On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:07:15 -0500, "Mike Hunter"
<mikehunt2@lycos/com> wrote:

>The only time Americans bought small cars was when the were forced to by
>them by the government when Carter cause the gas supply problems.

Nonsense. Americans started buying smaller, better handling, more fun
to drive, better mileage cars in the late 1960s because they wanted
them. There was no gas crunch at the time. The only thing American
cars had going for them was v8 power in a straight line.

> Once
>Reagan did the right thing and let the market decide, they return to buying
>the larger saver cars they want to buy.

No, they didn't. Maybe a few swing votes bought smaller cars
specifically for mileage reasons and then swung back. Most didn't.

>Where the hell does the government, in a free society, get the right to tell
>manufactures what they must produce and to tell the buyer what they must
>buy, in any event?

Who is telling anyone what to produce or buy? The only exception I see
is if Gm and Chrysler want to borrow money - then the lender can
dictate any terms s/he wants to insure his investment.