2 liter car executive perk (NAC)

[Phil Payne]

> Here in the States, a "2 liter car" is an outright insult, not an executive
perk. People have quit, even gone postal, over less.

And your gas guzzlers have a maximum speed of what?  On a German Autobahn, a surprisingly
large proportion of the cars in the outer lane are Audi A4 1.9TDI wagons, averaging 130mph+
for hours at a time.

> Phil just *may* have hit upon the reason for the lackluster (I'm being
*very* kind) performance of the German and French economies (they didn't
meet EU fiscal requirements, so the EU changed the rules - all the other
countries in Euroland are now officially pissed off since THEY had to bust
their chops to meet the rules . . .), especially in contrast with the US
economy, which grew at an annualized rate of 8.2% in the last quarter,
which is simply phenomenal.

But it's not organic growth - it's funded by a transient and unjustified (in an economic
sense) war economy.

Seen the deficit lately?  Anyone can spend to a deficit.  A cap of 4% is now running at 8% -
this is a number you're PROUD off?  It would frighten me witless.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-11-30-mccain-congress_x.htm

"He said growth of spending had been capped at 4%, but it was at least 8% higher. He said he
will continue urging Bush to veto profligate spending bills. The president has not veto a
single bill since he took office."

Heinz, Fritz and Francois say "I worked my butt off and all I get is *this*
sh*tbox?"

Joe, Sam and Harry say "I'm gonna get a new Escalade out of this (all six+
liters of wretched excess!), so watch me hustle!!!!"

> Capitalism is wonderful . . . especially if you own an oil company.

And also control the armed forces of the only superpower.  Condoleza Rice had an oil tanker
named after her - Cheney is up to his butt in Halliburton (still has stock options and a
payment stream) and Bush has so many oil interests it takes five sides of paper to describe
them.

--
  Phil Payne
  http://www.isham-research.com
  +44 7785 302 803