"WASHINGTON - A Michigan congressman is defending the U.S. auto industry against fuel efficiency increases by criticizing a famous foe of global warming: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Republican Rep. Joe Knollenberg's re-election campaign placed a billboard along a busy interstate in metropolitan Detroit that reads, "Arnold to Michigan: Drop Dead!" It shows a grim-looking picture of the actor-turned-politician and draws attention to a Web site.
"Michigan and the Big Three are being unfairly bullied by politicians who have no understanding of auto manufacturing," Knollenberg said Thursday in a statement announcing the billboard and Web site: www.big3defense.com.
Knollenberg said his group "picked on Schwarzenegger because he's a perfect symbol of a bully and because he has become the Republican Al Gore."
Since hubby's a retiree from GM, we're closely tied to the auto industry. He said if they would have initiated a gas tax when Jimmy Carter was president, we wouldn't be in this mess. It would have forced the auto companies to build more fuel-efficient cars and consumers to conserve energy.
Yes, the gas in the UK is heaviliy taxed and there is now a further discussion about adding road usage charges. In London it already costs $15 per day to take a car in and thats before parking.
ReplyDeleteA tank of gas for my 'normal' car can cost $120, which is still somewhat more than in the US, I think.
Here today via Michele's! - Hiya!
rashbre
rashbre~ wow, and we complain here about $2.50 a gallon!
ReplyDeletethx for stoppin' by today. :+)
We have hit $3.00 per gallon here in California and the price will just go up over the summer.
ReplyDeleteHere from Michele's
mike~ California always seems to be one of the highest priced in the U.S.
ReplyDeletethx for droppin' in. :+)
We currently pay around $1.50 a litre here in New Zealand. Five litres to the UK gallon, but only four litres in a US gallon, so we are paying around $NZ6 a gallon, or around $US4 a gallon on current exchange rates. I believe it's even dearer in the UK
ReplyDeleteNo wonder Americans like to drive so much. If gas was dearer, do you think there would be more incentive to develop good public transport (or more fuel efficient cars)?
Michele sent me!
catherine~ another eye-opener for me. I'd heard gas was much more expensive overseas, but I wonder why?
ReplyDeletethank you for posting here at my place. :+)
I am Canadian and unfortunately am not that up on American politics. I can tell you though that from what I read in your post and my understanding of it, I think your hubby might have a very valid point.
ReplyDeleteMichele says hi!
angel~ i'll tell him what you said and thx for stoppin' by.
ReplyDeleteKaren, I hate guns also. But I can see where they could be useful in ways.
ReplyDeleteSigh
As for the price of gas, about $2.60 a gallon here now. But I would like to see it at ten dollars a gallon.
All that driving around is killing this planet in case no one else has noticed.
I'm here from Michele's too.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem with the auto industry, I rather like it. But then I come a family from the evil side of things in the oil bidniz... go figure.
politicians...they will say anything...
ReplyDeletebut globl warming ofcourse cannot be prevented unless the US commits herself to it because she is the main pollutant...
ReplyDeleteI think it goes back farther than that. I remember seeing Ralph Nader on TV in the early 70s talking about electric cars, and how at that time it was possible to manufacture a car that none of the auto companies would allow to be manufactured.
ReplyDeleteClosing in on $3.00 per gallon here in NY. What frosts me is that gas can fluctuate as much as .20 per gallon within a few blocks. And god forbid you have to stop for gas where the station is the "only game in town". Prepare for highway robbery: literally.
Here via michele!
bbc~ you're spot on!
ReplyDelete-e~ ya know what they say, "different strokes for different folks".
thx for stoppin' by!
eddiie~ yep, agree there except China is now chasing us.
welcome to my world!
panthergirl~ think auto companies are finally beginning to listen. unfortunately, they are giving people what they want.
thx for stoppin' by.
"...forced the auto companies to build more fuel-efficient cars and consumers to conserve energy."
ReplyDeleteNot sure the government has the power to force automakers or consumers to change their ways. I think when the industry was riding the high-margin SUV wave, a whole lot of shortsighted auto execs neglected the need to invest in next-generation engine technologies.
All those billions were squandered because of shortsightedness. The no-longer-Big-3 got their butts kicked because they were focused on next quarter's results, not next decade's.
I thought they would have learned their lesson from a generation earlier. Not so, and the workforce is once again asked to pay the ultimate price for the foolishness of its leaders.
carmi~ think it's their *Dilbert* mentally, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteI think your husband is right. But isn't it good to see Republicans fight each other?
ReplyDeletesage~ maybe they will kill each other along the way, one can only hope. :+)
ReplyDeletethink it's their *Dilbert* mentally, unfortunately...
ReplyDelete...supposed to be *Dilbert* mentality, jeez! :+)
Your hubby sounds like a completely reasonable fella!
ReplyDeletep.s. gas was 70 cents a gallon cheaper in Montana than in California last month!
diane~ he's a keeper! :+)
ReplyDelete