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Wednesday, October 06, 2004 Wall
Street Journal Dismisses California Pollution Legislation
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Sure, the Wall Street Journal is a
business publication, and it leans toward the Republican
right. I'm fine with this. Still, I was surprised at how
awful the editors handled California's recently-passed
pollution legislation in an editorial titled, "Arnold's
Greenhouse", published today.
In the article, the WSJ editors start out pimping Gov.
Schwarzenegger as a man standing for the people against
interest groups, but then asks, "How about opposing
those groups imposing huge new costs on car drivers in
California and the rest of America?"
Excuse me? We have to have the Gov. protect us from people
trying to limit pollution, trying to do something about
foreign oil dependency, and trying to get corporations to
think about helping the American people, rather than only
seeking profit at any cost?
The article also asks, "And to what purpose?",
arguing that CO2 emissions have nothing to do with
pollution.
Shame on the Wall Street Journal. It has been shown quite
clearly, and believed by almost all scientists, that CO2
emissions from cars interact with sunlight to form SMOG.
Scientists throughout Southern California will bet their
reputation that the majority of SMOG is caused by cars,
PERIOD.
For the WSJ to take such an unscientific stance is
unacceptable and pathetic, and seems to indicate that WSJ is
in bed with the oil industry. It is certainly for the status
quo.
"There's also the question of jobs," the Wall
Street Journal points out.
Jobs? Shouldn't that be the 'job' of auto execs?
A recent article by the American Foreign Press titled 'Asian
brands gain ground with US consumers', states "Perhaps
more significant was the way the Asian brands led in various
product segments. Toyota's
Prius hybrid nabbed the compact car category.."
Pardon? Did you say a hybrid car, something that has been
around for just a few short years, and already hits
Californians 2012 pollution legislation requirements, helped
Toyota take over the compact car market?
Oh yeah, you did.
So a new customer segment, regardless of pollution
legislation, is already forming? Could this be a sign of
future market share? Shouldn't Detroit be paying attention?
Then again, I guess American automakers have been spending
too much of their time fighting rollover lawsuits for the
last 20 years to care about actually helping make the world
a better place.
Add the fact that Toyota's Prius hybrid
car technology is being leased by U.S. automakers, as
well as being introduced to China - possibly the future of
the auto world, and I think I'm missing something here. Or,
Detroit is missing something.
The future of auto jobs are not going to be built around
SUVs. They just don't make sense in an over-populated,
pollution-filled world. More and more consumers are saying
we've had enough. Leadership by Toyota has been well
received by many American consumers who want to do something
about foreign-oil dependency, about SMOG, about pollution.
Where is Detroit? Promoting bigger SUVs.
Where is the Wall Street Journal? Promoting a scandalous,
tired American automotive industry.
Perhaps two Wars in Iraq have been good for the rich, but
not for the average American.
Where is the leadership? Technological innovation is the
future, and new energy possibilities are just around the
corner. Those who lead those innovations will lead the
future. SUVs are not going to lead the future. So those jobs
are dying anyway.
The Wall Street Journal seems as ignorant as the brass at
the Big 3. Consumers are demanding corporate responsibility
more and more, and questioning the auto industry is only one
part of that demand. As the gap between rich and poor
increases, and as more become poor and fewer rich, the poor,
'the people', will not sit back as corporate execs become
billionaires promoting dead-end-technologies, at the expense
of Average Americans
Thank you Governor Schwarzenegger for showing leadership,
for not bending over to the special interests of Big
Business - the worst of all special interests.
The fact is, hybrid cars already can do what California
requires. Furthermore, hybrid cars are an innovation which
can help transition towards the future, while creating jobs
with a future.
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