Buy [Non] American!

So, the Cash For Clunkers deal has not been mentioned recently. I am not one to be completely up to date with mainstream media anyhow. But, I was just looking over statistics from the Cash for Clunkers program, which I know has already been considered a success, and found some interesting things. Take a look at this for yourself: http://www.cars.gov/files/official-information/August26PR.pdf.

What stands out to me in these statistics is what they say about the embarrassingly shameless conduct of American corporations, especially in the automotive sector. Note that although GM and Ford both fell in the top three grossers in the program, Toyota still took number one. The most traded in vehicles were American made (all of the top ten most traded-in were American). The most purchased (overall when you cumulate the stats; Toyota and Honda alone outsell GM and Ford) were foreign. GM and Ford garnered large chunks because they have absorbed other companies over the last year. Of the top ten most popular vehicles purchased, two were American made (both Ford at 4th and 10th place).

American companies have shot themselves in the foot, and just found out there insurance won't cover it (health care reform joke... anyone? Anyone?!). What is known now about these American companies is that they intentionally built failure into their vehicles for the purpose of growing their service sectors and insuring future new vehicle purchases. They were overly naive to think consumers would not notice, and they went bankrupt when the people learned American made cars couldn't outlast any other brand.

Entitlement, once again, fails to succeed. When will we learn from history?

Last Train Riders (An Essay in Progress)

I am writing this upon realizing that my generation is emerging as crucially important to the future of all we know. History has arrived at a critical moment, pivotal and vulnerable, at which major changes are on the verge of occurring. We are a group of last train riders, who are going to be the surge of strength that makes it right.

What I mean by last train riders is that we, if socio-economic trends do not change, will be viewed historically as the last generation to grow up with optimal resources of every kind, most importantly, information. We are on the last train of people capable of restoring society. Restore may not be the right word, as that would imply that this has ever been done correctly. We are the last train of people capable of making things good. We are a generation arguably more intelligent than its predecessors. We have grown up with access to more information and tools than every previous generation. Technology and population growth have enabled us with a superior number of intellectuals, artists and creative capable minds. This generation is able to learn the world more efficiently than anyone before us. This is why we are so strong.

We are last train riders that must realize our significance. This does not at all mean, or imply, that we are the only group that is important. It does not mean that we are the only group whose members are capable or responsible. It means that in the end, we will see that this generation will have played a large role in changing the status quo. We have a lot to contribute, and are able to contribute the most of any other separated generation.

Voter turnout in the last presidential election was historic for a number of reasons. One of the most important aspects of this election was participation within the eligible voting population’s youngest brackets. Awareness is high. Education is high. Mobility is high. It is now empirically evident that this generation is powerful.

Generations following us are already suffering. They are already getting the sub-par education due to under-funding that has come from a bankrupt economy; a by-product of the exploitation of the many by the few. Their train does not yet exist. It will not unless things change.

My generation has the capacity to revolt. Corruption is becoming even harder and harder to hide. Education is becoming harder and harder to subdue. The people are becoming more and more anxious for justice. We are aware.

(more to come)