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Putting on the Brakes: Are Government Regulators Doing Their Job?
With its Prius recall and problems with a sticking accelerator pedal, Toyota is front and center in the news. But regulations run far and wide in the life of the American consumer. There are hundreds of state and federal agencies that are supposed to make our lives safer. On this rebroadcast of To the Point, guest host Sara Terry asks whether they really do the job. Plus, of tea and Sarah Palin and a conversation about Mayor Villaraigosa's latest deficit-reduction plan.
By Warren Olney • • 48m ListenThis week Toyota is front and center in the news, with its Prius recall and problems with a sticking accelerator pedal. But regulations run far and wide in the life of the American consumer. There are hundreds of state and federal agencies that are supposed to make our lives safer. Do they really do the job? On this rebroadcast of today's To the Point, guest host Sara Terry asks whether regulators have become too friendly with the industries they're supposed to regulate. Also, revolution on the right? What's brewing with the rise of Sarah Palin and Tea Party politics, and Mayor Villaraigosa's latest attempt to reduce the city's deficit.
Banner image: President of Japan's auto giant Toyota Motor Akio Toyod gestures as he answers questions during a press conference today at the Tokyo head office. Photo: Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesVillaraigosa Urges Council to Take Deficit-Reduction Measures
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appeared before a full session of the Los Angeles City Council today to take questions on the budget crisis. He's urging the council to sell some of the city-owned parking structures and city council members to tap into some of their own discretionary accounts.
Read the story7 minPutting on the Brakes: Are Government Regulators Doing Their Job?
Safe food, safe drugs, safe cars, safe airplanes -- honest deals and bank loans. The federal government doesn't rely on people doing the right thing to make sure your world is safe; they regulate that world. Congress is trying to pass new financial regulations, and Wall Street is pushing back.
Read the story34 minGOP, Palin Steep in Tea Party Politics
It was a tea party with a lot of angry people, right-wing true believers who've had it with the current political state of affairs. Sarah Palin helped stoke that anger when she spoke to the recent inaugural Tea Party Convention , but will the anger of newly organized Tea partiers translate into real political change?
Read the story7 min
