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Editorial: Myths, Misinformation and Propaganda
December 16th, 2008

Editorial: Editorial: Will Park Closure Just Make Things Worse?
November 29th, 2008

Editorial: Editorial: October and November Surprises
October 30th, 2008

Editorial: Is the Sky Falling?
September 24th, 2008

Editorial: Editorial: Who Reads Cedar Key News?
September 19th, 2008

Editorial: The First Hurdle for Every Child
September 3rd, 2008

Editorial: A View of China from Cedar Key
August 18th, 2008

Editorial: Who Killed the Real Estate Market?
August 8th, 2008

Editorial: Editorial: It`s Clamerica!
July 1st, 2008

Editorial: Can the City Commission Limit Noise?
June 6th, 2008

Editorial: Unintended Results Rock the Boat
May 29th, 2008

Editorial: Creeping Gas Prices
May 13th, 2008

Editorial: Cedar Key Election Soon
April 30th, 2008

Editorial: Questions fo the Candidates
April 2nd, 2008

Editorial: Coming Elections: National County and City
March 19th, 2008

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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.

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