Japan is incentivizing hybrids, the US guzzlers
Congress set to pass cash for clunkers next week?Hybrid cars have never been hotter in Japan. It started with the Honda Insight and the new Toyota Prius is primed for explosive sales as well. While these two not new hybrids are reason enough for a hybrid sales spike, Japan has helped the hybrid cause by providing tax incentives for consumers to buy hybrids.
In America, we're promoting cash for clunkers. Bring in your big 15 mpg gas guzzler and replace it with an 18 mpg gas guzzler and the government will hand you a check for up to $4500.
Obviously, the US economy is struggling and a surge in gas-guzzlers - the bread and butter of the US auto industry - could help the economy while protecting the large tax payer investment into the US auto industry. Still, this is a terribly bitter pill to swallow, and despite the worthy intentions, America should be embarrassed by this cash for clunkers program.
Labels: Congress, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
2:21 PM
12 Comments:
Yep, this bill is not about the future and environment and oil dependence. It is about today, about GM and about proud SUV owners. And we all gonna pay so that GM would not die :-(
im going to take in my 13 mile to the gallon dodge and go buy a REAL AMERICAN FORD WITH MY CHECK
Anonymous,
Please, consider a Real American Ford Escape Hybrid. I think it is an awesome, yet compact, SUV. And it is 30+ mpg
I second LB's suggestion. I'd also highly recommend the Ford Fusion hybrid.
It's embarrassing how pathetically short sighted people in this country are.
Instead of putting people to work in the green industry, they want to keep continuing this ridiculous consumption of crap at the expense of the environment so some idiot at an auto plant can keep his job for the next 30 years putting on tires on a 15 MPG SUV.
Am I supposed to shed a tear for some moron who put all his eggs in one basket and ran his or her dealership into the ground because they were too greedy to stop selling profitable SUVs and start selling small efficient cars?
It's all about getting a free ride at the expense of this beautiful planet and its health.
Truly pathetic.
Dahc,
Yes, Ford Fusion is probably a better choice. Some people, however, want to buy an SUV. Why not if it has a good mileage? BTW, New York city bought A LOT of hybrid Ford Escape.
lb-
for the buyer in question, i'm sure the escape hybrid was a better pick for what he/she might consider. i also like the escape hybrid - its my favorite suv on the market. of course, that isn't saying much coming from me since i'm not a fan of suvs - nonetheless.
I just wanted to add the Fusion hybrid as an example of a quality car that a buy-American-only kind of buyer should also consider.
those are my two favorite real american fords.
noz,
that's pretty harsh, but it's, sadly, pretty accurate.
however, let's - at least for this issue - focus more on the stupidity of congress, not the people. i mean if every voter in michigan doesn't fire their incumbent in the next election, then they do deserve the economic chaos now being inflicted upon them.
had the dingells of Michigan accepted the future, accepted reality, they wouldn't be in such a mess. many of those in congress from michigan have been in congress for decades. how can anyone claim they've done a good job?
if michigan voters don't vote for change, then you can call them stupid.
Dahc:
I think you're missing the bigger picture. The onus does lie with the people.
People think simply by voting, they can change things. That's not the case. They need to participate directly. They also have to want to change...not simply have people it for them.
For a country in which people are always complaining about government getting into their business and not wanting government intervention, they do nothing to make the necessary changes happen. They turn around and want others (i.e. the government) to do the changes for them. This is a what I call being a hypocrite.
noz-
i agreed with your original point, but i think the point that you are missing is a direction towards a solution. i've called a lot of people stupid. rarely, if every, has it converted them towards my argument.
still, the onus does lie with the people, but the people can't create an incentive program for clunkers. they can only vote for or against the people making those decisions.
likewise, the people can't choose from many fuel efficient vehicles because the government keeps the price of gasoline cheap. thus, most automakers haven't, and still don't, focus on developing fuel efficient products.
nonetheless, many tens of millions of americans do the right thing every day. they bike. they drive efficient vehicles. they take public transportation. they buy locally. and on and on.
moreover, not all americans have the libertarian view that you suggest. that's more towards the view of republicans than most democrats. so you can't put all americans in your hypocritical category. so i think you're generalizing a bit too much.
finally, to suggest that relying on our well paid, elected representatives to do their job and do it well is far from hypocrisy.
furthermore, more than 90 percent of America's wealth is owned by just a few percent of the population. sure we can blame the people for all the ills of america, but the people - other than with their vote - are largely powerless.
that's not an excuse, it's reality. still, people need to be held accountable for their actions. nonetheless, it's easy to control a divided population this is mostly living on welfare or barely surviving paycheck to paycheck as their debt grows until death.
the statement about controlling people on welfare was genius.because thats what they want.im all about a cleaner planet,and doing my part.did you change all of your light bulbs.i dont own an suv i own a pickup that i use to haul wood for heating my house,lawn eqipment for making some extra money.the strange part about gm is immediately after they filed bankrupsy even with MY CHILDRENS money.they found a 4 year old chinese company to buy the hummer brand.thats one more thing our military will have to buy from the chinese.
show me a hybrid that will crawl through any terrain and bring back a load of firewood stacked to the top of the cab and i will buy it
GM's Silverado hybrid pickup truck can do that. unfortunately, it's a little spendy, and unless gas prices spike a little more, the savings in gasoline might take several years to recover.
and, for you, if you're only hauling firewood, then you're probably not putting enough miles on to have a good chance at recovering your hybrid investment.
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