Quote:
Originally Posted by aspwm
Hmmm all this going back and forth about who invented what, no one bothered to look at the statement.
The paragraph begins with "As for our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink."
He was referring to the automobile industry, not who invented the very first steam/gas engine that didn't succeed in making it what it is today: An industry.
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No, Obama's theme was that the US can improve in the production of things that it had originally invented. Right before he was discussing the auto industry he was discussing the production of solar technology and stated that the US "invented solar technology".
His full quote was "We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet, it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient.
We invented solar technology, but we've fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea."
So yes, one can discuss both the production of and invention of a technology all in one paragraph. That is exactly what Obama was doing.
And the full quote on the auto industry was:
"As for our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices. But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And
I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.
In both cases he is stating that the US invented a technology but needs to improve in its production.
I never said Obama was wrong. I said "There are multiple answers to who invented the automobile" and pointed out that different people have different answers for who invented a wide number of technologies such as the automobile, radio and television. just witness the many different answers in this thread. All of those are fascinating topics in my opinion. I would bet most Americans think Ford invented the automobile where as our only Library of Congress thinks the best answer is Karl Benz.