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THE FEDS AND ‘THE GREAT MULTITUDE'
April 30, 2009

Posted by Matt Dempsey matt_dempsey@epw.senate.gov

In 1896, Henry Ford constructed his first horseless carriage, which he sold in order to finance work on an improved model.  Shortly thereafter, in 1903, Ford incorporated the Ford Motor Company, proclaiming, "I will build a car for the great multitude."  Which is precisely what he did: in October 1908, he offered the Model T for $950. EPW Policy Beat had occasion to revisit this snippet of Americana after listening to an NPR interview today (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103582546) with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.  If there were any doubt about the Obama Administration's grand designs for the auto sector, it was removed today.  For it appears that the federal government will be taking up Ford's noble aspiration: to build and design cars "for the great multitude."  

Here is the relevant excerpt from the interview:

Jackson: "The President has said-and I couldn't agree more-that what this country needs is one single national road map that tells auto makers who are trying to become solvent again, what kind of car it is they need to be designing and building for the American people."

NPR reporter (interrupting): "Is that the role of the government, though? I mean that doesn't sound like free enterprise."

Jackson: "Well...it is free enterprise in a way...you know, first and foremost the free enterprise system has us where we are right this second...and so some would argue that the government already has a much larger role than we might have when Henry Ford rolled the first cars off the assembly line."





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