I keep reading media reports raising alarms about how the European auto industry is in trouble. I honestly see that as a positive thing. If the EU has fewer car makers, we'll have more incentive to invest in more efficient things like railways, walkable cities, cycling infrastructure, etc. And we'll be much less dependent on foreign fossil fuels that drive the wars going on.
@eighthave While I agree on "less cars = good" idea, it is mass layoffs (which are expected consequence of car industry collapse) which are problem.
Not only the economy loses a lot due to factories closing (which has consequences: e.g. cutting funding for other social stuff like healthcare and public transport), but those ex-workers don't automagically become bicycle producers (or disappear) - they become unemployed, so you need support funds (or basic income) which further drains resources
@mnalis I totally agree that the jobs are important. Propping up highly inefficient, failing industries to save jobs is a problematic strategy, with a clear history to learn from. Skilled factory workers can make other things. Europe is already dominant in the railways industries, so if money shifts from cars to railways, that's an easy win. There are more opportunities like that, like we do pretty decent in wind mill manufacturing.
