I’ve been waiting for the article, just like the one by Mr. Michael Fumento, Forbes Aug. 09, since the Wall Street Journal reported NHTSA was suspected to had hidden or delayed their finding that the Toyota accidents under investigation seemingly caused by drivers’ mistake.
Well, it sounds quite natural when you put it this way. NHTSA and GM are owned by the same boss just like Chinese petroleum giants. It is supposed to be a new kind of bailout campaign. What I feel weird is the news media in US seem to have been in the same bandwagon. Are they influenced?
For a person like me who learned a lot from The Powers That Be by David Halberstam and Watergate things by Bob Woodward as Mr. Fumento mentioned, it’s been hard to believe the American media were seemingly biased, which I have respected for decades as fair, transparent and freed from anything.
To me at first the coverage was featured as Toyota-gate, but as a whole it turned out to be a nation wide comprehensive bail out campaign and it is successful so far. I thought it could only happen in China and Russia. More interestingly, BP thing changed the whole landscape. What about Toyota? No news value anymore?
Maybe I am too naïve. I may have a personal problem, though. I am a kind of Americanized. For instance, when I see something reported neither clear nor understandable over here, I tend to consult what US media’s saying to level any bias if it exists.
If I am not persuaded, I have another leveler for just in case. I go to Europe, mainly to BBC (As for Toyota media in EU have been much calmer.) To some degree I understand there were many who were not happy that Toyota made money most on C4C, which was funded by the US tax payers. I only need another one or two Forbes to keep my trust in US media. It could save my time. And it is good for the USA. And for the world, too.
Having said that, I have another personal issue. Succeed in the comprehensive bailout campaign brought me some money. I happen to own a small amount of Ford bond. I bought it long ago when I retired. So ironically, I will get more profit if the biased campaign goes more successful. Life is complicated. ■
