Sorcerer in training
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit is largely based on an urban legend retelling of how streetcars ended their run during the 20th century. The story goes that major auto and tire manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, Firestone, et al), fearful that efficient public transit would keep people from buying their products, would buy up streetcar companies around the country and then liquidate them, effectively destroying a profitable mode of transportation for the American public. In reality, these companies were bought as investments/hedges, and only liquidated once they became unprofitable. The legend further states that the companies only paid a minimum fine for these anti-trust practices. In reality, the fines involved were for monopolizing the sale - not the operation - of buses. See the Wikipedia entry
for more.
Besides Wikipedia not being considered a reliable source unless the page is locked and that this entry should've been in the real life folder... there was a Senate report in the 1930s that GM, in company with Firestone Tire and Goodyear were dead serious in buying up the competition of street cars and liquidating them to increase demands for cars and car supplies; they junked hundreds of completely usable streetcars long before the streetcars became unprofitable, as a simple timeline comparison will show. Note this whole show extended from the 1930s through the 1950s -and the streetcar companies were showing reasonable, can pay all the costs and then some, incomes when they were shut down.
What's more, they did all this through fake rail companies. Legit investments may use partner or child companies, but flat-out fake companies are a known sign of trying to hide what the hell a business is doing because it's illegal, unethical, or both.
As for the low fines, what the heck trope is this again? THAT part could definitely have its own entry in the Real Life Folder
As for it being an "urban legend"? That's to GM's and all's benefit to claim that, just as Mc D's claimed Stella's lawsuit was frivolous. GM and all shut down long-running mass transit systems that helped the poor and those who couldn't drive; as social and eco awareness has grown, the long-term consequences of what they did has been realized, and that means terrible PR for them. Bad PR means lowered profits -and the whole point of deepsixing the streetcars was to increase profits. (From 10% to 90% in some areas, once the streetcars were gone.)
Edited by Candi Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. -Terry Pratchett
Lou Grant had Mrs. Pynchon's late husband Jack, the Trib's former owner, who felt that the rules didn't apply to him.