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Category Archives: AutoInformed Editorial
Fourth of July 2023 – Reject Despots and Their Institutions
Today we remember 1776 when 13 colonies embarked on a notable experiment in self-governance as an independent, autonomous nation because the course of human events made it necessary to separate ourselves from our unjust rulers. That foundation led to an immense and thus far enduring enterprise in self-governance. The colonies had but 2.5 million people at that time of English and other ancestry. Small numbers in today’s world, but they were people with far bigger aspirations, following far, far larger ideas. Continue reading
Drive Safely by Securing Your Load
The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) asked us today to urge drivers to properly secure transported objects. Items not properly secured pose a safety risk on our nation’s roadways. Objects or debris can fall from vehicles and can collide with other vehicles or pedestrians, causing serious injuries or fatalities. Continue reading
Troubled Asset Relief Program Report – Same Villains
Lawmakers created the TARP in 2008 to stabilize the roiling financial markets. Given what appears to be universal Republican intransigence on guaranteeing US Treasury repayment of the huge amount of debt piled up considerably during the Trump Administration, and the ongoing Republican folly of tax-cuts for the wealthy and other forms of corporate welfare, it appears that the US is once again headed for a crash in the financial markets, a recession and perhaps a resulting global depression. If another bailout is needed to provide stability in financial markets by purchasing and guaranteeing “troubled assets,” let’s hope we learn from the past and awaken to the idea that bailed out banks and financial institutions will have to give taxpayers equity in the institutions commensurate with the amount of money given them. Continue reading
IIHS Questions the Safety of Electric Vehicles on Others
“Assuming the new generation of heavy EVs is designed to perform well in our crash tests, there is no reason they can’t provide good protection to their occupants. In fact, their extra weight will afford them greater protection in a multivehicle crash. Unfortunately, given the way these vehicles are currently designed, this increased protection comes at the expense of people in other vehicles,” Arbelaez said. Continue reading
Automakers Rapidly Increasing EV Prices
AutoInformed thinks two factors are in play here: First demand for EVs is strong, particularly among affluent buyers. Second, EVs are more costly to develop and batteries are still expensive and the covid pandemic supply chain interruptions are making them scarce. One click bait headline had it that “EVs are Bringing Out the Worst in Us” because, among other things, a Hummer EV battery pack weighs as much as a Honda Civic. It consumes minerals that could otherwise be used to build several electric-sedan batteries or hundreds upon hundreds of e-bike batteries. Perhaps such thinkers are unaware of the ongoing mood amongst that tawdry cast of Capital characters along the banks of the Potomac who will not legislate SUVs and Pickup trucks out of existence. Yes, there is a Santos clause and his party wants to legislate the government out of business. Continue reading
Political Climate Change – Man Sentenced in Foiled Michigan Governor Kidnapping Conspiracy
A jury in an earlier trial was unable to reach a verdict. In my view, things have changed significantly in many people’s minds about the Big Lie and the associated, often violent, assaults against institutions and people as the January 6 Committee during the past year presented its devastating case of what went on and who was part of it. Call it a national warming toward protecting our Democracy after the melting of the last Republican ice age. National security is also a critical issue in Trump’s case, of course, with his unexplained stolen documents. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, fools 'n frauds, news analysis, people
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COP27 – Carbon Footprint Reduction Strategies Scrutinized
Fasten your seat belt this is going to be a bumpy ride to save planet earth and the invasive species known as mankind. It will require collective action from all the participants and special interests. Moreover, the debate over how developed nations should support or subsidize less developed ones will likely be rancorous behind the scenes. Continue reading
Canadian Industrial Policy Actively, Successfully Pursuing EV Climate and Economic Benefits with New Mercedes, VW MOUs
Free market ideologues, many of them backed by fossil-fuel-providers, disdain such progressive thinking and are positively scornful of a federally directed industrial policy such as the tiny one established in the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. Not a single Republican voted for it. This, arguably, is the US’ first significant climate law since Congressional hearings were first conducted on the environment 40 years ago. It’s also significant change in political philosophy toward rational thinking over ideology. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, electric vehicles, environment, global warming, manufacturing, news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, German Chancellor Scholz, Herbert Diess, Inflation Reduction Act, Ken Zino, Markus Schaefer, Prime Minister Trudeau, Rock Tech Lithium
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July 4th 2022: An Unhappy 246th Birthday for Our Democracy
With our collective actions we can on future Fourth of Julys celebrate our Union and our collective progress. These too will be Independence Days that build on our past. However, they will be ones that embrace a movement toward an even more independent future, a stronger economy that embraces all, not just the ultra, non-tax-paying rich and celebrates yet unknown non-summer soldiers and stormy weather patriots. Don’t tread on our ideals. Continue reading
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, July 4th 2022, Ken Zino
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President Biden Signs Executive Order to Boost Wildfire Resilience, Combat Global Deforestation
It is indisputable that wildfires and extreme weather events are growing in frequency and ferocity, engulfing communities in the West and across the country. In spite of the obstructionism to change by those funded by the fossil fuel industry, this is demonstrably costing lives, destroying homes, and creating a ruinous economic climate. Biden reaffirmed his calls on Congress to address the climate crisis. Continue reading
Commerce Releases Plan to Boost America’s Competitiveness
While Commerce has revised its mission statement to underscore the connection between its programs and all Americans, specifically the Department’s mission is to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities, AutoInformed thinks it’s going to take a lot more than publicity releases. What needs to happen in our view is to accomplish real change and have resentful people not only endorse and help in its implementation, but also to recognize that government can make things better for the common good despite the abject failures of the previous Administration to do so. Since Ronald Reagan the Republican party has said government is the problem while proving exactly that under successive Republican mis-administrations. Continue reading
State of Our Union and the Auto Industry
The auto industry’s economic impact reaches all 50 states, sustaining 10 million American jobs and more than $650 billion in paychecks. The Biden Administration – in the face of Republican opposition and treasonous praise for Putin’s war against Ukraine – has proposed a forward-looking plan that will help the auto industry continue to provide economic growth via a cleaner, safer and smarter automotive future. We need to control our destiny here. This is clear. We need to rid ourselves of alleged leaders who mock our alliances, favor rich despots and are long on talk, but weak on foreign policy and even weaker on our defense. Continue reading
MLK – Changes in African American People Since 1964
In noting Martin Luther King day, here are data* about African Americans relating to differences between 1964 and 2020 in the percentage of African Americans completing high school, the number of African American college students, and the percentage of citizen population voting in the United States. Continue reading
Census – US Population Growth Slowest Ever
Given our urgent need to be internationally competitive and the staunch Republican opposition to helping poor families and young children in favor of tax cuts for the super wealthy, the news comes at a particularly bad time for the Party of Nope , aka Republicans or the grand old white NOPe. When will they put country over ideological allegiance to what is now the party of insurrection and treason? Continue reading
Consumer Rights Nil in New Autonomous Vehicle Bills?
The Center for Auto Safety says one of the proposals, the SELF DRIVE Act, “neglects to include any consumer protections that prevent the use of binding arbitration clauses in contracts involving autonomous vehicles.” As is common in Washington the legislation is misleadingly named. However, there is a need to explore the issue as there are arguments on many aspects of technology and systems that can save lives and reduce traffic congestion even though AutoInformed remains skeptical about the ability of politicians to do so with a regard for We the People as opposed to We the Congress who are paid large sums by corporate interests. Continue reading →