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Its a relatively straightforward concept: The American people put leaders into office to find solutions to the daunting challenges facing our country. Perhaps it bears repeating from time to time that last year the majority of Americans voted for change. President Barack Obama was elected to lead that change and to take the country in a better direction.
And yet, time and again, Washington, D.C., finds a way to lose sight of that. For a prime example, look no further than the recent umbrage some took in Washington over how differently Detroit and Wall Street were treated by the administration.
With AIG distributing bonuses to employees who took on risks they did not understand and General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner forced to resign for failing to plan ahead, its easy to fixate on the seemingly unfair discrepancy.
But this is an intellectual trap that Democrats and Republicans alike would be wise to avoid. Ultimately, what matters most is not whether two very different industries receive the same treatment, but whether the ultimate solution for each works for the American people.
Consider for a moment the topic most discussed in Washington this past week. It wasnt the charm of the cherry blossoms or the presidents arms-control negotiations on his first overseas visit. Rather, it was how to help get Americas auto industry back on track.
If we simply focus on the soon-to-be former head of GM, who will retire comfortably with millions of dollars, well miss the forest for the trees. The issue is not one individual, its the health of an entire industry vital to our economic recovery.
With the exception of the Ford Motor Co., which, to its credit, has yet to take a single penny in government bailout funds and was ahead of the curve on producing fuel-efficient vehicles, Detroits auto industry is facing a serious crisis lack of consumer confidence, expensive legacy costs and a product lineup that doesnt meet our energy needs.
These are serious challenges, which the administration addressed last week in a plan it outlined that was filled with more tough love that any mother would want. To address consumer confidence, the plan offers incentives that will motivate wary buyers to trade in their old car or truck for a more fuel-efficient vehicle. It guarantees warranties for GM and Chryslers vehicles. And it alerts consumers, through a campaign by the IRS, to a new tax benefit that allows them to deduct sales and excise taxes for any new vehicle bought this year.
These consumer benefits will help the environment. Those who trade in their old car for a new, less-polluting one will reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption. If the cash-for-older-cars program removed 10 percent of V-8 engines from the road, tens of millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide would be prevented from polluting the atmosphere every year.
For the past six years, I have driven Missy, my beloved but gas-guzzling SUV. It will be hard to part with Missy, who saved me on many a rain-slicked street and ice-covered road. But I must consider the cost to both my wallet and the planet.
Taken together, the presidents plan provides a much-needed boost to the auto industry by spurring sales nationwide with legislation that has already attracted bipartisan support. Better yet, we know it works. One element of the plan cash for older cars has already proved successful in Germany, where car sales increased 21 percent while falling elsewhere in Europe by nearly the same amount.
This is a tangible win-win-win plan. Its good as good for consumers as it is for the economy and environment. And, unlike a lot of what comes out of Washington, its a plan most people can understand.
Sadly, much of the talk recently in D.C. was not about the administrations plan to spur car sales, modernize our car fleet or help consumers. Instead, it centered on the contrast between the financial sector and Detroit. Politicians on both sides of the ideological divide lost sight of a golden opportunity to claim bipartisan credit on a common-sense, easy-to-understand solution that addresses many of the pressing challenges facing our nation.
If they continue to keep falling into that intellectual trap, focusing on partisan politics rather than bipartisan solutions, theyll ultimately crash our stalled economy. We must not allow our nation to fall into the ditch with those who just want to whine and rant until the next election in 2010. For once, lets put aside the silliness and view Obamas plan for what it is: a common-sense solution worth thinking about and perhaps acting upon.
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