“Taxation without representation is tyranny.”
A common saying in New England leading up to the American Revolution stated that the king had no right to compel American colonists to pay taxes to him, but that both houses of Congress had the right to support the formation of the nation. It was a challenge to the idea that there are no elected representatives. the laws and policies they have to live with;
The same principles apply to soon-to-be-finalized regulations from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP). The rule is based on just 150 signatures on a petition and the mandate of at least four of her six members on the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (MBEP) to vote. ).
California dominates Maine’s new car market
In a preliminary vote earlier this fall, MBEP voted 4-2 in favor of moving forward with the rule. They will make a final decision before Christmas. This rule literally cites California law as the governing law, including “pursuant to California Regulations 13 Section 1961.4” and “as required by California Regulations 13 Sections 2118 or 2127.” ” are included.
The new rules not only give California lawmakers the power to control new car purchases in Maine, but also hand over control to a California board appointed without input from the state of Maine. They also have no right to appeal the decision.
From the regulations: “No person or other entity, including manufacturers or distributors, may deliver for sale or lease, offer for sale or lease, sell or lease, import, deliver, purchase, lease, rent, acquire or Vehicles within or entering Maine are subject to this chapter unless the vehicle is subject to a CARB Executive Order. ”
New car sales in Maine will soon be managed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB is a 16-member commission, 12 of whom are appointed by the California Governor and approved by the State Senate. The Main faction has no say in who serves on this board.
The rule would require that 43% of new cars sold in Maine be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) starting in three years, rising to 82% in nine years. Essentially, this rule aims to remove gasoline and hybrid vehicles from Maine’s roads.
This does not mean establishing a similar board of like-minded mainists. That would be too risky for environmentalists, who worry about the possibility of another Republican governor being elected and appointing legislators with less favorable views. By ceding power over our own lives to Californians, the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) has announced that, whether Maine people like it or not, the extreme policies of the nation’s most liberal state will continue to influence Maine. succeeded in virtually guaranteeing that it would have influence in
Beyond the constitutionality of stripping Maine of its autonomy to control the lives and public policy of Maine people, California’s policy is not one-size-fits-all, and certainly not in Maine. California is completely different from Maine. For example, the number of registered cars exceeds 14 million, the highest in the nation, almost twice as many as the next largest state.Maine ranks 41st with 414,725 registered vehicles.cent.
People living in Mattawamkeag don’t have to live under rules designed to control the Kardashians’ Bentleys.
What else should Californians govern in Maine?
Should Portland International Jetport be required to follow the rules of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the third busiest airport in the United States? Of course not.
But this is the same principle that Maine’s political leaders are willing to accept when it comes to who buys what new cars in Maine.
One of the most brazen lies contained in the draft rule submitted by the hopelessly dishonest NRCM is that the rule will “ensure that often marginalized communities and populations benefit from climate action by gaining opportunity and access.” “This will help meet Maine’s climate change response plan so that they can receive the benefits they deserve.” Protection from threats. ”
Perhaps Maine’s poorest people just have to walk
NRCM manages to avoid people living in Maine’s poorest areas from being “left behind” if they end up paying thousands of dollars more than they would pay for the type of car they cannot afford or own. I twisted some logic to make this claim. I’m not interested in
In a state with the worst personal income growth in the nation (and the only state with recent declines), this is the height of arrogance and ignorance. The state’s environmental community believes it knows what’s right for everyone else, so it can ignore the simple tenets of democracy and impose its whims on the rest of the population. That arrogance and ignorance of the real impact their actions would have on the poorest Maine people.
For example, Chevrolet says its basic hatchback, the Sonic, has an MSRP of $16,295. Prices for an all-electric equivalent Volt start at $26,500. 60% price increase.
recently, press herald We published an article pointing out that only 8% of used cars currently sold in Maine are priced under $20,000. The retirement of new gasoline and hybrid cars will significantly increase the price of new cars, diverting potential new car buyers to used cars and, as a result, increasing their prices.
NRCM says the low number of EVs on Maine’s roads is the result of a conspiracy by automakers to deprive Maine of electric vehicles by not producing or providing enough vehicles to Maine. has repeatedly insisted.
The fact is, people across the United States remain indifferent to EVs. “Ford has delayed $12 billion in EV manufacturing capacity, warning that electric vehicle prices are too high and demand is slowing.” They’re not alone. Other automakers are also cutting investment and abandoning manufacturing targets.
The current strike by auto workers means that as EV production increases, jobs will shift to China, where EV batteries are manufactured in harsh climate conditions in coal- and oil-fired factories. It is based on the reality that These batteries, along with simpler electric engines, make up the majority of new electric cars, making the need for car assemblers much less here in the United States.
As the industry evolves from the need for these workers, the UAW is calling for a 40% wage increase. Any idiot in that position will have to wait for another column at another time.
As reported by the Associated Press, “Most UAW workers in engine and transmission plants will lose their jobs if electric cars replace gasoline-powered ones. And low-wage battery plants will become unionized. Without membership, workers would have no place to earn equal pay and benefits.”
Automakers’ withdrawal of future EV plans prompts environmental groups to resort to military force. If we take away gasoline-powered cars by pretending they have some inherent advantage that cannot be proven with evidence or logic, buyers will be forced to buy EVs, and organized labor who voted for the Democratic Party will be criticized.
With fewer EVs rolling off the assembly line, Maine’s new rules will inevitably reduce the number of new cars of all types on dealer lots, further increasing demand and prices for used cars in Maine. means.
This rule has no significant impact on Maine’s climate.
If the Maine government forced all gasoline-powered vehicles off the roads and only allowed ZEVs, it would reduce barely half of every ton of CO2 emissions per year.Despite all the steps California is taking to reduce CO2, cars in California emit 148 times more emissions than cars in Maine..
Does it make any sense at all that we are letting them dictate policy? Using the same logic, we should let South Carolina control the lobster industry.
I will not entrust policy making to someone who is less skilled than me. It may sound crazy, but that’s exactly what Main is trying to do.
This massive interference in the lives of Maine people will have no significant impact on the climate, nor will it do anything to put more ZEVs on Maine roads. Despite false promises unsupported by any research or empirical evidence, we are unable to even slow the flow of dirty air and out-of-state vehicles into Maine. After all, these “clean” vehicles run on electricity, which has a larger initial carbon footprint than gasoline-powered cars, and in Maine, more than half of them come from fossil fuels.
Why do we do this to the same main person? Because 150 people signed the petition and at least four members of the unelected board told us we had to sign. This is not democracy. It is embarrassing that we live in a nation where policies are based on such a ridiculous lack of supporting research and evidence.