Trapped in the past

I'm not at all averse to a bailout of the Big Three, hell I'd rather save a manufacturer than an Insurance Company any day -- but here in a nutshell is the problem with the American Auto Industry -- and perhaps, America in particular:

Across town at Langley Motor Co., the local GM dealership, salesman Eddie W. Striblin sat in an empty showroom that seemed trapped in another era. The only car on the floor was a black-and-gold 1977 Trans Am in mint condition. The Marshall Tucker Band played on the radio.

Striblin predicted that, despite all their troubles, the Big Three would survive somehow. Other companies may have a better business model, he argued, but no one delivers the romance of the road like the Americans.

"Let me ask you a question," he said leaning over a clean desk. "You ever heard of anybody braggin' on a '57 Honda?"

Okay, first of all -- I expect a LOT of people to be braggin' on their 1985 Honda Accord with 200,000 miles on it.

Second, of all, please show me the person still driving a 1985 Chevy Citation?

"The Romance of the Road" has helped to get us into this choking mess. How many years did we put up with people bragging about Hummers & things with HEMI engines? Telling some suburban CPA he just HAD to buy a big ass pickup truck?

M-O-R-(A)-N-S!

(found via Kevin Drum)