The Automotive Alliance has released a pdf of its jefe’s statement to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce re: the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act of 2009. Dave McCurdy has four words for proponents of the proposed “cap and trade” legislation: “give us the money.” Or, more politically, “We strongly urge the Committee to use revenues generated from the proposed cap and trade system to help fund research, development and implementation of new technologies and upgrading/re-tooling of manufacturing facilities to provide the next generation of green vehicles.” I guess that Department of Energy’s $25 billion retooling fund (remember that one?) just doesn’t scratch that itch, then. But that cash4clunkers deal? Magic! We’ll have one of those, please. Fans of spinspeak and lovers of kow as she is towed will enjoy the Alliance Prez’s concluding remarks . . .
As in any industry that’s been around for more than a century, IOO-plus years of decision making has meant that some worked out better than others. But we are a new industry in countless ways. Today’s industry is transforming because we must. We’re on the threshold of a new era. We have a new Administration… a new way ofdoing business… a new generation of customers keenly aware of the importance of our issues. This all presents a bigger opportunity for change than we’ve ever seen before.
You have our commitment to continue reinventing the automobile. We will continue to provide you with a wide range ofvehicles that are highly fuel-efficient. We will be on the leading edge of the world’s low-carbon economy; an economy in which “green” auto jobs are a fundamental part ofthe engine driving our communities.
That’s very typical of the auto industry: Either fighting any new regulations or screaming for subsidy cash when they’re in a losing fight. I guess it worked before so why not?
This “global” warming issue is a GLOBAL scam. How can a group of politicians and bought-and-paid-for “scientists” manipulate an entire global population of 6+Billion people?
Through the bought-and-paid-for media. Just turn on your tv folks, you’ll get the truth…trust me. Oh, and listen to Lord Al Gore as if his word were channeled directly from God Himself.
Did you know if you don’t support this mind-warping nonsense, you are against humanity itself? That’s right…you HATE humanity if you don’t support the leviathan taxation, regulation, and control of your daily lives.
Did you know we already have global warming “refugees”?? Oh, yes…how can you people be so cruel and self-centered as to not CARE?!?!
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2007/703/36535
Tuvalu is going to hell in a hand-basket…the CHILDREN are drowning…all the while you drive your automobile and eat your greenhouse-causing beef hamburgers!!!
Listen, people…the “Scholars” predict 50M Global Warming “Refugees”…and it’s all your fault!!
http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/envirorefugees.htm
Now pay up, mmmmkay. Just shut your mouth and open your wallet…everything will be just fine.
Al Gore says so.
http://www.climatedepot.com/a/429/Report-Democrats-Refuse-to-Allow-Skeptic-to-Testify-Alongside-Gore-At-Congressional-Hearing
Even if the Automobile Alliance WERE to get funding…guess what people? …SOMEONE is going to pay.
You.
Just once I’d love to see someone stand up and say “No, No, NO, NO NO!!” to this manipulative BS.
Rastus,
Yes, there is a _broad_ scientific consensus that the current climate change is anthropogenic. Yes, nations are losing land to sea already. Bangladesh lost something like 400,000 sq km just recently and will lose more. Others will follow.
If not taxing fuels or cap and trade or by means of some other regulation how else are we supposed to deal with global warming and pollution? One way or another energy use has to come down, specially in fossil fuels. Like it or not these are the only ways to deal with this problem.
Rastus On 4-15 thousands of us said no no no no at the tea party. MSM pretty much ignored us. Next time we need more bodies and we should march on Wash. D.C.
I do not listen to Rush. Truth be told, I find him to be a disgusting individual.
But here’s a quote for you…I like THIS T-shirt better than the one posted above:
http://www.zazzle.com/minority_of_one_gandhi_quotation_t_shirt-235825157643900588
Your “broad consensus” means nothing to me. Nothing at all. Bangladesh looses land to the oceans and typhoons all the time. So does California. Next you’ll be saying Baja California was not ripped off the mainland by geological forces…oh, no…it was ripped off by those destructive SUVs. Mind you I don’t even like SUVs, but I’m not going to put blame where blame does not exist.
I think the earth is warming up partly because we have been burning trees, coal, and oil but for the sake of argument lets say this isn’t true.
The world is still changing drastically. We have twice as many people as we did 60 years ago. These 3 billion new people want to live like we have been living in NA and Europe but they can’t because we have burned up much of the world’s trees and oil. There is still a lot of coal but it is very dirty.
Even if there was enough steel, rubber, plastic, and aluminum for all these new customers to have cars the prices will be going way up for these materials.
We have had 100+ plus years of the U.S. Government using our tax money buying us wider roads, overthrowing unfriendly governments, and going to war to protect our oil supplies.
So even if warming wasn’t a problem we have a great many other problems (think of supporting Saudi Arabia in spite of their funding of the religious nuts who caused 9/11 because we had to play nice to get oil, think of our neglect of our railroads while we built more highways, think of our neglect of inner cities while we built roads to the suburbs, think of our not adding enough taxes on oil to pay for solar experiments and wind farms, think about how much we owe the rest of the world).
We have supported the old fashion auto business long enough. The old way of building 30% efficient ICEs doesn’t make sense anymore.
And I am sure you have heard this one before but it is true: if we don’t modernize with a lot of new ideas then we will be left behind because the rest of the world knows the world is changing.
Taxpayers have given us a gift for 100+ years to support our oil burning vehicles now we are moving to give some other industries a gift of our tax money. Get over it.
“I think the earth is warming up partly because we have been burning trees, coal,…”.
My friend, where do you think the electricity comes from for an electric car? Your much-maligned coal of course.
“We have twice as many people as we did 60 years ago.”
My friend, why not address the root cause of this nasty figure you describe? Why not push for more birth control?
“Even if there was enough steel, rubber, plastic, and aluminum for all these new customers to have cars the prices will be going way up for these materials.”
As well it should…it’s called “supply and demand”.
“So even if warming wasn’t a problem we have a great many other problems …”
If it (global warming) wasn’t a problem, why lie about it? Why support lies in the name of “honesty” and “truth”? You get neither. A taxation system bases upon lies is morally repugnant to anyone who values truth in a Democracy.
“Taxpayers have given us a gift …”. I have to shake my head in amazement at this one. The “taxpayers” have given us a “gift”?!?! Let me see…if I “pay” (either voluntarily or by mandate)…how is this a “gift”? You haven’t given anyone anything…the people have paid out of their earnings. Please tell us another lie.
Jacob, why bother?