Think for yourself. Please. Think.

This is just an addition to my January 27 blog, but I think it warrants a new post since it is getting so much media coverage.

Here is one article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/08599195837900;_ylt=Aobq4MjIbP.vMAeDnAqO4yhv24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTM1NXFzbjJrBGFzc2V0A3RpbWUvMjAxMDAyMDMvMDg1OTkxOTU4Mzc5MDAEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwMzBHBvcwMzBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDd2hpY2hhdXRvbWFr

Please see also:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/RunawayToyotas/toyota-owners-advised-stop-driving-cars-seek/story?id=9736660

And also:

http://www.startribune.com/local/83448022.html

And:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584672,00.html

and I quote:

"U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told The Associated Press Tuesday that federal officials had to alert Toyota to the seriousness of the safety issues that eventually led to the recalls.

"They should have taken it seriously from the very beginning when we first started discussing it with them," he said. "Maybe they were a little safety deaf."

LaHood also said the U.S. government was considering civil penalties for Toyota for having dragged its feet on safety concerns."

Did Toyota drag their feet? Or, did the Obama administration not really seem to care about any of this until GM and Dodge continued to lose market share? Did this ONLY become an important issue since the loss of the Democrat held U.S. Senate seat now held by Scott Brown? Is this only a big media issue because of the elections this fall? Is this an attempt at a forced "success" by the Obama administration in light of public distrust and disapproval of their failed politics? Is this another attempt at finger-pointing and blame-placing that the Obama administration is known for?

We will indeed see how much Americans are a slave to the popular media. These cars are NO less safe then they were yesterday. They are NO less safe than they were last week. They are NO less safe than they were last year. These affected cars manufactured by Toyota are no less likely today to have any issues than they EVER were. This is an exercise in FEAR by the Obama administration. This is an obvious direct shot at Toyota to benefit General Motors and attempt to restore public opinion of the Obama administration's unpopular auto industry bailouts.

THINK PEOPLE!

I am all for safe cars, don't get me wrong. I think if there are situations involving these cars, they should be taken care of. The timing of these big media hit stories is just all too convenient.

Sorry LaHood, I am not buying it. Sorry Obama administration, I think you were all well aware of these problems last year and the year before, but they only came to light after another quarter of declining sales for "Government Motors" [GM].

I didn't spend much time researching past factual data. I would be VERY curious to learn how many problems would have to be evident with a General Motors car or a Dodge car before there would be this big ripple in the media. This attack on Toyota is unprecedented. It would not happen to a "U.S." manufacturer.

Updated 12:33PM on 2/3/2010. In all fairness, Ray LaHood printed an apology for his "misspoken" statement to Toyota owners a few hours after he said it. Again we see it is WAY easier in this country to apologize than it is to just say or do the right thing to begin with. The Obama administration has been chocked full of apologies lately it would seem [Toyota, Vegas, Scott Brown, Harry Reid]. Do you suppose Americans are getting tired of all the bullshit?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100203/ap_on_bi_ge/us_toyota_recall

As a side note, I don't drive a Toyota. In fact, I would more than likely never buy one even if given the chance. It isn't that I think they are bad because the one I owned in past I was very happy with. I WOULD buy a Toyota over a Chrysler, Dodge, GM, Chevy or Cadillac though, since Toyota is not operating on a daily basis using our tax money. I only feel strongly about this topic on the principal of it all. It is ridiculous.

P.S. Here is how much trouble can be had with a GM product without ANY government action:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584781,00.html

This is 1100+ compliants and NO action.

Putting the "toy" in Toyota?

Being the conspiracy theorist I am, I had a couple thoughts. I KNOW Barack Obama is far and beyond the worst president in American history. I KNOW the corrupt power of the current Democrat party leaders see no limits on abuses. I KNOW that the people in power in our government will go to almost ANY length to prove themselves correct and needed disregarding any morality or decency. I know this to be true. They have proven it again and again.

Do you suppose the Toyota recall is staged? I mean, what better way to PROVE that labor unions are the best way to be employed than to layoff non-union laborers from 6 automotive manufacturing plants and leave them without the extra benefits union employees get? What better way to PROVE we need Obamacare than have these workers lose medical benefits when unemployed because they don't have the big, wet, loving arms of Obamacare to keep them safe? What better way for General Motors and Chrysler Corp. to poach top Toyota workers at a reduced rate of pay? What better way to jump start a destroyed U.S. auto market (including government owned General Motors and Chrysler Corp.) than by eliminating the biggest competition (and thus MAYBE selling a bunch of GM's and Dodges)? What better way to imply that union run auto manufacturing companies make less mistakes and turn out higher quality products? What better way to PROVE that the automotive bailouts were a "great" idea? What better way to sway a sinking public opinion of the Democratic party's recently passed legislation than forcing a success out of it at Toyota's expense?

This really would not be very far fetched for this current administration. The Obama administration has been one of lies, empty promises, distorted truths, blame placing, and failure. The Obama administration truly has nothing to lose and everything to gain in this scenario.

What would stop them from doing this? Toyota IS acting as recommended by the United States government.

One thing should be said about Toyota. They stated that the "faulty" gas pedals were made by a U.S. company. They named the company. They left it at that. They are a class act for not jumping right into the finger-pointing that we have become so used to these days. It is refreshing.

Who knows? Maybe it is just me. Maybe I need to be more believing. Maybe Obama can give me some "hope" rather than just "change" from my dollars. Then again, maybe I just don't trust people that say one thing and do another.