I could not find Consumer Reports requesting a congressional hearing
in any news story. Please provide a link. Thanks, Dave

On Dec 10, 6:22*pm, Comments4u
<comment...@nospam.mindspring.com.invalid> wrote:
> The line of companies willing to beg for money from Congress has just grown
> longer. Consumers Reports has requested a Congressional bail out hearing.
> In its petition, Consumers Reports cites the costs of massive restructuring
> due to circumstances totally beyond its control. *Consumers Reports claims
> that since it doesn't take advertising, it is the only unbiased source of
> product information available to consumers, and thus has a vital role that
> must be preserved.
>
> The magazine's anticipated restructuring costs are due to the impending
> demise of GM, Ford, and Chrysler. *With those companies gone, and only
> foreign cars to rate, CRs reliability ratings will indicate a statistical
> impossibility: *all vehicles are better than average.
>
> It was originally thought the data could be adjusted at minimal cost using
> standard statistical methodology so an appropriate number of vehicles would
> be rated below average. *However CR learned standard statistical
> methodology cannot be used to ajust data not compiled using standard
> statistical methodology.
>
> The compilation of CRs reliability data starts when someone subscribes to
> the magazine. *They then read an article in CR on the vehicle they own
> which tells them whether its good or bad. *Then they receive the
> reliability questionaire, which they answer according to the CR article.
>
> "Somehow we have to get some vehicles rated below average", said CR
> spokesman Justin Jest *"but we can't just produce a bunch of negative
> articles on foreign vehicles over night. *It takes time. *And money. *We
> need and deserve government help. *This problem is not of our making"
>
> Initially, negative articles are planned on the companies formerly
> associated with the Detroit automakers, Isuzu, Mazda, and Mitsubishi. *A
> template for the articles has already been prepared. *"Estimated
> reliability is suspect, as <Isuzu/Mazda/Mitsubishi> was formerly associated
> with <GM/Ford/Chrysler>." *But still, that won't be enough as these
> companies have minimal market share.
>
> "They're going to have to take aim at one of the big boys to get the
> numbers" said Joseph Camel of the Brand Research Institute. *"They're
> counting on India's Tata Motors coming to America, but while that will give
> them the bottom end, the numbers will be too small."
>
> Mr. Camel thinks Kia is the only possible target. *When asked if perhaps
> Toyota or Honda might be a better target for lower reliability ratings, Mr.
> Jest responded "No, we have a policy at CR against attacking people's
> religion".