I Have to Admit....

...It Makes Me Wonder

The AP reported yesterday that Toyota, unlike other major automakers, has routinely been secretive about information it has obtained from "black boxes" in their autos. Toyota attributes that to it being "experimental", etc. All in all, it would seem to me that Toyota (or any other manufacturer in their position) would be more open and sound less like they were stonewalling than they appear.

For the moment all this has certainly been helping US automakers. Ford had a profit and the others are making moves. But in the long run, when a company like Toyota, with a previously good image, falls like this, the whole industry could be affected. What's more it is an American jobs issue as well. After all, many Toyota's are made right here in the USA.

Unfortunately many big companies have the same kind of problem. Some of it is industrial secrets to protect the brand. But, like Wall Street and the Big Banks, it is also about making sure that the rich get richer and the rest get put in their place. I have the feeling that it doesn't need to be that way.

But when faced with something like this, it does make me wonder if there is a real helpful solution where everybody can feel like they are winners.