--- In [email protected], Eric Miller <1ericmill...@...> wrote:
>
> What does this Toyota fiasco say about free markets? Doesn't seem the
> company tried to do the right thing to protect its reputation (and safety of
> customers) on its own.
1) Since the automotive industry is one of the most heavily-regulated
industries in the country, what makes you think that it's part of a "free
market"?
2) Because Toyota's competition (GM and Chrysler) have now merged with the
government, the federal "investigation" of Toyota is a clear conflict of
interest.
3) Even if Toyota did ignore these problems, they are certainly being punished
for it now. Plummeting stock prices, slumping sales and damaged consumer
confidence are the price that Toyota is paying for its alleged negligence.
---Sasan
