{Originally posted on Resurrection Song}

This comes from the usually politics-free pages of AutoBlog:

The far right wing of the American political spectrum has begun channeling its displeasure over the federal government’s involvement in the restructuring of General Motors into calls for a boycott of the company’s products. Reportedly spearheaded by right wing pundits and radio show hosts, the boycott would be a response to the U.S. government taking a 60% stake in GM in exchange for forgiving most of the tens of billions of dollars loaned to the company over the last six months.

Reading through the comments is educational. I hadn’t realized that the only reason that someone might be opposed to “saving” GM was because that person would like to see the country and Obama fail regardless of the cost to the nation. Philosophical and pragmatic worries about government involvement in private industry are entirely beside the point. Patriotic folks who care about jobs and the economic health of the company are well advised to tow the party line–even if it isn’t their party and even if it defies their principles and beliefs about what our government’s role should be when faced with failing companies (even ones as big as General Motors).

As I’ve said before, I’m not much for boycotts. But I won’t buy a car from a company that is being run like British Leyland back in the seventies. I also believe that our government at least twice overstepped proper bounds in dealing with the collapsing General Motors and Chrysler–first when the bailout plan under the Bush administration and second with the Obama administration’s handling of both GM and Chrysler in their bankruptcies. We could take specific points of contention, but that would be sidling past the point: I’m not skeptical about these deals because of Obama or any latent hatred of working class folks, it’s because I think the plans and our government’s involvement is bad for the companies, bad for the nation, and will ultimately be bad for the products.

Which apparently makes me a member of the “far right wing.”

Read the rest. And, remember: “dissent is the highest form of patriotism” is so 2007.

Editor’s Pick from Mr. Lady of Whiskey in My Sippy Cup: I’ve featured Zombyboy on Blog Nosh, not just because I like his brand of sarcasm, but because I respect his politics.  I almost never don’t always agree with him, but I respect him.  When I can read a blog post that my libertarian friend wrote and say, “Oh lord, that’s me, too!” I know he’s a great blogger.  He’s also a close friend and my blog mentor, which is kind of remarkable really, seeings how he’s a political blogger and I’m some whackjob diarist.  Zombyboy can be found stirring the pot and flirting with me and loathing Paula Abdul so, so good at Resurrection Song.  Click the link to read his original publishing of Crazy Right Wing Bastages.