America's Fight: Why Detroit must embrace hybrids
Detroit's problems are simple, American multi-national corporations.
In America, as soon as a President or Senator is elected, the next election becomes their top priority. America is only focused on right now, or the next 2 to 4 years. Yet, the decisions made today have impact far beyond just the next couple of years, when our decisions become someone else's responsibility.
Moreover, American multi-national corporations are also typically focused on 'right now' politics, as well as 'right now' profit for shareholders. Thus, responsibility is determined only by 'right now' profitability.
This is bigger than Detroit. This is about the essence of America, which is why the Senate - at the President's request - must add tax credits for hybrid cars and other clean energy technologies.
Right now is the time for change, and hybrids vehicles, including diesel-electric, plug-in, and hydrogen-electric vehicles, prove hybrids have barely tapped their potential.
This isn't Detroit's fight and they are not in it alone. Detroit, Congress, and every President since Jimmy Carter, has failed America by not taking up this fight decades ago.
This is America's fight, and many of us are demanding action RIGHT NOW. Join the hybrid revolution.
Top 5 Reasons to Demand Action Today!
1.) The Pentagon has labeled global warming one of the greatest threats to the U.S.
2.) Multiple CIA directors have labled foreign-oil dependency a serious national security threat and have actively lobbied President Bush to take action
3.) Two Wars In Iraq
4.) Profits from foreign-oil have helped finance terrorism against the U.S.
5.) Placing the strength of the American economy in the hands of the Middle East is simply silly in today's world
In America, as soon as a President or Senator is elected, the next election becomes their top priority. America is only focused on right now, or the next 2 to 4 years. Yet, the decisions made today have impact far beyond just the next couple of years, when our decisions become someone else's responsibility.
Moreover, American multi-national corporations are also typically focused on 'right now' politics, as well as 'right now' profit for shareholders. Thus, responsibility is determined only by 'right now' profitability.
This is bigger than Detroit. This is about the essence of America, which is why the Senate - at the President's request - must add tax credits for hybrid cars and other clean energy technologies.
Right now is the time for change, and hybrids vehicles, including diesel-electric, plug-in, and hydrogen-electric vehicles, prove hybrids have barely tapped their potential.
This isn't Detroit's fight and they are not in it alone. Detroit, Congress, and every President since Jimmy Carter, has failed America by not taking up this fight decades ago.
This is America's fight, and many of us are demanding action RIGHT NOW. Join the hybrid revolution.
Top 5 Reasons to Demand Action Today!
1.) The Pentagon has labeled global warming one of the greatest threats to the U.S.
2.) Multiple CIA directors have labled foreign-oil dependency a serious national security threat and have actively lobbied President Bush to take action
3.) Two Wars In Iraq
4.) Profits from foreign-oil have helped finance terrorism against the U.S.
5.) Placing the strength of the American economy in the hands of the Middle East is simply silly in today's world
Labels: clean diesel, Congress, Foreign Oil Dependency, global warming, Hybrid Vehicles, plug-in hybrids
posted by Dahcredyns at
9:06 AM
5 Comments:
Here's the bit I see missing:
If you surf the web sites of European subsidiaries of American Multinatinals, you'll see lots of great fuel efficient cars.
I think it plays into Detroit's hands ("give us more research money!") to think there are not immediate answers. If GM wanted to, they could have Americanized their Opels long ago. Or Ford could bring us the Ka.
The big question is why they don't, and why we don't demand that first, before handing them a few more billion of our tax dollars to piss away in "research."
The research angle is a huge one.
GM and Ford have lobbied against fuel efficiency standard increases for decades, claiming it would interfere with fuel cell development.
In the interim, Toyota perfected the Toyota Prius production line for less than GM spends marketing gas-guzzling, terrorist-funding, foreign-oil hogging SUVs.
It is a fact that if every American achieved Prius fuel efficiency TODAY, we could end foreign-oil dependency TODAY.
I hope that fuel cells do develop, but one breakthru in hybrid batteries could make expensive fuel cells less important, at least in the next few decades.
Risking American National Security in a gamble for greater corporate profits is unacceptable and unAmerican.
Pfft. We already paid the bill for Detroit to build their own hybrids. Check out the Chrysler Hybrid-Electric Cars of the 1990s
Did paying for them, with past subsidies, get them on the road?
No, they took are money, and asked for more for the hydrogen boondoggle.
... and think about it if the Japanese hadn't introduced the hybrids, we never would have known they were practical
In case I wasn't clear, I am very big on improved fuel economy, I just don't want "continuing funding" as the solution.
We need to withold these subsidies from Detroit until they can show that they will sell/market/advertise the technology they already have.
and NOT run another dozen evening TV spots on their biggest SUVs!
In case I wasn't clear, I am very big on improved fuel economy, I just don't want "continuing funding" as the solution.
We need to withold these subsidies from Detroit until they can show that they will sell/market/advertise the technology they already have.
and NOT run another dozen evening TV spots on their biggest SUVs!
Post a Comment
<< Home