Departments



Articles

Less

Editorial: Guest Editorial: A Native`s Case for Florida Hometown Democracy
October 3rd, 2009

Editorial: Budget of Sugarcreek Goes Modern
October 1st, 2009

Editorial: Is Nothing Sacred?
September 17th, 2009

Editorial: Great Expectations
September 2nd, 2009

Editorial: Helping the Levy County Budget
August 6th, 2009

Editorial: WUFT-FM to Delete Music for Cedar Key
July 28th, 2009

Editorial: Governor Crist Balks on Appointment
July 9th, 2009

Editorial: Affordable Housing in Cedar Key
July 6th, 2009

Editorial: The Greening of Cedar Key
June 25th, 2009

Editorial: Unanimous Consent to Suspend the Rules
June 12th, 2009

Editorial: Cutting the Cost of Garbage Collection
May 27th, 2009

Editorial: America Must Support Chinese Democracy Seekers
March 23rd, 2009

Editorial: Membership Appeal
February 20th, 2009

Editorial: Cutting Health Care Costs
January 10th, 2009

Editorial: 2008 and Some Fearless Predictions
December 30th, 2008

More

Editorial: Henry Ford, American Genius

Editorial: Henry Ford, American Genius

Editorial


Henry Ford famously said, "History is bunk!" Ford had no appreciation for history, but he was certainly an historic figure. Ford revolutionized automobile manufacturing with the moving assembly line of Model T`s In 1914. That same year he instituted a minimum wage that allowed his workers enough income to buy a new Model T with just ninety day`s wages.


Henry Ford was never accused of being a liberal. In fact he was anti-semitic, cozy with the Nazi Party and sweepingly autocratic. He was a conservative with an innovative idea that promoted economic growth. The minimum wage was, and still is, fought by conservative partisans.


Today`s minimum wage does not let a wage earner buy an economy car with ninety day`s wages. To be fair, much of a new car`s costs are government imposed safety equipment such as effective brakes, safety glass, seat belts, turn signals, etc. Government "intrusion" in the manufacture of automobiles has saved many lives. (Government intrusion recently saved General Motors from financial collapse, but that is another editorial.) The minimum wage and safety devices are good ideas, regardless of the idea`s sources.


Henry Ford deserves credit for making cars affordable, although he was vilified by luxury car manufacturers. Likewise, Ralph Nader deserves credit for making cars safer. Yet Nader was defamed by the automotive industry, and particularly General Motors, for his call for seat belts. Concern for quarterly earnings determine industry goals and lobbying expenditures.


Innovations such as a minimum wage disturb special interests that want to preserve the status quo. New ideas deserve consideration for their long-term effects. That consideration should include recognition of who opposes the new idea.

Click for printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

 

 

© 2013
Cedar Key News

cedarkeynews@gmail.com