Certainly must violate SOME ethics rule against conflict of interests….
This is also why the gov’t should not own a company competing against private business. When the gov’t's role as consumer protector comes into play, there is no way to separate that from their other role as a competitor. Instant conflict there.
You’re missing the point. Yes, Toyota did start the recall and the gov’t had nothing to do with that. BUT then LaHood publicly stated that people should "steer clear" of Toyotas. Since the government has it’s own car company (GM), that is an abuse of the office of Transportation Secretary.
The govt SHOULD comment on it. But it can’t own a competitor and do so. So the gov’t MUST immediately divest all stake in GM so that it can speak about Toyota with legitimate authority.
Visit A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a hybrid vehicle with batteries that can be recharged by connecting a plug to an electric power source. It shares the characteristics of both conventional hybrid electric vehicles, having an electric motor and a backup internal combustion engine (ICE) for power, and of battery electric vehicles, also having a plug to connect to the electric grid. Most PHEVs on the road today are passenger cars, but there are also PHEV versions of commercial passenger vans, utility trucks, school buses, motorcycles, scooters, and military vehicles. PHEVs are sometimes called grid-connected hybrids, gas-optional hybrids, or GO-HEVs. The cost for electricity to power plug-in hybrids for all-electric operation has been estimated at less than one quarter of the cost of gasoline.[1] Compared to conventional vehicles, PHEVs can reduce air pollution and dependence on petroleum, and lessen greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. Plug-in hybrids use no fossil fuel during their all-electric range if their batteries are charged from nuclear or renewable energy sources. Other benefits include improved national energy security, fewer fill-ups at the filling station, the convenience of home recharging, opportunities to provide emergency backup power in the home (V2H), and vehicle to grid (V2G) applications.[2] As of July 2008, plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles are not yet in production. However, Toyota,[3] General Motors,[4] Ford,[5 …
Details emerge on the plans the Big Three will present to Congress. Toyota is going to cut executive bonuses. BMW and Microsoft introduce a new technology to help showroom shoppers. All that and more, plus a look at how GM is helping disabled veterans.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100405/ap_on_bi_ge/us_toyota_recall
They bail out GM and fine TM. The defects have not affected Toyota sales. The Government should get pout of the auto business!
Has Toyota become the victim of its own success? And how can Toyota recover from the battering its image has taken after a massive global recall of its vehicles?
