Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Government/Legal, Green, Chrysler, LLC., Ford, GM
Fed official apologizes for recommending imports in newsletter
Domestic automakers may be losing market share, but it appears their clout is intact. The Department of Health and Human Services issued an apology for a recent newsletter that suggested only Japanese and South Korean vehicles in a list of 12 "green" vehicles for their 67,000 employees to buy. Domestic automakers took exception to the seemingly biased message, and the 15 Michigan members of the house wielded their power to get the HHS to apologize.
That all the vehicles listed in the HHS newsletter were of Asian origin doesn't bother us much at all, but the fact that a government department that admittedly has nothing to do with auto policy is "suggesting" that its workforce buys certain kinds of cars just pisses us off. This is the United States of America baby, viva la choice!
[Source: Yahoo via GM Inside News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
rem83 10:46AM (9/21/2007)
How does someone else's suggestion limit your choice?
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RicardoHead 11:44AM (9/21/2007)
Simple. When it is your boss or implied "company policy" that only certain makes of vehicles are acceptable, then your boss or company is telling you how to spend your money. You don't "have to" do what they say, but you may feel it could impact a review or something, implicitly being frowned upon.
And it's not the same as a dress code unless that dress code insists on certain brands of clothing. If the original HHS article only urged people to perhaps consider fuel consumption more in their next purchase, this would not have been an issue.
Josh 10:55AM (9/21/2007)
Apology was unnecessary. Instead of whining about it, American automobile manufacturers should look at this as a hint to build better products.
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Mr. Oak 11:58AM (9/21/2007)
Go to Hell Idiot. We are building BETTER products.
calebe 1:20PM (9/21/2007)
Exactly
john 5:59PM (9/21/2007)
If only American automobile manufacturers knew what "BETTER" means...
Somehow the word got lost in translation.
Barney 12:04AM (9/22/2007)
"Go to Hell Idiot. We are building BETTER products."
Who's we?
Quattroporte 11:04AM (9/21/2007)
What was the South Korean vehicle(s) in the list?
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joe97 1:24PM (9/21/2007)
Entire list of vehicles recommended:
Honda Civic GX
Toyota Prius
Honda Civic Hybrid
Nissan Altima Hybrid
Toyota Yaris
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Honda Fit
Kia Rio/Rio 5
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Elantra
Honda Civic
MIkeN 11:05AM (9/21/2007)
The Dept of HHS doesn't have anything to do with automotive policy, but it is charged with protecting the health (The "H" in HHS) of US citizens. Isn't recommending the purchase of autos that pollute less than others consistent with that mission?
I don't see anything wrong with the original HHS recommendations. I'm more ticked off that Michigan lawmakers used their power to bully the department into apologizing.
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Alex 11:05AM (9/21/2007)
The e-mailed list of cars was based on a list from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, it suggests 12 cars to look at, all of them imports. It also specifically recommends staying away from SUVs.
This is sound advice. Is it Japan's or Korea's fault that US automakers can keep up? The simple fact of that matter is that if you are considering a new car, and fuel efficiency is important to you, these are good options to look at. If you are looking for a truck, this e-mail will have changed nothing for you. If you are looking for a sports car, again the e-mail serves no purpose.
I find it incredibly aggrivating when you are labeled "anti-american" for not buying an american car. i thought personal choices was our primary American Right!
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Solo Racer 11:08AM (9/21/2007)
It is our primary American right. It's also our right to vote out lawmakers or a president we disagree with.
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DriftPunch 11:11AM (9/21/2007)
It's not the message that bothers me, it's the fact that the issuer felt obligated to 'offer' this list to the staff in the first place. Is the staff stupid, do they not think for themselves, or does the department administration feel that internal memos can be used for "some important" (read: political) purposes outside of the normal conduct of business?
Can you imagine how it would hit the fan if they gave a list of recommended resturants that only included low fat/sodium/cholesteral/... establishments mentioning that employee obiesity is a concern? BAM! 4/5ths of government employees would contact their union rep...
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2004m3driver 12:46PM (9/21/2007)
Alot of people dont think for themselves, thats why America is a Marketers wet dream.
MoonRover 11:17AM (9/21/2007)
HE------should-------be-------fired
I will help pay for his ticket to Japan.
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AZMike 11:25AM (9/21/2007)
I think the basic problem here is the fact there was a list in the first place.
I'm sure the employees of the HHS are a smart bunch, just like the rest of us. I'm sure they have been able to make decisions about purchasing things they need without the government's hand-holding and direction.
I applaud the Michigan lawmaker's efforts. the bottom line here is only about not recommending certain model vehicles; it's about HHS keeping their nose out of business that isn't theirs.
if the "small timer's bible", Consumer Reports, wants to spout their drivel, that's different. it's a private publication, and they can say what they want. the government isn't in the business of recommending anything.
...and DriftPunch, your analogy with restaurants was well-taken, and right on point.
AZMike
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bill 11:48AM (9/21/2007)
I remember this story, and I do not know why anyone would be surprised that a Federal Bureaucrat would possibly favor imports. Many of our elected and unelected officials favor imports all of the time - imports like terrorists, socialists, communists, illegal immigrants - anything at all that undermines the fabric of our country.
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Ed 11:51AM (9/21/2007)
Funny how the feds have time to wield their power to force an unnecessary apology for American auto makers, but can't seem to to wield that same power to fix education, national debt, outsourcing jobs, broken levees, etc., etc., etc. At least Japanese and Korean auto makers open up shop in the U.S. to give honest people a place to work when "The Big 3" continues to shut down their U.S. plants.
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Hotrod 12:15PM (9/21/2007)
Please tell me you're not implying foreign automakers employ anywhere near the number of U.S. citizens as the domestics. If you are, you'd best go check the numbers.
Jason 12:50PM (9/21/2007)
If only fixing our education problems, healthcare issues, etc. were as easy as making the HHS apologize for a memo they should never have sent in the first place...
The only reason the import brands are setting up 'shop' here to appear "American" and be able to say, "look at our wonderful new [insert car name], it's made in [insert southern state]". It's marketing, a sale pitch, and way to sidestep certain import tariffs. Never mind that the profits go back to Japan or that they employ a fraction of the number of Americans that the Big 3 do... that Camry was made in Kentucky! Yeah, just wait, if the unions ever get their claws into those import assembly plants, just watch how quickly the shut them down and move production south of the border.