I can’t afford an electric car. Congressman Huffman, thinks I must. Huffman doesn’t work for Tesla. He’s supposed to work for us representing California’s second congressional district.
Recently, Politico, a moderate to left, online publication, announced: “Jared Huffman told Politico that calling on Biden to declare a “climate emergency” would be one of the “centerpiece actions” to headline the Congressional Progressive Caucus executive order plan.” (Whew—bit of verbal air in that.) Translation. Huffman, along with other progressive Democrats, including Alexandria Casio Cortez, (AOC) are demanding that President Biden use his executive powers to ban drilling on federal lands. Forever.
To the amazement of many, Congressman Huffman’s vociferous call to end drilling on government land comes amid the current Ukrainian crisis that has disrupted oil markets all over the world. Especially where we live.
What’s behind Congressman Huffman’s drilling demand on President Joe? To put us behind the wheel of brand-new electric car? Sorry, Mr. Congressman, I’m little short of cash. The Tesla I dream of costs sixty thousand bucks. Or more. And, let us not forget that even Elon Musk, the Henry Ford of electric cars, has recently told President Biden that drilling should resume.
Congressman Huffman lives in Marin, where the average middle-class income is upwards of $171,000 dollars a year. In Tiburon it’s $267,000. Lots of Tesla drivers there. I live here. In rural Mendocino County, and this is what I think: the price for a gallon of gas is a stickup aimed at my wallet and I can’t even call the cops. In my county, the average income is around $35,000 dollars. To the north in Humboldt county about the same. Trinity and Del Norte, not much better than that.
Rural, northern California is poor compared to where the congressman lives. Will ending oil exploration on federal lands (forever) drive the price of gasoline down? Stupid question there, and Jared Huffman knows the answer to that.
Two years ago, America was completely energy sufficient. At that time, I bought gas in Wyoming for $2.98 a gallon. Today, in the town of Mendocino, the nearest gas station to my house, gas is $8.63 per gallon. Yikes! Yes, profit gouging there, but at some places in LA a gallon of gas is over seven bucks a pop. Has Huffman and his colleague AOC taken these prices into account while they save the world from heat stroke, or bring peace and quiet to American groundhogs living on government land?
If they haven’t, I have a friend who has. Salvador was born in Mexico City. He’s a very sweet guy. His English is not so hot, but, then again, I’m too dumb to speak any Spanish at all. He and his wife live in a trailer court in Ukiah. She works in home service. He commutes to properties close to where I live doing manual, property work. His daily commute is more than a hundred miles. Fifty plus out; fifty plus back. Salvador shakes his head and raises his hands to the sky, when we discuss the current price of gas. He labors for an entire day just to put fuel in his tank to work a five-day week. Will he be driving a Tesla soon? That’s the problem with lofty, abstract thought. Big thinkers seldom think about what happens to the little guy.
Of course, our President has already made it impossible to drill on public lands. Red tape for a permit? The dinosaurs will return before anything happens there. Huffman is demanding that drilling be stopped forever. Greens and environmentalists are dancing in the streets. However, does our congressman know that according to recent revelations in the Guardian, Putin and the Russians have been secretly funding European Greens and environmentalists to turn European nations away from fracking, nuclear power and energy dependence? In America has anything happened like this? Russia is a gas tank. Why would they do a thing like that? Conspiracy theory? Now days, conspiracy is so convenient when it comes to hiding truth. The world’s a complicated place.
But…back to us, as we wait in line at Costco praying for cheaper gas. Has my congressman forgotten in his fervor for electric cars that his district—from the Golden Gate to the Oregon line—is comprised of rural land? Land populated by simple bumpkins such as myself. The majority of his votes come from Marin and Sonoma counties where urban people dwell. Why should he care about us? And who drew the lines for this congressional district anyhow? The south has the money and all the votes. We're just rural chumps to get whatever they want. In Marin, few drive a hundred miles to work. They can bicycle to Trader Joes while they’re charging their electric cars. Where I live, it’s ten miles to the nearest store. One way. Others drive further still, especially if they have to drive to work. Rural people are becoming poorer every day when they put that gas hose in their hands.
Congressman Huffman, hear my plea on behalf of Salvador and your constituents living to your north surviving check to check. We need diesel to bring our food; gas to go to the store and work. Forget about AOC and your wistful planet plans to remove petroleum from our lives. Wake up, Mr. Congressman! Get in touch with the rest of us: we need gas at a price we can afford.
Rich folks and large corporations profit (and cause) inflation in general and high fuel prices in particular.
And they don’t feel the effects much either.
Politicians like out Huffman certainly earn their reputation.
Should be “our” Huffman, of course.
When did we lose the correction feature?
“When did we lose the correction feature?”
I think we should all boycott the AVA until they put it back on.
Marmon
Remember the digital divide? The electric vehicle divide is just around the corner. The difference is the cost, which means the government probably won’t be helping people bridge this divide in a meaningful way any time soon.
There is, at best, scientific uncertainty that battery powered electric vehicles, or devices will do anything to change the climate, but head on we must go down this electric battery driven road. A government requirement to replace internal combustion engines with electric motors might make sense in urban areas where there is air pollution, but not in most other places, including here in Mendocino County. There are potentially better options to control pollution like propane, or hydrogen.
There are also better options for carbon neutral electric power generation like biomass, and hydro power. But we are stuck on solar panels that have scarce resource requirements, and other un dealt with negative attributes. None of this makes sense, but what should we expect? Science left this discussion long, long ago.
Science and economic viability are twin drivers when it comes to a non-internal combustion engine transportation future. As for power generation, hydro expansion is off the table due to climate change and biomass may be difficult to implement in a scale that will make a difference. Lots of “hobson’s choice” scenarios in both areas, with plenty of unexpected consequences.
“Science and economic viability are twin drivers when it comes to a non-internal combustion engine transportation future.”
There’s science in building motors, solar panels, and batteries, but only uncertainty on if any of this technology has an effect on a changing climate. Politicians, and media tell us differently, I know.
Lopsided executive orders have done a lot of damage, here and abroad.
Congress is supposed to be charged with enacting law and declaring war.
At this point, it’s hard to say who is really driving the bus, but it’s headed over the cliff.
Well, only cost thousand dollar fully refundable deposit pre March 1st, to lock in pre inflationary price capped, go anywhere 4 motor electric Rivian truck or SUV, thanks to proactive action legal wedge by the Rivian company against threatened investors lawsuit.
Now waiting for more income tax deductions and government incentives to arise for this wheeled mobile power grid with optional refrigerator on board, to be purchased and to outrun the County home tax assessors code enforcement, and outdrive the next series of sitting ducks blazing infernos, within the city squalor and beyond rural outreach.
Well, it only cost thousand dollar fully refundable deposit pre March 1st, to lock in pre inflationary price capped, go anywhere 4 motor electric Rivian truck or SUV.
Decide which model later. This is thanks to proactive action and a legal wedge by the Rivian company against threatened investors lawsuit.
Now the savvy are waiting for more income tax deductions and government incentives to arise for this wheeled mobile power grid with possible optional refrigerator on board.
A specter presents itself with climate shift migration pattern, to outdrive the next series of sitting ducks blazing infernos, within the city squalor and beyond the rural outreach.
Congressman Huffman is right on target.
No wonder the AVA was ambivalent with recommendations for the past failing Congressional election campaign of Norman Solomon, which left voter’s heads scratching with their ballots.
Huffman has a track record.
Salvador, amigo, the big thinkers have spoken. Looks like you’ll have to buy a horse.