Axis of Logic
Finding Clarity in the 21st Century Mediaplex

Choice Reader Comment
April 1 - April 30, 2005
By Editorial Board
Axis of Logic
Sunday, Apr 3, 2005

Re: Rover Cars Fiasco

 

Dear Phil
 
Many thanks for your kind and valued email.
 
All Columnists and Editors at Axis of Logic, welcome feedback from our readers: unlike the mainstream media, it is very much a core focus of our Mission Statement.
 
I do agree that from the mid -1960s on, the quality of BMC's (as it then was) cars became very poor: at the same time, the quality - and reliability of Continental makers, such as VW improved dramatically, as did style and engineering advance. BMW in particular were making great inroads with such as the fabled 2002 Tii.
 
Additionally, BMC lost its edge in design and performance: even Ford Europe, with models like the original Escort, were far in advance in engineering and performance terms of reference. The World success of the Escort in rallying, from about 1967, as well as circuit racing, is an excellent example of Ford's then progress.
 
Whilst I did indeed lay blame for much of the BMC/British Leyland, later MG-Rover Group's eventual failure at the British Government's door (after all, the company, in whatever guise had received approaching �4 billion pounds of British taxpayer's money lent/invested in it!), I also accorded due blame for successive incompetent management teams.
 
I thought that the title of this piece, makes that pretty clear!
 
Insofar as Detroit is concerned, I do agree that it has lost its way, almost totally. The unhappy merger of Mercedes/Daimler and Chrysler, has yet to produce any cogent and meaningful result: it is, to me, similar to the HP-Compaq scenario, in that Daimler-Chrysler were already struggling against such as BMW and Volkswagen Audi Group for market share, prior to the merger and Daimler-Chrysler were (and still do) struggling with quality, reliability and styling issues: as were Chrysler, post Lee Iacocca .
 
I do agree that there exists a sort of mirror image in the earlier upper class control of business ventures in the UK, to the dominance of US  major corporations by a select few and have made that analogy myself on many occasions.
 
Additionally, in Detroit, they (and the oil corporations), were amongst the first to spend considerable sums on political lobbying, against such controls as ecological pollution and safety and it was not until Ralph Nader came along, that Detroit was forced to re-think designs and their impact upon people and the environment.
 
However with products such as autos, there is a far closer relationship with the product and the user than with most other manufacturing areas. A poor car disappoints and irritates on a frequent daily basis!
 
I have (particularly on Axis of Logic)  frequently suggested that inescapable parallels now exist (which I have been tracking for some time) between the US and the UK, in terms of how the US economy and society is degrading in an almost eerily identical fashion to the earlier malaise of the UK.
 
Interestingly, an article in preparation, does explore the inanity of Detroit, where both GM and Ford, in their last published results, clearly demonstrates that it is the finance divisions of both companies that are allowing each to declare a profit, rather than a huge loss!
 
Ford Motor Credit, for example, contributed 103% to Ford's "Profit": how long this can persist is a mute point, as the US heads into a significant liquidity crisis.
 
Generally, I believe that both Detroit and MG-Rover (representing their respective country's automotive manufacturing industries), followed identical paths in ignoring essential engineering and production advances and became complacent, to their collective detriment, as firstly Japan and secondly Continental Europe made huge advances in terms of performance, quality, price and reliability.
 
Again, many thanks for writing.
 
Best wishes
 
Michael
 
Columnist
Axis of Logic
 
 
 
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 9:15 PM
 
Subject: Rover fiasco
 
Dear Mr. Feltham,
 
As a former fervent car guy who lusted after Aston-Martins, Jags, and Mini Coopers, I was aghast when I suffered the ownership of my first British car, an MG in the mid-sixties. To have watched the vaunted English marques devolve into sometimes rolling jokes was painful even for a few of us Yanks. I tended to blame Lucas, the Prince of Darkness, at the time, but it became clear that the problem was far larger. 
 
Your thesis that government interference was the primary difficulty might be true for the English auto industry, but we see GM failing, Ford floundering and Chrysler bought by the Huns here in the US and it can hardly be blamed on the government. My thought is that there is a significant flaw in modern economies that is a carry-over from the days of the monarchs - the superficialities of the system have changed, but the one percent rule has not. 
 
It is the elite and their misbegotten progeny that is the problem, and it always has been. I drive an ancient Mazda that delivers the driving excitement that countless dismal US, British, and Italian marques promised, but failed utterly to deliver. As I have often thought as I gaze upon a new "revolutionary" GM product - it was designed by a committee. To that extent the governmental influence has been felt over here. 
 
Best,
 
Phil Toler 
____________________ 

 

Re: The Rover Cars Fiasco

 

Dear Helen

 

Many thanks for your kind email.

 

All of us at Axis of Logic are always very pleased to hear from our readers.

 

I spent many happy hours, years ago, "Playing" with cars! Still do, occasionally.

 

As the global automotive industry forgets its past, so much has been lost.

 

I owned many classic cars, when they were still current! These included a couple of Healeys, MGs (both Twin Cam and 1600 Mk.II, e Type Jags, numerous Jag saloons, even a XK 150 coupe, but that was tired.

 

When racing, my automotive business tended to develop a minor specialism in Cooper s and MG Midget and we were frequent buyers of the excellent Special Tuning Parts from Abingdon.

 

Sadly all long gone.

 

Whilst I had considerable personal knowledge of BMC etc, (even writing an historical article for the Mini-Cooper Heritage Club magazine a few years ago, on Cooper s road and race cars and an obituary on Bill Heynes, the man responsible for the original development of the Jaguar twin cam, straight six that started life in the XK 120, won at Le Mans, five times, as the C type and then the D type and was being used in the XJ6 until not too many years ago!),

 

I had to undertake copious research work for this article.

 

Whilst I write on business, finance and global economics (as you know), some of the facts I unearthed shocked even cynical old me!

 

My next Axis article also has a Detroit component (this was held back, since the  Rover issue was more urgent) and it is very worrying.

 

I do agree with your term "malignant slugs": sums it all up nicely.

 

Again, many thanks for your kind and valued email.

 

God speed back to your native land: at least, Scotland seems to be getting more of it right, since devolution: apart from the immense over-spend on the parliament building!

 

Best wishes,

 

Michael

 

 

Dear Mr. Feltham,

 

I read your excellent article, The Rover Cars Fiasco on Axis this morning.

 

I am a transplanted Scot living the U.S.(not for long, may I say!) who enjoyed the wonders of the Morris and Austin Healey in the 60's.  Incidentally, we still see the Healey here, restored to it's original beauty. Great car.

 

I am sad that inept, under-qualified, avaricious, malignant slugs, who, because of cronyism in Govt., get away with such thievery and treachery time and time again with only futile whispers from the workers, who are the nation.

 

We are experiencing the same cronyism, thievery and perfidy here, in the U.S. under the guise of the religious right, the difference being, there is no evident "thought process" in the majority of the working class about what really is going on, never mind a whisper. 

 

Sincerely,

Helen McLean

 

 ____________________ 

 

Ed. Note: The following 6 letters are an exchange between Axis of Logic Columnist, Carlos Herrera and Luis Quiroga, brother of ex-Bolivian President Jorge Quiroga (See for Jorge Quiroga�s bio and political stance) who took over in 2001 when General Banzer died.  The first letter from Carlos Herrera is in response to a letter by Luis Quiroga, published in Letters from our Readers in March, 2005. Many think that Luis' brother, Jorge Quiroga will be running against Evo Morales, Bolivarian leader in the next presidential election in Bolivia. This exchange of email has been an interesting one to follow.  Inserted in this exchange is a letter from Axis of Logic to Luis Quiroga, inviting him to submit an essay, explaining his position on the current situation in Bolivia. Letters from other readers follow this exchange of correspondence. - LMB 

 

-----Mensaje original-----

 

De: Carlos Herrera [

mailto:carlosherrera191@hotmail.com]
Enviado el: Thursday, March 24, 2005 10:31 AM
Para: <email deleted>
CC: rmcmail@speakeasy.net
Asunto: Forwarding request

 

Dear Luis,

I will send your mail to Les Blough, Founding Editor of Axis of Logic and ask him to publish it.

I am sorry if you feel that our e-mail exchange was used against you in some way. However, and as you will know, there is much lack of knowledge in the US about Bolivia, and it is necessary to at least enlighten people there. Finally, why don't you write an essay for Axis of Logic. You have the right to have your point of view represented as well.

I only used what you wrote to me and in fact there were no "state secrets" contained therein.

Best regards

Carlos

 

 

Dear Luis,

As you must know, I have been following your correspondence with Carlos Herrera since you began writing to one another. It has been an interesting exchange. I have removed your email in these publications - out of respect for your privacy. I will be publishing the correspondence in our "From our Readers" section on Axis of Logic. I only write to you now to confirm Mr. Herrera's statement - that we would be happy to publish your essay if you decide to submit something to us. Of course, as an editorial board, we have our set of assumptions and world view from which we publish and write - just like all news and information media. But unlike most corporate media, we have no problem publishing well-written articles with which we disagree.

So yes, we invite you to write about your analysis and position on Bolivia, Venezuela or on any other matter.

Sincerely,

Les

Les Blough, Editor
Axis of Logic
Boston, MA (USA)
617-787-3498
www.axisoflogic.com
rmcmail@speakeasy.net 

 

 

 

From: "Luis Quiroga" email deleted
To: "'Carlos Herrera'" <carlosherrera191@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Forwarding request
Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 09:05:32 -0400

Dear Carlos:

I couldn't resist.

Mr Chavez the defender of Bolivia's access to the sea votes five times for the most outspoken Chilean against Bolivia's right to access the Pacific Ocean, Jose Miguel Insulza.

Didn�t we have this conversation before and didn�t I tell you before I hate to say it but I told you so, so much for the Bolivarian myth. A demagougue just like I could see it from the beginning.

Oh what about increasing poverty in Venezuela according to the INE (his own government) or was this American Imperialist Porpaganda at work again.

Like I told you before you are wrong and we are right and your system doesn�t work.

As for the Bolivarian Diputados coming down on that plane drinking champagne in first class, they were coming dowb for Evo's 10th anniversary so that should be easy enough to find out for you who they were.

Best regards

Luis Fernando Quiroga

 

 

-----Mensaje original-----

De: Carlos Herrera [mailto:carlosherrera191@hotmail.com]
Enviado el: Thursday, April 14, 2005 1:08 PM
Para: email deleted
Asunto: RE: Forwarding request

Luis,

Good to hear from you.

Insulza is the best of the bunch for the OEA. Flores is out and Derbez is more likely to be a US puppet.

The report on the INE web site - you should read this carefully before drawing any conclusions which fit your political posturing. You have to see the interpreation of this data in line with the Index of Human development. No one is surprised here about the poverty index after twoo yesrs of politcal problems etc.

Whatever you think, this president is here for many years yet. Did you notice that GDP grew here by 11% in Q1. This is more than a "PIB" - it is a PII - es decir Producto interno inteligente, y no bruto.

I am finishing an article on Santa Cruz which should be published next week.

BTW - the polls I have seen put Evo ahead of the pack in bolivia.

Carlos Herrera

 

 

From: "Luis Quiroga" email deleted
To: "'Carlos Herrera'" <carlosherrera191@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Forwarding request
Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 13:26:48 -0400

As expected there is an explanation for everything even if it distorts reality.

We are not arguinig if Insulza is the best qualified or not or if he has thre PHD's. You are evading the point. The point is that Chavez supported the Bolivian claim to regain its sea. Chavez favoured our cause and then turned his back and supported our biggest enemy Mr Anti Bolivia Insulza. I have great friends in Chile by the way but this guy is not one of them. That proves what a demagogue Chavez is.

The report of the INE website is true! And proves Chavez has no idea of how to run a country. What is his experience shooting rifles and attempting coups and then managing a nation. Come on, nex thing you will tell me is he is qualified to start in the Venezuelan soccer team.

A PII of 11% congratulations but with oil at $58 it does not surprise me wait until it comes down again and the email me with the PIB or PII. That money should be invested in the poor not in rifles to feed the guerrillas.

I am wsting my time you are never going to understand, foerget I even mailed you.

No hay mas ciego que el; que no quiere ver!

Write me when Chavez falls and all the garbage on what he did starts to come out, then we'll talk.

The polls say Evo is ahead I am so glad for him. I have a poll that says I am more handsome than Brad Pitt. You want me to send you the numbers? If Evo is ahead why were all his people telling us that they did not want anticipated elections? He refused Mesa's resignation because he is dead scared of Tuto and now he has initiated a lawsuit against Tuto. Funny ahead in the polls and he worries about the guys that are way behind him. He is dummer than I had anticipated perhaps?

The poll that counts is the election and we wil defeat Chavez and his puppet Evo. We are 2 to 1. Ask them to give you a copy of the poll that our inside guy filtered to us. The November one the one that Chavez financed and he didn�t know how he was going to show it to his boss.

Luis Fernando Quiroga

 

 

-----Mensaje original-----

De: Carlos Herrera [mailto:carlosherrera191@hotmail.com]
Enviado el: Thursday, April 14, 2005 1:08 PM
Para: email deleted
Asunto: RE: Forwarding request

Luis,

Don't get upset. The only way Chavez will fall is if he is assassinated or the US invades. �Ya basta!

The INE poverty figures go up to the end of 2003 - when the country was recovering from the golpe econ

�mico. My country lost around US$22 billion in lost oil and industrial production due to the fascists and the US support/funding trying to create another Chilean situation. That is one years national budget. And then you blame Chavez for the increase in poverty. At least the investment in the poor has maintained the index of human development.

 

BTW consumerism does NOT equal well being.

As I wrote in a recent article, we should buy 300,000 AK 47 and prepare ourselves for the visit of the Northern Empire. If things are so bad in Venezuela and CVhavez is misappropiating money for arms which, according to your thesis, should go to the poor, then why is there little social unrest here from the masses?

You are also blind to the fact that all the US supported regimes - such as yours, Gutierrez' and Toledo's are all on the point of crumbling. Look at the social unrest in these two countries. The Pueblo must be really happy at the way they are being treated, and Toledo and Gutierez are trying to sell their countries out to the global corporate empire. There is a sea change of consciousness in this continent whther you want to believe it or not.

Your aggression towards Chavez simply is a smokescreen for the fear you feel as you know change is inevitable.

Chavez is doing a good job here. Our external debt is less than US$22billion and we have US$26.4 billion of international reserves. The fact that oil is at US$58/barrel does not mean that Venezuelan receives this amount per barrel. The Venezuelan basket is around US$43/barrel and since the long term oil contracts are calculated on long term averages, this means that the real income is far less than a one day benchmark price of US$58/barrel. My God, Luis, you speak like the failed economists of the oppoistion whose predictions in 2003 were more than 85% wrong.

Venezuela will have the highest PIB growth in the region in 2005, as it did in 2004, and that cannot be achieved if the country is not working, despite the oil price.

You are right, the only poll that counts are the elections. Let's wait and see. But a lot of things will happen in Bolivia in the coming months. You guys will be politically crushed when the Constituent Assembly takes place, as were the Venezuelan ruling classes.

As Jos

�Saramago said in Caracas in December last year:

 

"It�s not Chavez, nor Lula nor Kirchner. The truth is that the peoples have risen up. And woe betide any leader who is not up to recognizing this. The people will just pass over them because they are tired and have taken the vanguard. A new wave is flowing over this continent and it is also reaching other parts of the world. Latin America has risen up from the North to the South as happened one hundred and two hundred years ago, against all empires and imperialism"

That is what you and your brother Jorge have to bear in mind. Me, I'm just an activist working for the excluded, so I do not have to worry about these things, since I recognize what is happening and have no privileges to lose.

If you are so convinced of your position and can justify it in human and social terms to change S. American reality, then come out in public and write an essay for Axis of Logic. I am sure that the editor would publish it.

Take care

Carlos Herrera

 

 

Series of Letters from officials in the Venezuelan government

Received April 3, 2005 from Alfredo Toro Hardy, Venezuelan Ambassador to the U.K. and Ireland, London, England 

 
Dear Mr. Blough:

Thank you very much for your nice comments and for enclosing the letter that you sent to Minister Izarra. We do, indeed, appretiate very much your strong support to President Chavez.

Best regards,

Alfredo.

 
 
 
 
Dear Mr. Blough,
Thank you very much for your letter*. I have forwarded your email to Minister Izarra, in case he has not already seen it. I do really appreciate your interest and solidarity with the Bolivarian process in my country.

You are a truly invaluable source of information for the English speaking audience.
Please, Mr. Blough give your team our special word of gratitude.
Sincerely.
Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez
Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
Venezuelan Embassy
1099 30th St., N.W.,  
Washington, D.C. 20007 
*The Ambassador refers here to correspondence concerning Minister Andres Izarra's letter to the Washington Post 
 
 
Dear Mr. Blough,
 
Thanks for the support that you and your team offer the Bolivariana revolution, in the fight for the truth and against the disinformation.  Security has you it.  These efforts will not be in vain, because really, the destiny of this process is tied to the fight by all the people of the world for democracy, peace and against imperialism.
 
Gustavo M�rquez Mar�n
Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
Ministry of Foreign Trade
Caracas, Venezuela
 
 
Dear Axis of Logic,
 
Your articles are enlightening.  I am terrified of what is to come.  How can we prepare?  Shouldn't the American people be doing something?  I am a single mother of three, have just come out of a homeless shelter after losing my home, we are fine now....to whatever degree that can be right now.  I drive a taxi for a living and transport Medic soldiers that are in training, more specifically, being trained to go to Iraq.  These kids are just that, kids.  We need to stop the slayings on both sides.  I live in Texas, but hate Bush.  My bumper sticker reads:  "Fire Bush, save a soldier". 
 
I wish that we as a nation would get a spine and stand up.  There are so many of us tired and desperate for a change in what has happened to us right before our eyes.  What do we do to revolt?  We cannot let this continue without having blood on our hands as well.  It's like being an accessory to murder.  We didn't physically do it, but we the people  are also to blame.  Thank you for having this site here.
 
Regina Wakefield
 
 
Hi Axis of Logic,
I followed Chris Floyd's article 'Global Eye - Body Double': to the link at the Moscow Times:
with the hope of finding the link to the original article 'Baby Dies After Hospital Removes Breathing Tube', Houston Chronicle, March 16, 2005, only to discover that the link is either incorrect or the article does not exist:
The link to another annotated artcle 'Law Bush Signed as Governor Prompts Cries of Hypocrisy', is also broken:
I was able to follow Chris' link to the Texas State Health and Safety Code which does allow the state to make the final decision as to whether or not to maintain life support systems:
as well as his link to another annotated article 'Right to Life backed law that irks wife':
Nonetheless, since Chris' article focuses on the plight of Wanda Hudson and the death of her son in light of the Schiavo fiasco, it would be interesting to read her story.
I did search for the article at the Houston Chronicle site under archives but the search yielded no results.
If it's not possible to find that link, it might be wise to remove Chris' article.
Thank you,
Connie Johnston