Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Runaway Prius is not media hype. The event happened.



Japan's auto giant Toyota Motor president Akio Toyoda (centre) is surrounded by reporters after meeting with Japanese Transport Minister Seiji Maehara at Maehara's office in Tokyo on February 9, 2010. Toyota announced to recall the company's hybrid vehicle Prius for the brake trouble.

Why Toyota is running into issues under this administration that it didn't with the previous administration in DC, is due to 'zero tolerance' of manufacturer defect resulting in human casualties and death. That didn't occur before.

As far as I am concerned, this is irresponsible journalism.

By MarketWatch (click title to entry - thank you)

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- An accident here the other day claimed the lives of four women when their car slammed into a tree.

But since they were riding in a 2000 Pontiac Bonneville instead of a 2010 Toyota Prius these women didn't rate the top slot on any national newscast -- or much mention on any newscast at all -- nor send people tweeting away in outrage nor stoke Internet chat room furor...

I am quite confident if there were manufacturer defects with a 2000 Pontiac Bonneville it would be demanded the company issue a recall. There isn't that is known to this administration and human error behind the steering wheel of a car happens everyday. There is a profound difference in the two incidents.

Jerks. But, hey, "Marketwatch" will go to the mat for a buck.

What Toyota is experiencing is the 'production margin of error' that goes on with any 'quality' of an automobile. The problem is that their margin of error is causing people to die on a fairly regular basis. While these incidents seem few and far between they aren't for the people involved in them and the incidents are ceasing.

There are not other companies experiencing these issues either. There is a 'glitch' in the manufacturing process at Toyota. They need to find the glitch no matter how difficult it may seem and fix it BEFORE it becomes systemic.

If the argument is that 'the glitch' that is occurring on a regular basis will never become systemic is NOT a valid argument.


If an allowable 'glitch' is acceptable to ANYONE it diminishes the value of human life and considering the actions of the Supreme Court lately it is reassuring to have an administration in DC that sees these issues as important.

HUMAN LIFE is not a 'bargaining' chip in Wall Street's profit margin.

"Marketwatch" owes an apology to the American people and retraction of their profoundly stupid editorializing.

I drive a Toyota. It is not under recall. I have noticed that police of any variety are 'tuned into' the product line and how it is performing on the road. I do see them look at the vehicle and its logo and wonder if I and those around me are safe. THAT, is a good thing. They really do give a damn.