Dear Doug:
This morning on the Michael Jackson talk show on KRLA 1110 AM I was able to take about 5 minutes of airtime to frther the EV cause. The subject was "At what point will you think gas costs too much. His guest was Assemblyman "tom" a republican whose answer to the rise in gasoline cost is "eliminate the taxes on gas and lower the price by 70 cents a gallon. Mr Jackson mentioned the EV recall but had no idea about the real reason I was able, on the air to explain about the ZEV mandate and the way the manfacturers are going to kill it. When asked by Mr. Jackson if Assemblyman "Tom" ever drove an EV, he lied and said yes. "Did you like it?" answer "No, it wasn't worth $250,000 which is what it cost to build and the cost was added to the price of every other car". I corrected the assemblyman by adding that the first Ford Pinto cost 100 million dollars.and the EV costs were offset by lots of tax credits and the extension of the ZEV mandate. Mr. Jackson agreed with my position and mused that he never has driven a EV. Doug, an opportunity to get at least one personality on our side? You might want to give him, or his producer a call.
As a past president of the American Lung Association of L.A. County, and statewide and national board member and a lifelong businessman I learned to "follow the money" whenever I wanted something done. As it stands it appears that it is a couple of hundred (at best) fanatical EV owners against the 1) Automobile manufacturers 2) Oil Companies 3) Broadcast and Print media and 4)The general population. David liked the odds better with Goliath. Where is our money and power? Utilities...... Will PGandE, SDGE, Co Cal Edison, SMUD, and DWP be at the hearings?
I might be able to enlist additional support from the American Lung Association, however, without public support MONEY will be the final factor in the ZEV mandate. It always is.
During a business trip to Wasgington D.C.about 15 years ago I had occasion to meet with Bob Dole for an hour. The most important thing I learned from him was "when you come to Washington for something, leave your logic and passion in your hotel room and deal only with who owes who, and what's in it for them". What he said goes against my ethics, but I have found it to be true. We need powerful allies! Any thoughts? Tom Wheat