Havel against monstrosity

It is obvious that Václav Havel had his weak moment two weeks ago. At an event in support of Bursík's Greens he criticised car production based "only on preservation of employment" and used a surprisingly brief metaphor compared to his usual custom: "It seems slightly monstrous to me. It is as if someone said that the concentration camps have to exist since those wards and guards need some employment. It is necessary to ask about the meaning, whether we need more cars." He received criticism from all sides and the head of the Social Democrats even wants Havel to apologise.

Legitimate question
Czech right wing die-hard fans say that a car is an ordinary product of the market economy and that as such it is being produced in the quantity that is profitable from the long-term perspective. Therefore there is no point in saying that cars are harmful. If the citizens, as the agents of the free market, decide that the cars are in fact harmful, then the production will be restricted. Everything else would be an interference with the natural course of economy, Havel's right wing critics think.

Theory and practice, however, are two different things. Economic crisis and large stimulation packages aimed at saving the car industry show that in this sphere it is no longer about fair market mechanisms but about an industry saved from sinking by the governmental policy. Moreover, already the entry of…