Comparing GM penalties with threatened VW penalties

From Thomas Lifson at The American Thinker:

General Motors fudged on reporting problems with its ignition system and killed people as a result. The fine, announced last Thursday, was $900 million. Volkswagen fudged on testing its diesel cars for air pollution, killing exactly nobody. The fines being contemplated are well into the billions, in addition to refunds and civil lawsuit penalties for consumers, also running into the billions.
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I will be blunt here, in a way that none of the foreign auto executives with whom I have worked over the years ever would be. There is a strong and growing suspicion that the United States conducts economic warfare against foreign manufacturing competitors of United States companies using the extensive regulatory apparatus for consumer safety and pollution.

One other factor: GM was organized by the United Auto Workers. Volkswagen is heavily unionized in Germany, but in the United States, its manufacturing arm avoided organization by the UAW.

Another pundit suggesting Union membership may something to do with the threaten fines. ANother interesting bit of data, GM contributed over $12,000,000 since 1992, VW, about $50,000.

Folow the money.