The Greening of Detroit, Michigan

The Liberal agenda on the greening of America can be witnessed in the one-time powerhouse city of Detroit, Michigan. Whole city blocks are being bulldozed. Flora and fauna have claimed abandoned homes, hotels, warehouses, and factories. And to symbolize the public/private collaboration of auto manufactures and the federal government: the Chevy Volt has replaced the mighty muscle car. How things have changed.

The consumer no longer dictates what kind of automobile they want to drive. Now, we have government bureaucrats and politicians who will decide that for us. After all, who can build a better car than Washington, D.C.?

Barack Obama just recently came down from the mountain top and declared new guidelines for efficient vehicles:

President Obama today announced the next phase in the Administration’s program to increase fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States. These new standards will cover cars and light trucks for Model Years 2017-2025, requiring performance equivalent to 54.5 mpg in 2025 while reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 163 grams per mile.

I guess the sales of Chevy Volts were a deciding factor for that decision. A whole 150 cars were sold in the month of July:

Sales of the much-hyped Chevy Volt fell to new lows as did GM share price as July auto sales figures came in. Only 125 Volts were sold during the month of July. Recent reports attributed the slump to supply constraints as GM spokeswoman, Michelle Bunker, was quoted as saying that the Volt was "virtually sold out" and only a "few" were available nationwide. I have confirmed that this statement is not entirely truthful and have gotten clarification from GM through Director of Communications, Greg Martin.

A search of cars.com site showed nearly 500 Chevy Volts listed for sale. I had originally assumed that GM dealers were advertising vehicles that were not actually available for sale, since GM has stated that there were only a "few" Volts available. I decided to call a few dealers within 75 miles of my location to determine what the true situation was. I stopped my research after finding that five of the first six dealers I called had Volts in inventory available for immediate sale. Two of the five dealers even had two each in stock. I can now safely assume that GM is, once again, not being entirely honest with its facts. The demand for the Chevy Volt is not as strong as GM would have us believe.Martin confirmed that there are Volts available at dealerships. According to Martin, there are 116 new Chevy Volts available for sale to the public at dealerships, plus demo units that can be sold.

The Motor City will soon become a ghost town if the Progressives keep getting their way.

Read more: http://nlpc.org/stories/2011/08/02/chevy-volt-sales-slump-gm-clarifies-%E2%80%9Cvirtually-sold-out%E2%80%9D-comments#ixzz1UMnCFCEC

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/29/president-obama-announces-new-fuel-economy-standards

http://www.detroitblog.org/?p=287

Democrats Looking to Tax Mileage/Movement

Gas prices are nearly $4.00 a gallon and it’s not even summertime.  Some Americans are making hard decisions based on this commodity.  Now, the federal government is looking for a way to suck more money out of the citizenry.  A new study has been commissioned by Democrats to garner more revenue for that monster in Washington D.C...  They want a tax based on your driving habits:  

The CBO report was requested by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), who has proposed taxing cars by the mile as a way to increase federal highway revenues.

The proposal seems to follow up on that idea in section 2218 of the draft bill. That section would create, within the Federal Highway Administration, a Surface Transportation Revenue Alternatives Office. It would be tasked with creating a "study framework that defines the functionality of a mileage-based user fee system and other systems."

It seems that the Feds aren’t completely clueless.  They know they must manipulate the public into believing that we have to pay more for the freedom of movement: 

The department seemed to be aware of the need to prepare the public for what would likely be a controversial change to the way highway funds are collected. For example, the office is called on to serve a public-relations function, as the draft says it should "increase public awareness regarding the need for an alternative funding source for surface transportation programs and provide information on possible approaches.

Of course the Feds don’t want to get their fingers dirty; just like other federal programs they want to force the states to be their revenue collectors:

The office would be required to consider four factors in field trials: the capability of states to enforce payment, the reliability of technology, administrative costs and "user acceptance." The draft does not specify where field trials should begin.

I’ll tell the commission about this “User’s acceptance”, the first act I’ll do if this ever becomes law, will find a first rate mechanic and have that piece of technology ripped right out of my car.  Suck that you thieving bastards!

Source:  http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/159397-obama-floats-plan-to-tax-cars-by-the-mile