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Based on a premise made integral to auto manufacturing by Henry Ford, China is attempting to provide affordable transportation to the masses, but they may yet lack expertise in the realms of design, form and function. Go take a look at how your child's Tonka trucks are built as a potential example of Chinese vehicle construction: die-stamped parts with slot and tab construction and nary a weld to be found. That's the trouble with cheap automobiles, you have to cut corners somewhere.

This is a situation wherein our feeding of federal activism through taxes shall play a key role. China shall first need to satisfy our EPA before they sell too many vehicles here. The Consumer Product Safety Commission will surely also take a hard look at Chinese motor vehicles. Then, we have the insurance industry which shall mercilessly crush dozens of Chinese automobiles in the effort to protect us from substandard crap. Finally, the ultimate decision shall rest with consumers who will decide whether or not to buy cheap Chinese-made automobiles. Remember also that those vehicles will need replacement parts, those coming on a slow boat from China.

As one who staunchly defends the rights of free enterprise and the tenets of honest competition, I have no place in my thinking to simply deny the Chinese an attempt at our auto market. Let them come. I have no concern over auto manufacturers who have yet to figure out that the buyers of inexpensive automobiles are looking for cup holders and dual windshield wipers, or do I?

There's just one thing that I might add to the cheap auto discussion in the interest of informed consumerism: It is my distinct desire that every auto China imports into this country must obviously be painted bright blood red, lest we forget our past experiences with the Chinese.

But that's just my own democracy-loving opinion.