Toyota! What the Hell did you expect when you declared yourself the largest, most profitable car company in-the-world?! A-pat-on-the-back from Generous Motors?! Oh! Of course!! You didn’t know that Generous Motors was headed towards bankruptcy, and, poised to become government owned. And, silly you, Toyota – when you are in head-to-head competition with a government-owned rival – you are going to pay your dues to do business in gangland: we here in-the-good-ol’-U.S. of A. have not forgotten our Mafia business roots.
Never mind that the Ford Explorer’s roll-overs have contributed to 203 deaths – and that there were far deadlier vehicles on the road (like the Corvair for example) – you still have 56 deaths on your conscience, and now, must atone by paying the fiddler (a.k.a., Uncle Sam) – that’s the price for doing business on a sinking ship. But don’t worry – China’s buying US up — $1 billion at-a-time. So, within the next 20-year-or-so – you’ll be dealing with your age-old enemy again – and the U.S. as-we-know-it – will ebb-and-flow with the Yellow Tide. Oh! By-the-by – Ford has managed to slip into first place in American car sales. Go figure: the Explorer, the Pinto, the Mustang, and the Corvair – are American metal boxes that have been blamed for a staggering number of deaths.
This might be one-of-the-biggest segues I have ever attempted – but my title, “The Rearview Mirror” got me thinking on a different tack…I know, I know – I’m supposed to do Part II on my cat (Bimbi le) – but I STILL haven’t figured out how to rationalize my desire to vote for Meg W. – even though Governor Moonbeam has announced his candidacy (indeed, I would like to be part of Meg’s inner circle and sell her the benefits of my considerable experience [a well-paid prostitute of sorts]).
So, it was with great interest that I noted Meg’s attack on her #1 opponent, Steve Poizner. It seems that Steve P. was against abortion once-upon-a-time – but now favors “a woman’s choice.” Steve P. suggests that he has matured, and, as a proponent of evolution and life-long learning – I have to give Steve my nod of concurrence (particularly since I love a good, matured Chardonnay) – but don’t wish to be unfaithful to Meg in doing so (because I’m still hoping that she becomes my pimp).
But conservatives like to look at an evolved opinion as a sign of being wishy-washy – a sign of flip-flopping. I’d say that holding someone to a foolish consistency is the hob-goblin of a small mind (thanks Ralph Waldo). Why on earth should we choose a particular perspective and defend-it-to-the-death in-the-face of differing (and often superior) information?! What is this perverse and ridiculous human desire to prefer a fairy tale over cold, hard fact?! Oh, I see…because the facts are cold and hard – and the fairy tale is soft and fuzzy – conveniently blurring the lines of reality to morph into anyone’s life perspective.
I mean the Father of Psychology (ol’ Ziggy) – developed an interesting, but very limited, developmental theory. The limitations came from the limitations of the author: we only know what we know. There have been many superior developmental theories generated over-the- years since Freud posed his “grand” theory.
So, Toyota, you neglected to look into that rear-view mirror and recall that to do business in the United States of America – you’ve got to learn how to barter with the natives. It’s NOT about honor here (unless you’re defending your mother or apple pie or Cheverolet). And if that doesn’t work – you’ve got to kill your competition – not your supporters!