I agree with Dogfish. Were it not for the apples to oranges nature of any honest comparison between the auto industry and the petroleum industry, the argument posed would be very compelling. As it stands, it flies in the face of reality.

Adding on to Dogfish's point: does anyone out there really think about what brand of gasoline they buy? I know I don't. It's a chemical compound, with a very standard recipe. Concepts such as "winter blends" are no more than tools to justify price-gouging throughout the rest of the year. I submit that most of us, when we do bother to make decisions about where we buy gas, do so on a basis of price, or perhaps depending on ethanol content (which is not a brand-specific distinction). Because such factors are relatively consistent across the entire market, there is no resl, market-driven competition in the petroleum industry. Big Oil is an oligopoly, and possibly the most villainous one in the entire world, let alone the US. (Sorry; I can't resist an opportunity to demonize Big Oil.)

When we buy a car, on the other hand, we tend to be much more selective, due in no small part to the fact that there are so many variations in design, function, and quality, many of which are brand-specific. There is also much greater variance in price across the market. That variance was not the only factor in Detroit's fall from grace, but it played a huge role. I know that my general preference for Japanese autos has been based on cost, not only at the dealership, but also in terms of maintenance and fuel. I'd love to have a nice, big, 'Merican-made 4x4 as much as anyone, but it simply doesn't pencil out for me, so my fishing rig (and commuter) is a stripped-down Toyota Tacoma, powered by only two wheels and a wimpy, 4-cylinder engine. By the way, to Dogfish's point, I purchased it "lightly used," but I have only been able to find "new" gas to put in it.

All this aside, this Cruz fellow seems well-spoken and intelligent, so I kind of like him so far. Hey - if I gotta get screwed over, it might as well be by somebody that doesn't come off as a moron. Being abused by Congress is hard enough without the realization that most of them are idiots. I wish him well (until he pisses me off).