SOMETIMES A CIGAR REALLY IS OF THE EXPLODING VARIETY
I'm not gonna go off on a rant about G.M.'s announcement that it plans to save itself from bankruptcy, mass firings, and ultimately, its own doom, through a new advertising blitz.
Nah.
I'm not gonna harp on the fact that G.M. should spend more time worrying the quality (and fuel efficiency) of its cars.
Nah.
I'm not even gonna bother trying to explain that in a warped way, it's probably good for a few American automakers to fail, so better products can find their way to market. Or that in an even more warped way, we need shakeups and shocks to face the consequences of our energy policy and the industries that feed it.
I don't have to say "nah" again, do I? I mean, you guys are following what I'm doing here, right? Ok.
Instead, I'm gonna point out how stupid the choice of ad campaign is. To wit:
Bell-bottoms? Eight-tracks? AM Radio music? Not only are those images of asinine products that failed, but -- oh, and this is the deliciously symbolic part -- they're images of . . . the 1970's, the very period that saw American automakers lose their decades-long position of dominance, because of a series of poor product decisions, the most notable being a failure to respond to the American consumers' need for more fuel efficient cars. Unbelievable.
Once again, you just can't make this stuff up.
Nah.
I'm not gonna harp on the fact that G.M. should spend more time worrying the quality (and fuel efficiency) of its cars.
Nah.
I'm not even gonna bother trying to explain that in a warped way, it's probably good for a few American automakers to fail, so better products can find their way to market. Or that in an even more warped way, we need shakeups and shocks to face the consequences of our energy policy and the industries that feed it.
I don't have to say "nah" again, do I? I mean, you guys are following what I'm doing here, right? Ok.
Instead, I'm gonna point out how stupid the choice of ad campaign is. To wit:
The upbeat Then and Now ads feature images of past GM cars and other period icons, such as bell-bottom pants and eight-track tape players, interspersed with images of some of today's models. The soundtrack is the song AM Radio by Everclear.
Bell-bottoms? Eight-tracks? AM Radio music? Not only are those images of asinine products that failed, but -- oh, and this is the deliciously symbolic part -- they're images of . . . the 1970's, the very period that saw American automakers lose their decades-long position of dominance, because of a series of poor product decisions, the most notable being a failure to respond to the American consumers' need for more fuel efficient cars. Unbelievable.
Once again, you just can't make this stuff up.
posted by Mike at 6:29 AM
3 Comments:
All very disheartening for us here in Michigan. GM could be converting to fuel efficient cars and leading the nation, or converting to wind turbines or who knows, maybe even solar-cell tech. Makes you sick to think of the wasted time and opportunities. And it's personal for me, as well: My sister =just= got her 30 years in with GM-Delphi and has been maximally stressed out with all the uproar. She's retiring June 1. She thinks she's still going to get her pension, but we all know better. Michigan is so screwed.
Donna said: "Michigan is so screwed."
Faced with the incredible cost of maintaining an infrastructure designed for automobile use, the ever-tightening noose of diminishing supply for the vehicles that use that infrastructure, and the 'mindless' addiction to 'motoring' by Americans, heck, simply plug in any state name . . . hell, plug in America. We seem hell bent to deny any alternative, recognize our own foolish comsumption as a 'fatal flaw,' and go for establishing the validity of the 'null set.' Ah, the joys of excess.
But I thought GM already solved this problem by sticking a little GM logo on the side of every car...
No, I'm not making that up either...
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