spending signficant money
for environmental permits and sometimes endless
planning.  I've seen good projects which would create
many safe, clean jobs killed either in the planning
stages or after a lot of money was spent to secure
permits, due to the "process itself."  It's what the
people want.  And it's not just in CA.  

That (and the cost of labor, as Mr. Mahoney has
referenced) have made it almost impossible to produce
the cheapest, best products in this country.

Everyone wants it all.  High tech products made a
cheaply as possibly and hopefully not made in their
back yard, or recycled in their back yard.  Ford, GM
and Chrysler executives (back to the subject) are just
creatures of their times and realize that.  They are
going to keep doing more of their manufacturing
overseas.  The situation is going to keep getting
worse for American labor, until sometime in the future
when global environmental regulations and worker
protection concerns equalize on all the continents. 
Our generation, if we care at all, will just wring our
hands and relish the good old days when we could go
down to the AMC dealer and buy a Rambler for $1860. 

Ford and GM have to make an affordable product that
someone will buy today.  They make mistakes.  The
Chevy SSR was a big mistake. It looked good at the car
shows, and people in my age group (late 50s)
supposedly wanted it.  At $45,000 it's a flop, even
with its new 300 hp power plant.  At $20,000 it
probably would sell.  It can't be made in the US for
$20,000.  Ford flopped with the Thunderbird.  The
Mustang (and the new Mustang) have such a following
that it won't flop even though it will never sell like
the little Falcon cousins which first produced the
legend. And its starting price is reasonable for
today's market.

Mr. Mahoney will keep referencing the latest auto
industry news from Detroit, Tokyo, and elsewhere, but
there's really nothing we can do about it.  Our AMC
history book, if it's ever written, won't teach anyone
who counts.

Joe Fulton
(going to the junkyard today to pick over and AMC
Eagle)

Salinas, CA