NHTSA Bought and Paid For By Toyota and Others

The post below has nothing whatsoever to do with the printing industry, so read at your own peril...

Ever wonder how many (not if, but how many) current or past employees of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) end up with cosy "Sweetheart" deals with those in the automotive industry they are supposed to regulate?

For all intents and purposes, Sec. of Transportation Ray Lahood was himself looked upon for years as nothing more than Caterpillar's convenient "bootblack," thanks in large measure to all the campaign contributions he received from same.

What galls me most was his fake indignation a few weeks ago when he appeared before a House Transportation Committee investigating the recalls by Toyota. When asked about the cozy relationships between employees of NHTSA and companies like Toyota he responded with great indignation.

The only indignation that ought to be raised would be if there was NO connection between current and former employees of NHTSA and companies like Toyota. Of course there are connections, but no one wants to take the time to investigate the revolving doors, the bribes, the kickbacks and the promises of jobs and contributions in return for favorable votes.

Do you realize that not once in its history has DOT or NHTSA ever sought and received a court-ordered recall against an automobile manufacturer - NOT ONCE! Every recall in the industry has ultimately been the result of self-policing by the industry itself, not the result of the federal agency charged with supervising the industry.

Quite honestly, the whole thing stinks!