This "auto" be interesting...

Remember when the Goracle was proclaiming the internal combustion engine to be the biggest threat to the planet? Makes you wonder why his philosophical allies in Congress are so eager to help Detroit stay in business and make more of them:

With the nation's automotive industry hemorrhaging cash, congressional leaders called on the Bush administration yesterday to offer government assistance to the car companies as part of the Treasury Department's $700 billion emergency rescue program.

The newspaper is being a little disingenuous here, of course. The $700 billion "rescue program," originally sold as a way to stabilize the financial industry, has morphed into a blank check for Henry Paulson to assume government interest in, and control of, any business or industry he chooses. And the price tag is far in excess of the original $700 billion.

Meanwhile, the government's proposing to sink its teeth into everyone's retirement accounts, effecting a forced nationalization of individual accounts. Individual responsibility in preparing for old age? Why, that might mean some will prepare better than others... and we can't have that, now can we?

But wait -- there's more! Not only will your business and your retirement be directed by Uncle Sam, your children will find structure and discipline in their mandatory 'volunteer' service to The Fatherland Homeland. As Michelle Obama warned us, The One won't let us fail to support our nation.

The State is loose from its chains and preparing to flex its muscle. Maybe that's why this part of the economy is doing rather well compared to the rest of it.