Beware the elusive Dingellsaurus!
I'll tell ya, these political lobby groups must have some sense of humor to come up with stuff like this latest commercial that is apparently airing on the radio. Not only that, they also must be pretty sure of themselves to be willing to dress up like dinosaurs and protest outside John Dingell's (D-Mich) offices. Listen to their radio ad here, if you'd like to hear it. I guess they are tying in aspects of oil and extinction by using the dino reference. They warn that we might all go extinct like the dinosaurs if a bill doesn't get passed in Congress which would drastically lower greenhouse gas emissions by raising CAFE standards, forcing the automakers to make higher mileage vehicles.
It is really quite interesting to see the two sides go after each other. Politicians are a pretty easy target for groups to focus on, but the question still remains: who are the politicians fighting for? People are the ultimate deciders when it comes to purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles, right? Are CAFE rules the best way to force the public to choose a specific type of vehicle, or would raising the gas prices by issuing a higher gasoline tax work better? It really is hard to say, but I think most of you will agree with me when I say that creating more efficient vehicles should be a priority whether or not Congress forces the issue or not. We all know the technology is available to do it.
[Source: MoveOn.org and The Detroit Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
frank78 6:59PM (6/28/2007)
Ya gotta love the extremes people go to with suggesting we'll go extinct depending on CAFE regulations. With such inferences being so over the top, these protesters actually make their cause a joke. Something tells me these people don't understand economics or markets very well.
Diesel will be in vogue very soon, as will the B car segment.
It is my opinion that since gasoline and diesel will be $4 by 2010 and $5.50-6/gallon by 2015 that we'll see a widespread shrinking of car sizes. With or without the CAFE regulations, the CAFE measurements will be met given the consistent upturn in fuel prices. If CAFE isn't passed, we'll have much more efficient cars anyways. It takes time for people to replace the gas guzzler they bought in 2003 when gas was a $1.40.
Raising the federal gas tax would be a good measure ("raising taxes" is a phrase that normally makes my blood boil BTW), if anything just to keep up with inflation. But that sort of move would be very politically unpopular, possibly costing some federal politicians their jobs. So I believe at least part of the CAFE regulations is so that ALL the car manufacturers can suffer the public's scrutiny, so that the politicians don't have to themselves.
I love Toyota, but I get the feeling they will hate these too, considering their constant marketing of their highly profitable Tundra. These CAFE regulations would hurt them also. Honda will probably be least affected.
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