Thomas Friedman's "How to Fix a Flat"

Thomas Freidman’s editorial “How to Fix a Flat” deals not with what its title would imply, but with the apathy of an automobile manufacturer. General Motors (GM) proudly describes itself as the “annual global industry sales leader for 77 years” at
http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/. With such prominence in sales it would seem that the corporation would not need to be begging for money. Yet this is exactly the situation as of last September. After asking for $25 billion in loan guarantees, the company received help from Congress. The result was freedom to use dishonest advertising and customer bonuses: GM could stretch the truth about the MPG their cars featured—in exchange for making these vehicles capable of using ethanol—and could offer gas discounts to customers.

The complaints and tactics of GM outraged New York Times columnist Thomas Freidman—I myself am inclined to concur. Freidman argues that GM wasted its time complaining when it could have been working on designs for more efficient vehicles. Such vehicles are now old news for companies like Honda and Toyota—why should GM be allowed to lag behind?

Freidman also berates the lenience of Michigan’s legislature in dealing with GM. The company should not have been allowed to ignore energy and environmental concerns.

Instead of dodging responsibility, GM should search for ways to create more efficient vehicles.