Free Republic

It is not easy to defend an important principle embodied in the person of a questionable man. Once upon a time, when it still pretended to have the principles it advertised, the American Civil Liberties Union would defend free speech, due process and other such important principles, even if the man involved in the particulars was personally repellent. It was understood the principle at issue mattered far more than the incidental person because principles apply to every person. If one person can be denied due process, then every person’s due process rights are threatened. If one person’s right to speak...

"...the latest outcropping of technocratic busybodyism: The scanning of your car’s electronic ear tag, its Vehicle Identification Number or VIN." "Now the guy behind the counter will scan your car’s VIN – which is tied to the DMV – and first find out all kinds of things about you and your car. Then he will tell you which tires you’re allowed to buy. Yes, really."

Every new car is infested with Little Brothers – in the form of code and programming that “corrects” outright or thwarts whatever it is you wanted to do. It goes way beyond the Seat Belt Nanny. Have you tried backing up a new car with the driver’s door cracked open? Several won’t allow it – refusing to engage Reverse until you close the door. You can try all day to move the shifter into Reverse – but programming controls whether the transmission will comply. It’s all drive-by-wire now, you see. So no direct, mechanical connection between the gear selector and...

By next week, we'll learn more about GM's hideous bankruptcy "restructuring" plan -- which the government expects to have in its lap by early June. One thing, though, is pretty clear: Performance cars are on the "euthanize" list. No rumor -- a sad fact. GM has confirmed that there will be no more SS Impala over at Chevrolet -- and the supercharged Cobalt SS will be gradually faded out, beginning with the sedan version later this year followed by total extinction (coupes too) the next. Cobalt will return to being exclusively an econo-box and GM will quit trying to compete...

Wall Street Journal, 14 September 1998 p. A32 Don't Blame VW for Nazi Crimes Manager's Journal By Eric Peters Last week Volkswagen announced that it is establishing a $12 million fund to pay reparations to Nazi-era slave laborers. This "humanitarian relief" effort, as the auto maker characterized it, isn't likely to stave off a pair of lawsuits by survivors who toiled in VW 0 factories during World War H. But what is the legal or moral justification for holding Volkswagen's current employees, officers and stockholders responsible for wartime deeds of 50-plus years ago? Two weeks ago Elly Gross, a 69-year-old...