GM's $4000 car for everybody but us

America needs this right now. Or rather, tapped out Americans need such a thing right now. The proposed $4,000 car costs less than the government's loathsome "cash for clunkers" giveaway -- which forces some taxpayers to subsidize the "purchase" (loosely used) of a new car by others. Instead of ripping off one group of taxpayers to provide a government giveaway to another set of taxpayers, GM's $4,000 car would represent honest productive effort, free exchange -- goods produced by a market that freely consents to buy them. People would get the basic, inexpensive transportation that has largely disappeared from the new car marketplace. GM would make money.

What a concept.

But, here's the catch: GM won't be able to sell the $4,000 car in the United States. Because in the United States, new cars must be "government approved" before they can be approved by consumers. And to be approved by government, a new car must be fitted with a horn o' plenty of government-mandated safety and emissions control equipment. ....