In my October, 2008 issue of Food & Wine magazine, there is factual proof that the US automobile companies don't deserve a dime of bailout. Cadillac, Ford, and Chrysler all advertising their largest gas guzzlers. And there are some foreign dummies as well; Kia, Lexus and Nissan are also advertising gas guzzlers. There are no other cars advertised in the magazine--only gas guzzlers!

Cadillac talks about 'the future of luxury'. Ford says 'go stimulate something'. And Chrysler tops them all by saying 'it drinks responsibly'.

Inside front cover fold-out three pages; Cadillac Escalade Hybrid (20mpg advertised probably means 16mpg actual), Cadillac Escalade (403hp), Cadillac Escalade ESV (8 seater), and the Cadillac Escalade EXT (5 seat/SUV/pickup).

Page 26 & 27; Ford Flex (3 rows of seats 17mpg advertised probably means 14mpg).

Page 90 & 91; Chrysler Aspen Hybrid SUV (19mpg advertised probably means 16mpg actual).

Page 237; Ford Flex (in case I missed it on pages 26 & 27).



Page 37; KIA Borrego Luxury SUV (15mpg advertised probably means 12mpg actual).

Page 98 & 99; Lexus Hybrid SUV (438hp and NO mention of mpg).

Page 135; Nissan Murano SUV (no mention about mpg).


US automobile manufacturers have been ignorant and arrogant for decades, and no matter the economy, no matter the price of fuel, no matter the US importing 60% of it's oil; these guys are clueless.

I say don't invest a dime of taxpayer money in these dinosaurs and let them go extinct. They have no right to survive; they are not the fittest--they are the weakest and most spineless creatures walking this Earth today!

I'm sorry about those communities who have placed all their eggs in one giant crap basket called US automobile manufacturers...but you should have diversified.

Automobile manufacturers want $25 to $50 billion in bailout money supposedly to tool-up for higher mpg cars. Here's what we will have in five years; 25mpg cars that nobody wants and they will be priced at $20,000+ and all the money will be down the drain--just to 'temporarily' prop up a terminally ill industry.


What do you think??

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Did you know both our problems and the solutions can be found simply by looking in our mirrors...and...Never confuse the extraordinary stuff I think and write with that of a well-balanced person...

I think Joseph Schumpeter was a very smart man.

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They should fail and should be allowed to fail, they should send their thank you letters to the UAW and the United States Imperial Federal Government.

A democratic congress voted for this as well, so their in favor of bail outs too now it seems.... I suppose i shouldn't be surprised that 8 out of 10 "Americans" can't tell you who their state representative is.

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Old Man....you sound like someone who has had a bad experience with the auto industry ....dam,i haven't seen any heat like that since Hillery was giving bill what for about the Monica thing.....

For his time...

I was just thinking that in most other businesses or industries there are always spin-offs of start up companies...but except for a few in the early 1900's and Delorean, why hasn't any US person or group gone into competition against the Big 3?? Is this because the business model of building cars in the US is not viable? Why don't we see an entrepreneur start a company to build 50mpg cars? This in itself tells me that US methods for building cars is not viable, and add this to our ignorant designs, we have the mess we have today...

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Did you know both our problems and the solutions can be found simply by looking in our mirrors...and...Never confuse the extraordinary stuff I think and write with that of a well-balanced person...

I've not had any bad experiences with the auto industry and never worked anywhere near their industry.

But I don't need this association to understand that all we do is chase our tails!! I'm sick and tired of our ignorance of being stuck in the 20th century regarding automobiles--this includes their design as well.

It's okay if Cadillac wants to sell an Escalade that gets 12mpg but they must design their business model around the limited sales and high production costs and have no right whatsoever to ask for bailouts!

It's time to let them go extinct...

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Did you know both our problems and the solutions can be found simply by looking in our mirrors...and...Never confuse the extraordinary stuff I think and write with that of a well-balanced person...

Because of what economists call, barriers to entry. The cot to acquire the capital to enter the automotive industry are so high, that for the vast majority of people, the option is neither viable, nor possible.

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I fully understand the barriers to entry and I agree with you about the huge capital investments...but I also believe if a business model made any sense, someone would have started from scratch to compete in that industry.

I'll continue to assume there is not a sound business model, and if this might be true, then the Big 3 need to become extinct...

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Did you know both our problems and the solutions can be found simply by looking in our mirrors...and...Never confuse the extraordinary stuff I think and write with that of a well-balanced person...

I think that they should be allowed to fail and then jailed for treason; considering that FORD is selling a diesel car in EUROPE that recieves 65 MPG!!!

To think that they wouldn't allow this technology to be built in America and sold in America really shows the corporations interests.

They should be allowed to continue but not with any taxpayer money and let the market decide their fate. If they cannot adapt then so be it.There are companies like Saturn making vehicles that have good fuel economy, these are the companies that will replace Ford, GM etc etc

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'If you cry about a nickle, then you'll die about a dime.' - Robert Johnson

Hey! Round and round Hitler's grave,
Round and round we'll go.
Gonna lay that poor boy down.
He won't get up no more!!!