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Descriptions of the same product, sure; but people relate to them differently, and thus the market fluctuates.
Posts: 2978 | Registered: Oct 2004
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Although he is too much of an idealist to make an effective president, Nader at least cares aboout his fellow citizens, which is more than appears to be the case for most candidates.
One of Nader's books, Unsafe at any speed, was a factor in forcing the Big Three American auto makers to put basic safety measures in their cars. Like seatbelts. Car companies were against seatbelts for decades and finally had to be forced to put them in cars.
In addition. Nader has founded or helped start: American Antitrust Institute Appleseed Foundation Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest Aviation Consumer Action Project Capitol Hill News Service Center for Auto Safety Center for Insurance Research Center for Justice and Democracy Center for Science in the Public Interest Center for Study of Responsive Law Center for Women Policy Studies Citizen Advocacy Center Citizen Utility Boards Citizen Works Clean Water Action Project Congress Project Connecticut Citizen Action Group Corporate Accountability Research Group Democracy Rising Disability Rights Center Equal Justice Foundation Essential Information FANS (Fight to Advance the Nation's Sports) Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumer Rights Freedom of Information Clearinghouse Georgia Legal Watch Multinational Monitor National Citizen's Coalition for Nursing Home Reform National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest National Insurance Consumer Organization Ohio Public Interest Action Group Organization for Competitive Markets Pension Rights Center Princeton Project 55 PROD - truck safety Public Citizen Buyers Up Citizen Action Group Critical Mass Energy Project Congress Watch Global Trade Watch Health Research Group Litigation Group Tax Reform Research Group The Visitor's Center Retired Professionals Action Group Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest Student Public Interest Research Groups nationwide Telecommunications Research and Action Center Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
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Unsafe At Any Speed also put the final coffin nail in the Corvair specifically.
You see, Chevy had finally come up with an automobile heating system that worked as soon as you turned it -- it was a propane burner system. The problem was that the car featured a propane tank for the fuel in the front end. Since the Corvair was a rear-engine model (and handled unsafely because of that), the front mounted propane tank basically was like a warhead on a particularly inaccurate missile. Horrid case of not looking at potential problems.
Nader saved countless lives with that book, both because of the Corvairs and the long-lasting safety features he was able to bring about.
However, that's still seen as the highwater mark of his career. He was probably the person who started the consumer advocate ideal, but he's fallen to a position among the crowd in that field over the last three decades.
Good fellow, good ideas and means well, but can't overcome the fact that he neither looks nor sounds very presidential. And honestly, he's much better as the canary in the coal mine than as the mine foreman.
But many would say that is the purpose of his candidacy in the first place.
Posts: 472 | Registered: Aug 2004
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I had never heard of the propane heater in the Corvair. Sounds like a horrid design.
However,
quote: However, that's still seen as the highwater mark of his career. He was probably the person who started the consumer advocate ideal, but he's fallen to a position among the crowd in that field over the last three decades.
Good fellow, good ideas and means well, but can't overcome the fact that he neither looks nor sounds very presidential. And honestly, he's much better as the canary in the coal mine than as the mine foreman.
But many would say that is the purpose of his candidacy in the first place
Lost Ashes.While Unsafe at any speed is his most well-known work, I think his most important projects were founding or helping to found Citizen Action Group, Student Public Interest Research Groups and other organizations that work in the public interest.
I pretty much agree with the other 2 paragraphs, unfortunately.
+SIGH+ When will a viable 3rd party presidential candidate ever emerge in modern American politics?? Can't anyone break the stranglehold the Dems and Repubs hold on national politics?
Other countries have multiple parties, why can't we?
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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I knew that was very tru in the 70s, because American cars had to be crap, in order to maintain the market. But, I thought GM has greatly improved.
All (virtually) agre that if you buy a Volvo, you're safe. It is, however, owned by Ford. Opel is owned by GM, and so are Vauxhall and Holden. Land Rover is no longer independent, and Jaguar is going down. Basically, if you're talking about quality cars at a high league you've got Japanese ones (if you like Toyota and Subaru. Honda's superb, as far as I'm concerned), or one of the independent Europeans. That is either French cars (God, no), or the Germans. Those consist of BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen (Audi and Škoda are part of VW). If you want an Alfa Romeo - you can go for those.
Did I get that right?
Posts: 2978 | Registered: Oct 2004
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Basically, the Axis Powers from WWII can make cars. The Allied Powers can't. American cars are just bad, too many problems safety and otherwise. The British can make luxury cars when they still run into maintainence trouble. France and Russia...
Germany on the other hand can make good quality cars. Sweden was neutral so they're OK, but not great. Italy doesn't do much in the way of mainstream cars. Japan comes out on top.
Personally, I love Toyotas. Compared to Lexuses, BMW and Mercedes charge considerably more for the same luxury. Hondas are obviously good, and their safety record speaks for itself. The other Japanese automakers all make better cars in terms of quality than their American counterparts.
Posts: 3446 | Registered: Jul 2002
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