Foreign oil dependency: Jobs versus National Security

Can America survive a couple more decades of foreign oil dependency?

So, the Senate has already watered down their original CAFE plan, and more diluting should be expected in the House, as Detroit-influenced lobbyists storm the halls of Congress. When all is said and done, you'll probably be able to drive a fleet of Hummers through the CAFE loopholes.

Obviously, Detroit has no choice. When around 70 percent of your business comes from selling the most fuel-inefficient vehicles, the phrase 'fuel economy' becomes fighting words. Besides, isn't Detroit just trying to protect American jobs and an important part of America's economy?

Yet, are those jobs more important than National Security? When a line can be drawn from the first Persian Gulf War to Bin Laden to 9/11 to Afghanistan back to Iraq because of foreign oil dependency, isn't it time to start asking serious questions and to take serious actions?

Senate shows some bipartisanship on CAFE

Can bipartisanship in Senate transfer to the House?

While the CAFE plan passed in the Senate wasn't as strict as many would have liked, it is far better than nothing. Additionally, it was nice to see some bipartisanship for once. Can this sentiment transfer to the House when it takes up the same legislation - probably sometime this Fall?

Sure, there will almost certainly be a plethora of loopholes for automakers to exploit, but at least fuel economy is becoming an important discussion in America. Hopefully, that will push more and and more American consumers to do their part as well.

CAFE - Why not tell the truth?

The technology is there

While fighting against proposed CAFE increases, a number of automakers and their alliances have claimed such increases were technologically impossible.

Once the same argument was used with hybrid cars, until the Toyota Prius proved that hypothesis wrong. Now almost every automaker is taking lithium powered hybrids incredibly seriously.

Ultimately, the current CAFE plans in Congress are technologically achievable today, let alone more than a decade from now. So, let's be honest.

The real issue isn't technology, it's cost. Is the cost of developing a new generation of automobiles worth the end of foreign oil dependency, for example? Is it worth it for Congress, consumers and automakers to come together to achieve a common goal?

Reid says CAFE will happen

Wow, Reid and Bush agree! America needs to get tough on foreign oil dependency

"I know the auto industry is still wavering on this issue," Reid told a Washington think tank. "I met with the CEOs of the Big Three automakers last week, and here is what I told them: The debate on raising CAFE standards is over. It will happen."

"Perhaps if they had joined us instead of fighting us these last 20 years, they might not be in the financial mess they're in today," Reid said. "But now is their chance to do the right thing -- both for their bottom line and for the American people. And if President Bush is truly serious about raising CAFE, he'll help us pass this bill."

(DetroitNews)

CAFE: Proof of the dysfunctional-ity of Congress?

Expect a weak, pork-filled bill?

If new CAFE legislation coming out of Washington proves one thing, it's the dysfunctional-ity of Congress.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said he strongly opposed the committee's draft, calling it "deeply flawed""It doesn't step up to the urgent challenge. It blinks and then steps back," he said. Waxman also quoted New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman who said "you could drive a Hummer through the gap between our words and deeds."

Yet, the committee's draft has essentially been crafted by Waxman's fellow Democrats. Not that Republicans should rejoice in the hypocrisy of the Democrat Party - at least the Democrats are doing something. Unfortunately, despite the strong rhetoric coming out of Democrats on issues, such as global warming, little action is actually taking place.

What CAFE really proves - a fact most Americans recognize according to most polls - is that Congress has become just shy of useless - at least for the people. Fortunately for Congress, we the people, are too lazy and complacent to do anything about it.

Hard on Iraq, soft on foreign oil dependency?

Likes to slam war in Iraq, yet soft on foreign oil dependency?

I think today's two party political system is just short of becoming a complete joke. I'm an issue orientated guy, yet issues seem to matter little in Washington.

Self-proclaimed national-security-protecting Republicans couldn't seem to care less about the most important national security facing America: foreign oil dependency. On the other hand, Democrats criticize the Iraq War and big oil companies, yet protect Detroit's gas-guzzling-creating culture.

Anyway, two of Michigan's leading Democrats have proposed a new CAFE plan, according to the DetroitNews, that insulates Detroit's most fuel-efficient vehicles, light trucks and SUVs, from any real increase. The plan does, however, at least include money to develop plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Memorial Day - Celebrate Foreign Oil Dependence!

Honor our soldiers by buying a foreign-oil dependence-increasing gas-guzzler?

Heading into the Memorial Day Weekend, U.S. automakers are beginning an ad campaign to convince Americans that CAFE increases are bad for America. Such a move, they argue, is too expensive, too limiting and too unsafe.

How safe and cost effective is America's foreign oil dependence?

The world is on the brink of massive chaos - chaos significantly created and nurtured by America's dependence upon cheap, foreign oil - yet we do nothing? Even worse, heading into the Memorial Day weekend, U.S. automakers launch a campaign to warn America about the dangers of trying to do something about foreign oil dependency?

Nice timing.

Still, I understand that it won't be easy to end foreign oil dependency - it's our generation's moonshot, some have called it. But with every crisis there is an opportunity.

Detroit needs to stop telling America that's it too expensive to end foreign oil dependence. Rather Detroit needs to work with Congress to create a real-world plan to end foreign oil dependency.

Enough partisanship. Enough politics. Enough profiteering. It's time for action, not excuses. It's time for leadership.

The benefits of ending foreign oil dependency could revolutionize the U.S. auto industry and U.S. manufacturing, while inspiring a nation to greatness. The costs of not acting, however, threaten not just the U.S. auto industry, but the entire U.S. economy - not to mention our security.

Will we, the consumers, voters and tax-payers of America, demand it?

Are Michigan Democrats really Democrats?

Is Nancy Pelosi's biggest problem her own party?

Do Democrats really care about global warming and foreign oil dependency? While the answer to that question seems like a resounding yes, why is it that some Democrats are the BIGGEST laggards regarding real CAFE increases and real action on global warming? Isn't that supposed to be the domain of Big Oil-influenced Republicans?

At some point Democrats might have to ask, "Are Michigan Democrats really Democrats."

John Dingell (D) of Michigan is one of the biggest forces preventing a serious increase in CAFE, even though hybrid cars demonstrate that the CAFE requirements proposed for 2020 are essentially achievable today. Yet, Dingell has ripped....(Finish: CAFE: Can Democrats put Michigan in check?)

Democrat slams Obama over CAFE

Democrat John Dingell slams Barack Obama

"U.S. Rep. John Dingell came to the defense of Detroit's automakers Monday, stressing the need for a U.S policy on global climate change while taking shots at some of the industry's toughest critics.

The Dearborn Democrat ribbed President Bush, as well as Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois."

I say wake up Detroit! Wake up John Dingell! Ignore fuel efficiency at your peril! Work on figuring out how to help U.S. automakers develop hybrid vehicles if you want to be productive.

(Source: DetroitNews)

The Senate's CAFE increase demonstrates America's lack of vision

What percentage of Americans really need a bigger SUV than this Escape hybrid?

A Senate panel approved a plan to increase average fleet fuel economy in the U.S. to 35 mpg by 2020. Of course, the plan has yet to be approved by the full Senate and the House has its own plan, so it won't be surprising if the final plan is watered down, especially related to trucks and SUVs - Detroit's moneymakers.

Still, the Ford Escape hybrid can essentially meet 2020's standards, today. The Toyota Prius blows this requirement away, today. Hybrid cars provide the technology .....(More).

Blame both political parties for high gas prices

O.K., so Republicans have ties to big oil, that's obvious. But can you really blame high oil prices completely on Republicans, especially when the price of oil is decided in the open markets by traders trading future shares of oil every single second of the business day? How do you manipulate that? Still, Republicans deserve criticism for their close oil ties.

In addition to oil, Democrats ridicule the President's minor CAFE updates, and they are minor. In fact, they are essentially worthless. Yet, less than a year ago, when Congress had a chance to significantly update CAFE, did Democrats make a stand? Heck no. How would Democrats funded by the labor unions that 'protect' autoworkers explain this to the Union leadership, to the workers that would lose their jobs - and to a huge endorsement and source of campaign money?

In reality, when it comes to high gasoline prices, Democrats are very dirty.

That's what makes the new Harbour Report North America 2006 so darn interesting. The Harbour report studies the efficiency of automobile production in the U.S. Surprise, surprise Japanese automakers, even those in America with American autoworkers, are more efficient than American automakers.

While Detroit is closing the gap, this gap still exists and has existed for decades. Today it takes the most efficient Japanese automaker 7.33 hours less per vehicle in labor hours compared to the least efficient American automaker. Less than 10 years, in 1998, the number was 16.56 hours.

What does this number mean? Ultimately, if you spend less time per vehicle, it is because you have less problems, or better quality. Thus, American workers working for American automakers have been spending far more hours producing vehicles of far less quality than American workers working for Japanese automakers.

Again, this has been going on for DECADES. Is there really any wonder why Detroit has faltered over the years?

Detroits problems are far larger than just currency, or benefits, such as skyrocketing health care costs. For decades American automakers have been producing inferior products while spending a lot more time - thus money - doing it, and labor unions have been a huge part of that problem.

Sure labor unions have helped provide good wages and benefits for American autoworkers, but they have also contributed to creating an uncompetitive, inefficient American auto industry.

According to the Detroit News much of the recent gain in American automaker efficiency has "come as a result of progressive operating agreements the company has negotiated with the United Auto Workers union. The deals limit job classifications and rely on a team-based approach to manufacturing."

Shouldn't this have been handled a decade or two ago?

Consequently, for decades, Democrats have significantly contributed to the trend of gas-guzzling in the USA. Despite their rhetoric, and perhaps unintentionally, Democrats are probably more responsible for the SUV craze in America than Republicans. While American automakers do produce fuel efficient vehicles, most of them are produced outside of the United States. U.S. automakers largely produce ONLY foreign oil gas-guzzling vehicles in the States, and to a large extent, Detroit has had no choice. Only gas-guzzling SUVs provide enough profit to keep the Unions happy and the company afloat.

When it comes to America's foreign oil, gas-guzzling culture, there is plenty of blame to go around.

Even worse, as we head into 2008, little seems likely to change. Recently Hillary Clinton sided herself with Detroit and has skewed her focus more towards oil companies and their lack of E85, rather than the monstrous gas-guzzlers coming out of Detroit.

Ironically, even oil man, President Bush, has told Detroit to build more "relevant" vehicles, such as hybrid cars. Without more fuel efficient vehicles, E85 will be a program that America spends billions of tax payer dollars on, yet it will result in little change.

Well, I guess that sounds about right for big party American politics.