Staff Reports
The Biden administration seems to be under the impression that cars can run on mandates—an intriguing notion, but one that likely needs a bit more horsepower behind it. Biden’s eco-warriors recently announced a grand plan aimed at slashing CO2 emissions, a.k.a. a slow-motion ban on good old internal combustion engines. The idea is to limit gas-powered cars to just 30 percent of new auto sales by 2032, which essentially means praying for the electric vehicle (EV) fairy to sprinkle some magic dust on the auto industry. Spoiler alert: it’s not working.
Those paying even the slightest attention know that Kamala Harris is the queen of flip-flopping. Once an unabashed advocate for heavy emissions standards, she’s now in the process of backtracking faster than a coyote leaving a road runner in the dust. This so-called “moderation” is necessary for her as she eyes a potential presidential run, especially in critical swing states like Michigan, where one can’t simply drive away from the realities of the automotive industry.
Her recent moves speak volumes. In a stunning twist, Harris has conveniently changed her tune about EV mandates, maybe because she noticed that consumer excitement for electric cars is dimmer than a dimmed light bulb in a basement. Pressure from Donald Trump, who is all about keeping the gas-powered engine alive and kicking, has also ramped up. The former president has taken aim at the elite image associated with electric vehicles, sounding an alarm about China overtaking the U.S. in this sector. Harris may be wondering if her electric dream has turned into a nightmare.
Simultaneously, her team is working overtime to ensure that the narrative sticks—no EV mandate here, just a “delightful” subsidy for those fortunate enough to want their cars to be mostly an oversized mobile phone. Sustainable initiatives are favorably glossed over in the grand classics of political stumping. One might need a degree in political double-speak to decipher whether the Democrats are actually pushing EVs or just giving a passing nod to the idea while quietly hoping gas-powered vehicles don’t disappear from the marketplace entirely.
Kamala Attempts to Run Away from Biden-Harris Administration's Electric Vehicle Mandate via @WestJournalism https://t.co/gEmagrBTsc
— 🇺🇸 The MAGA Train 🇺🇸 Kenneth F Crowe (@KennethFCrowe1) September 30, 2024
It is worth recalling the fervor with which Harris once supported electrifying the American vehicle fleet. Back in her Senate days, she was part of the crew that drafted legislation targeting a 50 percent zero-emission target by 2030—translating into a full ban on gas vehicles by 2040. In every public forum, from climate papers to town halls, she seemed ready to scrap any semblance of moderation. Fast forward to now, and it seems the calculus has changed. EVs need to be sold while keeping voters happy, and there’s nothing like facing the reality that most Americans still prefer their gas guzzlers to the latest EV fad.
The latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations are wrapped in a shiny guise of “choice,” but anyone with a smidgen of common sense knows this is a blatant attempt at a biased transition towards electric vehicles. The auto industry is undoubtedly feeling the squeeze, as manufacturers are pressured to bend to government whims rather than genuine consumer interest, turning the “choice” of the consumer into a mere illusion of freedom.
As the dust settles, one fact remains clear: cars can’t run on mandates. They require gas, electricity, and, most importantly, consumer demand. Kamala can finesse her way around the issue all she likes, but the reality for the American people hinges on the driver’s seat, not the politburo’s mandates. One can only hope that the rest of the Democratic Party catches a whiff of this hard truth before the next election cycle leaves them in the proverbial dust.
