Content provided in partnership with

Automotive Industry

Kerry comments

Automotive Industries, August, 2004 by Dennis Murphy

Frankly, I thought I needed to look at the cover to see if my July issue was an automotive magazine or a political pamphlet. Is it not possible to find someone that can speak to the issues in either a more balanced fashion, or find someone from the other camp and do a pro vs. con article? He lets many statements go unchallenged when a cursory investigation via the internet would have revealed errors or statements of political philosophy without merit.

1. Taxes: Our country's corporate tax rate is generally on par with Europe at this time. If he is referring to third world countries, then we are likely higher. This is not likely a fair comparison. And indeed, corporations are inanimate objects. While corporations may be run by people, they are not people per se. Kerry's campaign site states he would cut corporate tax rates by 5 percent.

Most Popular Articles in Autos: Service Slants; 2007 utility vehicle buyer's guide: Side-By-Sides are popular; here's who ...; Transmission considerations: beyond the manual gearbox; Buell Motorcycle engineering, innovation, & dedication: in an industry ...; 100 + 10: America's oldest automotive magazine celebrates its 110th year ...; More »

2. Environment: One need not be a left-wing environmentalist to know that if you have emmissions, you have pollution. While Mr. Cole lambasts Democrats for not looking at the economic impact, I would say that the Bush administration is comfortable merely looking at the next few years instead of looking out decades. I found the Kerry website discussing a "manhattan" project for energy. This is not an antithesis to the auto industry. Newer, renewable, non-polluting energy could certainly be put in vehicles.

3. CAFE: Stick to the issue and eliminate hyperbole such as the second law of thermodynamics comment. There are "more Republicans with technical, business, or medical backgrounds,... so they live closer to reality." What kind of unsubstantiated comment is that in a fact based magazine?

4. Energy: This is where economies (can you say free market) and politics clash. Government is essentially subsidizing the oil industry and the auto industry (to the extent that cheap oil drives auto design and sales). How we manage automobiles, roads, traffic, congestion is a political issue and economics can only be one concern, not the concern. Merely exploring for new oil, drilling in protected areas, etc., has minimal impact in the long term and postpones the inevitable.

Please, let's review cars and leave the politics to the political hacks. Thanks

Dennis Murphy

Automotive Industry

Kerry comments

Automotive Industries, August, 2004 by Dennis Murphy

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Reference

Most Popular Articles in Autos

Most Popular Publications in Autos