GM profits are down by 90% this quarter. A lot of that is due to the losses by their financial arm GMAC. More ominous however are their continuing loses from the North American car manufacturing operations. The reason: GM is not making cars that Americans want to buy. Is it any wonder that the Massena plant is closing. Those that invoke the “efficiency” of the market place as an almost religious mantra are now seeing that efficiency in its most brutal manifestations. Yes, the “invisible hand” of an unrestrained and unguided market is forcing the closure of the GM Powertrain division in Massena.

EV1 crushed by GMGM, like so many American companies, has put short term gains above long term stability. They have refused to invest in the future and come up with fuel efficient cars. In fact, after successfully conducting a leasing trial in southern California, GM crushed and buried the EV1, the electric battery car. Instead, they have scared the wits out of our local union leaders who, joined by our congressman, have resisted government benchmarks for fuel efficiency (CAFE) standards. The last time fuel efficiency was demanded by the congress was in 1976 after the Arab Oil embargos. Since then, Detroit and Big Oil has fought them tooth and nail. That was fine when gas was relatively cheap. It was also fine when Congress, could put its head in the sand about global warming. That was before the ice caps so dramatically started to break off.

During my debates with Mr. McHugh, there was always a question about the CAFE (corporate average fuel efficiency) standards. He has consistently voted against the CAFE standards. In fact, this amendment was sponsored by Sherry Boehlert of the 24th district (Rome, Utica, Cortland). Mr. McHugh’s reason: raising the CAFE standards would eliminate the Massena Power Train plant and 500 good paying jobs along with the additional economic ripples and job loses that would be caused by their loss. My retort to that was that Americans still had to buy cars but they would be buying more fuel efficient cars as directed by the government. My point is exactly what has happened: without government leadership in shaping national policy and goals, the Massena power plant, along with other GM plants throughout the country are on the chopping block. Sherry Boelhert saw that back in 2001. Our economy is indeed a mixed economy where the government does has a role of leadership and that we should not revert to a complete laisse faire purely market economy. It is too “efficient”, particularly when the only goal of corporate America is short term profit. Executive compensation is based on short term gains – a whole new era of robber barons. No wonder there was no investment in our future.

Likewise, he has voted to expand oil exploration and increase the amount available. His solution is to develop more supply instead of conserving. It is exactly what we don’t need. Conservation with more fuel efficiency is so much more effective for both the economy and certainly for the environment.

If it were up the to Luddites of 1811, there would have been no technologic innovation. They too buried their heads in the sand and revolted against new technology. The sad part is that both the energy crisis and the environmental crisis were predictable at least 12 years ago. At every turn, the Big Three and Big Oil have refused to accept their responsibility for long term investment and the Bush - Cheney administration, enabled by our congressman, has sided with them.

There are those of us that believe that the war in Iraq is about protecting our oil interests. For the same $1.2 Trillion that this war is going to cost us, we could provide a hybrid car to nearly every family in the US – halving our gas consumption and at the same time, forcing gas prices down due to decreased demand. What’s more, we would end our mideast oil dependence. But the war is good for Jefferson County. Our congressman associates the war with the success of Fort Drum, keeping it at maximum capacity. Hence, his unwavering support for the war. No matter what he says, there is always an excuse for his support of George Bush and his war.

We are now even a more government subsidized economy than ever. The loss of the Massena plant’s 500 good paying private sector jobs makes us more dependent on the government largess. It’s no wonder the Republicans and Mr. McHugh in particular embrace big government. It make us depend upon it and hence him. It’s good to have people dependent on you if you are an elected government official. It creates electoral constituencies that have a vested interest in keeping in office the hand that feeds them.

So Republicanism has changed from get the government off my back to let’s suck as much out of the government as we can.