by Ezra Klein

The Washington Post

January 20, 2011

Now this is a critique of Rep. Darrell Issa that you don’t hear every day:

“Everyone,” said Issa, “has a past.” The New Yorker profile of Darrell Issa fails to include the most important aspect of Issa’s past–and present. Issa is the king of loud, violent noisemaking in the United States. No one has done more to increase noise levels in this country than Darrell Issa.

Because of Darrell Issa’s ruthless promotion of sonic terror, millions of children have no quiet place to play or study. The noise which Issa promotes contributes to chronic fatigue, hearing loss, and sleep deprivation, and a general decline in quality of life.

That comes from a press release sent to me by Ted Rueter, president of Noise Free America. The full release is copied after the jump. It’s a bit, err, overstated, to say the least. But I’m not totally without sympathy. Those car alarms are pretty annoying.

In the January 24, 2011 issue of The New Yorker, Ryan Lizza profiles California Republican Congressman Darrell Issa, the new chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Lizza provides extensive evidence of Issa’s shady past, including strong allegations of stolen cars, concealed weapons, and arson.

Lizza describes Issa as a “car-alarm manufacturer.” Indeed, Issa made millions as the founder of VIPER car alarms, with the menacing signature line, “Back away from the vehicle.” Car alarms are a completely useless and annoying part of the American soundscape. Issa’s car alarms continue to irritate the public while doing little or nothing to reduce car theft. A survey by the Insurance Institute of America indicates that only 1 percent of individuals who hear a car alarm would ever call the police. Studies indicate that car alarms make no difference in theft rates.

For years, Issa has presented himself as a “car-alarm manufacturer.” This is highly misleading. Much more importantly, Issa is a prominent manufacturer of dangerous boom car and hot rod equipment. He has promoted the violently loud “Boom and Vroom Car” lifestyle. Darrell Issa is the central figure in the American “noise-industrial complex.”

Issa is the former chairman of the Consumer Electronics Association. He is also the founder of Directed Electronics, VIPER car audio, and Orion High Performance Car Audio.

Issa is a member of the Congressional Automotive, Performance, and Motorsport Caucus, which advocates legalizing noisy racing equipment on city streets. The Specialty Equipment Market Association, which represents the $26 billion hot rod industry, calls Issa “one of our own.”

Issa’s commitment to aggressive noisemaking can be seen from his company’s advertisements:

-VIPER Audio: “Cold Blooded.” “Violent Fury and Multi-Channel Mayhem.” “No Escape from the Hellacious Pounding of the Subwoofers and the Aggressive in Your Face Power.” “No One Dares Come Close.”

-Orion High Performance Car Audio: “Powered by Hardcore Attitude.”
“Subwoofers That Will Command Respect on the Streets.” “Be Loud. Be Obnoxious.”

Darrell Issa is one of the leaders of the boom car industry. VIPER’s advertising is consistent with the messages promoted by other boom car manufacturers. For example, JBL gloats,”Either we love BASS or hate your neighbors.” JL Audio warns, “Be Very Afraid.” MSX swaggers that it is “proud to be loud.” Kicker asserts, “You deserve a beating…Kicker’s loudest, meanest subwoofer ever.” Concept blusters, “When TOO loud…is just right!!” Lightning Audio promises “sonic submission.” Boss Audio Systems advises, “Turn it down? I don’t think so.” Cerwin-Vega Mobile Audio vows to “Shake the living, wake the dead” and celebrates “Maximum Boom: 50 more years of disturbing the peace.” Crossfire crows, “We’re louder…deal with it!” Panasonic brags that its systems are “loud as hell.” Earthquake Sound offers the “Meanest, Loudest, Most Powerful, Mother F—- Amplifiers Money Can Buy!”

There truly is no escape from the hellacious pounding for millions of people across the United States. Thousands of neighborhoods have been ruined by noise from pounding boom cars, hot rods, and car alarms. Local officials are overwhelmed by the industry’s financial and political power.

“Everyone,” said Issa, “has a past.” The New Yorker profile of Darrell Issa fails to include the most important aspect of Issa’s past–and present. Issa is the king of loud, violent noisemaking in the United States. No one has done more to increase noise levels in this country than Darrell Issa.

Because of Darrell Issa’s ruthless promotion of sonic terror, millions of children have no quiet place to play or study. The noise which Issa promotes contributes to chronic fatigue, hearing loss, and sleep deprivation, and a general decline in quality of life.

The American public needs to know about Darrell Issa’s promotion of noise-related violence, thuggery, and delinquency. Throughout his career as a manufacturer of boom car and hot rod equipment, Darrell Issa has promoted sonic brutality and anti-social behavior.