Politicians that Americans Want

As two of the Big Three U.S. automakers have slid into bankruptcy, drastically altering the domestic market forever, a dispute has arisen over "cars that Americans want." Conservatives seem to believe this means gas-guzzling trucks, SUVs and sports cars while most Democrats (certainly those in power today) think we'll all be better off in more fuel-efficient cars.

The Republican penchant for rugged individualism somehow translates into more pistons and more gallons of gasoline being burned per mile. But they also have emitted quite a bit of hot air talking about energy independence, which logically runs afoul of their hatred for "putt-putt" vehicles.

Asking them to make sense is foolish, since nobody has ever succeeded in deciphering their schizophrenic views, and voters have long since lost interest in trying. Therefore, only factual data is required to assess and answer this question, and there is plenty of that.

One needs only to review the top-ten selling cars in America. The vehicle most often purchased in the United States in 2008 was the Ford F-150 pickup truck. Solidly in second place was the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. With a nearly 50-50 split between rural and urban populations, that makes sense.

Only one domestic car made the grade, the Chevrolet Impala, a mid-size sedan which ranks eighth among cars sold in this country. Just one other pickup truck was listed - the Dodge Ram, ranked ninth. Only one SUV made the roster, at number ten, the Honda CR-V (one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the market).

The rest of the list reads like the index of Consumer Reports. Third is the Toyota Camry. Fourth is the Honda Accord. Fifth is the Toyota Corolla. Sixth is the Honda Civic. Seventh is the Nissan Altima. No matter who tells you what, those are the cars that the public wants.

The Big Three doesn't really make cars like those. When American automakers do put out fuel-efficient cars, those seem to lack in either real or perceived quality. It is worth noting, though, that two of Ford's econo-boxes are ranked among the top ten models sold in Europe.

When one looks at things with agenda-free glasses it becomes clear: Unwavering production of the vehicles that conservatives say Americans "want" put these once-mighty companies out of business. It's no surprise that similar defects in thinking have put the GOP in much the same position.

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