Another one for the "Wish I'd Written It" File...

As Ford posts yet another crazy-ass quarterly loss ($8.7 billion), it makes one wonder how much better the US auto industry (and its unions) would be doing if they had let the government raise CAFE standards, huh? The government could've bailed them out of this mess.

And it makes one wonder how much better that industry would be doing if they hadn't so viciously opposed Bill and Hillary Clinton's 1993 health care initiative. In 2004, GM spent over $5 billion in health care costs -- a number that is likely significantly larger today. That's billions that would be off its balance sheet had they not opposed universal healthcare.

Lots of industries may shoot themselves in the foot, but none more so than the auto industry. It truly deserves the comeuppance it is getting (and it has gotten a healthy assist from its unions). The people who don't deserve it -- of course -- are its workers, who are getting screwed.

~ Markos Moulitsas Zúniga

Yep, classic myopic behavior on the part of U.S. industry. Seems that the auto industry isn't the only group that can't see past its wingtips. I watched a film last night (can't remember the name) that outlined the destruction of Western U.S. wildlands by the oil and gas industry. The gist of the film was that for the first time, environmentalists, ranchers and hunters were coming together to try to save public lands from rampant destruction.

The current administration has deregulated drilling to such an extent that oil companies have been granted leases in most of the Rocky Mountains' public lands set aside for preservation. Many of these untapped sources of natural gas hold only a few days' worth of inventory. So the plan is: go in and drill the crap out of these areas, run roads and pipelines throughout and leave these great lands scarred and torn. All for a little gas. Not very cool. Ranch lands are also affected with many unable to raise cattle due to the segmentation of the grasslands and poisoning of the aquafers due to spillage and open evaporation pits. One rancher had his stock tested and 90% of the cattle showed measurable traces of petroleum contamination. Not really something I would recommend getting into the food supply. (Yet another reason to shy away from meat.)

So all of this is pretty awesome. Or not.

On a completely separate note, I feel great, physically. Only a trace of soreness left yesterday after Sunday's effort and I am fired up to start running again. Looking for the next great adventure. Fortunately for me, Rach is super supportive of these things and is always encouraging me to go out and have some fun. I may see if anyone needs pacing assistance at Leadville. I'll keep you posted on that.

~stubert.