David Kiley suffers from electric shock therapy

In his latest opinion piece on autoblog.com, "Chevrolet Volt debates leave out that whole 'Vision Thing'," David Kiley says:

A lot of ink is being spilled over the Chevrolet Volt. There are arguments over whether it is worth even the $33,500 it costs after the Federal tax credit kicks in, or the $350.00 per month lease price (after $2,500 downpayment). There are debates over its real fuel economy, and range. There are debates about whether any vehicle should get a $7,500 rebate to make it decently affordable. The market should decide, the argument goes.

We know the market will decide in the end. Even as the federal government has imposed "Corporate Average Fuel Economy" rules in the hopes of forcing manufacturers to make more fuel efficient vehicles, new vehicle sales show that consumers in the U.S. still like their pickups and SUVs.

Yes, the market will decide, to the extent it can.  And it should decide  But Mr. Kiley forgets -- or doesn't recognize -- that the US does not have an automotive market free of the distortions created by government manipulation.  Then he propagandizes:

What most of the arguments over the Volt don't take into consideration is what I call "The Vision Thing."

(Most consumers think of the relevant "vision thing" as an affordable, reliable, well-made, well-designed, and (if possible) attractive automobile.  Period.  GM hasn't been making many of these in quite a while.  But I interrupt...)

General Motors board member Steve Girsky, who is a former Wall Street analyst and consigliere to the United Auto Workers, says he has been a voice arguing inside the automaker to make a greater commitment to Volt and extended-range electrics. He also says that CEO Daniel Akerson is another voice pushing for the vehicle and technology despite its high cost.

Kiley's sybil, Mr. Girsky, is a great example of the economically, morally, and policially corrupt leadership of the "new" GM: a Wall Street insider cum UAW "consigliere" cum  GM board member.

But Kiley is not just a shill for fascist corporatism in Detroit.  His muse-like inspiration from the Volt leads him to sing of arms and the tax credit:

Tax credits and other incentives to bring start-up costs down make sense because the government is an interested party. After all, if the U.S. didn't need Middle East oil, far fewer combat service members would be needed.

Mr. Kiley, please understand that most decision makers in The Government are actually interested in continuing our imperialistic wars regardless of Middle East oil.  And many of them also want to continue the federal government's war on the car as we know it because it is a means for human freedom.