Where Is My Bailout?

All American workers and consumers are essential to the American economy. When will the government bail us out?

Screw Ford!

The past is past. Is that what we should tell someone serving a life sentence for murder? The past is past, and the future will suck if we continue to reward incompetence and failure.

From Ford CEO on bailout opposition: Past is past:

Ford Motor Company chief executive Alan Mulally defended his company Tuesday against charges that Ford caused its own problems and said bailing out Detroit was essential to the U.S. economic recovery.

CNN’s headline is misleading. Nowhere in their article do they actually quote Mulally saying “past is past.”

I still say: “Screw Ford!”

If the government wants to give money to an auto maker they should give it to somebody like this, on the condition that they make their cars more affordable. Let’s try rewarding competence for a change.

Ford is a dinosaur. It deserves to become extinct. Chrysler and GM as well. Let them go bankrupt. Make more room for the innovative car companies. The ones that can make a profit without the government's help. Isn’t that how capitalism is supposed to work?

Once upon a time Ford was an innovative company. A company that was partially responsible for the bankruptcy of many buggy and wagon manufacturers. Back then, did the government try to bailout the buggy and wagon manufacturers? I don’t know. If they did, it was a stupid thing to do. You can’t stand in the way of progress and innovation.

Credits And Debits… And Volts

I marvel at the economic thinking of John McCain. Propose more debits, while continuing to call for no new credits. Will his rich wife pay for all of this?

From McCain Announces His Running Mate — The Chevy Volt by Chuck Squatriglia:

McCain's promised a $5,000 tax credit to people who buy zero-emissions cars, but since there aren't a whole lot of those on the road right now he's offering a graduated tax credit that would apply to lower-emissions cars like -- you guessed it -- the Chevy Volt.

But his biggest initiative is a $300 million prize to whoever creates a first battery with the “the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars.” This prize is twelve times the reward offered for capturing Osama Bin Laden, which has caused more than one would-be mercenary to switch majors from Cave Cinematography to Thermodynamics. Clearly, the presidential candidate who vowed in 2007 to "get him" has found other priorities now that it costs $75 to fill up his Cadillac CTS.

Read the rest here.

I know, I know, this may actually be a good idea. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth, however. I can’t help but think that McCain is doing this as some sort of publicity stunt to call attention to himself. Vote for me and win big prizes.

And I still wonder who will pay for it. The way we’re going it will probably be the Chinese. I doubt it will be either of the McCains.

The Ignorant Leading The Ignorant

I don’t want another ignorant president!

What happens when ignorant journalists interview ignorant presidential candidates on national television? In the case of George W. Bush he became president. Will the same thing happen to John McCain? I sure hope not, but unfortunately it is possible.

John McCain was interviewed by Matt Lauer this morning on the Today Show. They spoke about high gasoline prices. During this segment of the interview McCain spoke of his support for alternative forms of energy. Lauer asked “Can we make advances in that short time?” McCain answered “Oh I think we can certainly show some progress in the development of a battery that will take a car 100 miles or so before you have to plug it in.” Those batteries already exist. McCain doesn’t know what he is talking about and Lauer lets him get away with it.

From General Motors EV1:

The first generation EV1s used lead-acid batteries in 1996 (as model year 1997) and a second generation batch with nickel metal hydride batteries in 1999. Some of the Gen 1 EV1s were refurbished and upgraded to Panasonic lead-acid batteries.

The Gen 1 cars got 55 to 75 miles (90 to 120 km) per charge with the Delco-manufactured lead-acid batteries, 75 to 100 miles (120-to-160 km) with the Gen 2 Panasonic lead-acid batteries, and 75 to 150 miles (120 to 240 km) per charge with Gen 2 Ovonic nickel-metal hydride batteries.

From Plug In America FAQs:

Q: Aren’t fully electric cars impractical?

A: Not at all. EVs with a 150-mile range could be built and sold in quantity at a profit today for $25,000. Ranges exceeding 300 miles on a charge exist today, but with the cost of batteries as high as they are, it is impractical for most cars at this point. Most people, when educated as to the benefits of driving with electricity, will be well served by a car with a range of 100-180 miles. Well over 90% of daily driving is well under 100 miles.

From Tesla Motors FAQs:

How far can the Tesla Roadster drive between charges?

Actual range depends on driving style and conditions. During testing of prototypes cars, Tesla Motors has seen between 170 miles per charge for very spirited driving to 267 miles per charge for city driving that makes use of the Roadster's regenerative braking. Our most recent EPA driving cycle tests, conducted November 26-30, 2007, at an EPA-certified facility, resulted in the following numbers:

* 230 mi EPA city
* 211 mi EPA highway
* 221 mi EPA combined (city/highway)

An informed media leads to an informed voter leads to an informed president. It shouldn't be so hard to accomplish.