ArcaMax

Remember: Every single person who has been injured or killed by an air bag never had a choice. Was forced to accept the government-mandated Claymore in the dashboard and assume all the risks that entailed. Including the risks posed by the first-generation air bags (circa early-late 1990s) which "deployed" (that is, exploded - it's what air bags do) with tremendous force whether the person facing the bag was sitting too close or too far away, was a fragile old lady or an infant. The government knew - because it had been told by the engineers - that these first-generation bags were very likely to harm and yes kill some people. But government bureaucrats, arrogant beyond a normal person's capacity to grok, dismissed these risks as incidental.

That is, dismissed the lives of those who would be maimed and killed by their arrogance as incidental.

Only government gets away with such brazen disposal of other people's lives. Gets to glibly decree who lives - and who dies - without any personal consequences whatever. And then whoops with outrage when a private company does the same damned thing. The vast majority of Takata's air bags have not spewed shrapnel in anyone's face. Just a (relative) handful of them. Six, so far. Plus about 100 injured.

This is fewer people than were killed by the first-generation air bags, which the government knew beforehand were dangerous.

Yet the first-generation air bags were never recalled. No "safety" hearings were ever held. The government even fought tooth and nail to prevent people from disabling their Claymores in the dashboard via a cut-off switch, though this was eventually (and very grudgingly) conceded.

The murderous hypocrisy of government is quite something to behold. Say what you will about Takata, at least they didn't force you to buy their defective air bags. It was the government that forced you to buy their defetive air bags.

But it is Takata - and its officers - who will be held accountable. Pot, kettle, black.

There will be ever-more-hysterical recriminations, the recall will expand (it now includes not just Japanese-brand vehicles but also Fords, Fiat-Chryslers and BMWs, too; see here for more and to find out whether your car is involved) and very possibly some people will be fired, fined and one or two may even see the inside of a prison cell.

But not one of these people will be employed by DOT/NHTSA. Because they get to hurt and kill us with impunity. And, indifference.

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www.ericpetersautos.com or EPeters952@aol.com for comments.