[anastrophe]

certainly, don't get me wrong - the whole pinto thing was business at its worst. in no way am i defending that sort of thing. the good news of course is that those days are long past - the american auto industry has learned that people *will* pay for greater safety, and consider the cost of almost no consequence. thus even the lowest cost cars often have front driver and passenger airbags, side air bags, 'crumple' frames to protect the occupant, etc.


of course, some of that is due to regulation, and some is due to consumer advocacy pressure. but once the industry learned that people wouldn't turn their backs on expensive safety items, they started doing it of their own accord. that's capitalism at its *best*.