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JULY 22-23, 2022

IT'S ABOUT TIME!  It's about time that someone blew the lid off the fraud of electric vehicles.  The way the Washington crowd speaks, you'd think they were some kind of gift from Heaven, coming to solve all our problems.  (Of course, the Washington crowd thinks the Indianapolis 500 is a list of society members.)  Electric vehicles have their problems, to put it mildly.  From Fox Business: 

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's recent comments that electric vehicles (EVs) are cheaper than traditional alternatives were misleading, experts told FOX Business.

Buttigieg suggested EVs can be cheaper than comparable cars with internal combustion engines and more cost-effective to fill up, in response to a question from Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., during a House hearing Wednesday. During his questioning, Perry noted the high average cost of EVs and asked what the Biden administration's plans were to lower such costs for American consumers.

"I knew this might come up, so I pulled a few of the latest prices," Buttigieg told Perry. "A Chevy Bolt, an American-made 2022 EV is $26,595. If you want a pickup truck, like a Chevy Silverado EV or Ford F150 Lightning, the starting prices of those are $39,900 and $39,974, respectively."

"But what we're seeing in terms of the dynamics now is we're close to the point, and may actually be there on certain models and under certain circumstances, where the extent to which your car payment would go up, is actually already outweighed by the extent to which your gas bill would go down, even factoring in the cost of electricity," he continued.

However, experts highlighted that cheaper EVs are still more expensive than comparable traditional cars and must be charged more often due to their relatively low range. For example, the 2022 Chevy Bolt referenced by Buttigieg costs $26,595 and has a range of 259 miles while the traditional engine 2022 Chevy Spark costs $14,595 and has a range of 297 miles, according to company data.

"Customers are clever enough to figure this out despite the snow job from the electric vehicle promoters and people like Secretary Buttigieg," Myron Ebell, the director of the Competitive Enterprise Institute's Center for Energy and Environment, told FOX Business in an interview.

"It's really kind of a con job," Ebell said. "It may be a good deal for some people in some places under some circumstances. But by-and-large right now, it's not a good deal."

Overall, the average cost of an EV was $64,338 while the average cost of a compact car was $26,101 as of May, according to Kelley Blue Book. Factoring in government incentives, the average cost of EVs are likely closer to $60,000.

In addition, the Department of Energy reported in January that the average range of model year 2021 gasoline vehicles was 403 miles compared to the median 234-mile range of model year 2021 EVs. That means EV owners must pay to charge their vehicle more frequently than owners of traditional cars.

"We systematically researched the entire industry — who buys cars, where they're built, how much they cost, what segments they're in and what consumers do with them," said Patrick Anderson, the founder of Michigan-based Anderson Economic Group (AEG). "Our research shows that a lot of Americans have been given a false impression about EVs."

In April, AEG released its annual report analyzing the real world costs of vehicle ownership, comparing EVs to gasoline-powered cars. The report concluded that traditional mid-priced 2021 cars have a cost advantage over mid-priced EVs after factoring in electricity costs, charging equipment costs, road taxes and "deadhead miles," the distance consumers need to travel to remote charging stations.

EVs charged using residential and normal commercial charging methods cost about $0.50 more per 100 miles than comparable traditional vehicles, according to the report. EVs charged using more expensive commercial charging stations cost about $4 more per 100 miles.

"The first thing that a lot of potential electric vehicle owners need to be aware of is that they're probably going to be paying both their home utility bills and the cost of charging at commercial chargers," Anderson told FOX Business. "Failing to understand that a large number of miles that the typical American travels are away from home and require using a fueling station that's not in their garage, would be a very costly mistake for a potential EV driver."

Anderson added that AEG's research showed 78% of electric vehicles are luxury vehicles and most EV purchasers also own traditional vehicles.

"A very large share of the electrical vehicles themselves are owned by affluent people and, often, wealthy people," he said, arguing government subsidies for EVs mainly benefit the upper class.

Ebell echoed Anderson and said EV owners are "free-loading" off Americans who own gasoline-powered cars since the federal gas tax funds roads and infrastructure. EV owners aren't required to pay an equivalent tax for infrastructure funding.

COMMENT:  Bottom line, look with both eyes if you're in the market for a new vehicle, and have a hand calculator with you, one with charged batteries.  We really don't know what conditions will be like when the great majority of Americans go electric. 

And I'd like to know about repair bills, and the cost of replacing batteries in an EV.  Car buyers don't like surprises.

And batteries are very dirty to manufacture. 

And what happens if the cost of electricity suddenly goes way up, and you need your EV for work?

I'm not a spoilsport, but there are facts to be acquired.

July 22-23, 2022       Permalink 

THE COST OF OUR OPEN BORDER:  A group of informed Republicans issue a dire warning.  To be taken seriously.  From Fox: 

EXCLUSIVE: Republicans on the House Select Committee on Intelligence are raising the alarm about "grave" national security threats facing Americans due to the destabilized southern border.

Fox News Digital exclusively interviewed members of the congressional delegation following their law enforcement briefings and line tour along the El Paso, Texas, border with Mexico Friday.

Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, who serves as the ranking member on the committee, said simply that counter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' claim earlier this week, the border "is not secure."

"We met with the FBI, the Texas Department of Safety, the Border Patrol. What's clear as we stand here on the border is that the border is not secure. Thousands of people are being apprehended a day, others cannot even be captured. The amount of drugs, even guns, that go across the border, cash, illegal activity, human trafficking. The toll that's happening on people who are crossing this border is extraordinary," Turner told Fox News Digital while standing next to the border wall with Mexico.

"This represents a national security threat. The number of people who are crossing who are not from Mexico, Central America, or even South America is enormous. These individuals are a threat to our national security. Many are from countries that have very questionable purposes when they come here. So our border patrol are overwhelmed. They need assistance. This wall needs to be completed."

"What we heard repeatedly today and yesterday was the portions of the wall that had been built worked. And some areas since the [Biden] administration stopped construction of the wall have gaps in them where wall was being repaired or replaced and those repairs even stopped. So today you have a porous border, you have a great risk to our nation."

The number of terrorists coming across the border poses an "absolute threat and danger" to the U.S., continued Turner.

"You have people who are on the terrorism watch list, people who are known terrorists, there is a threat of them crossing the border. People who have been apprehended fall within those categories. But then you also have the people who aren't caught at all. And then others of which there is no information who are crossing the border who are not even from this hemisphere. This represents an absolute threat and danger to our country, and it could be stopped if this border wall was completed. If we gave [Border Patrol] the right resources, we could be able to stop these border crossings and, of course, keep our country safe."

COMMENT:  Read the whole thing.  The prospects here are horrible.  Sooner or later one of these terrorists, or terrorist groups, will strike.  Remember that 9-11 was pulled off by fewer than 20 Islamic terrorists.  

It is very hard to engage the public about the border, and keep it engaged.  We don't think about borders every day.  And, with the exception of Fox, our so-called "news" organizations seem little interested.  They will remain that way until a catastrophe occurs, and then they'll blame Donald Trump.   And CNN will buy it.

July 22, 2022       Permalink

JULY 21,  2022

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE

HORRIBLE:    Congressman Lee Zeldin, the GOP candidate for governor of New York, was attacked while making a speech.  From Fox:  Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., was attacked during a gubernatorial campaign stop in Perinton, New York on Thursday night where an individual allegedly pulled out a sharp object.  Zeldin was at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post event giving a speech about bail reform when a man allegedly got on stage and "wrestled with him a bit, and pulled a blade out," according to a witness who spoke with Rochester First.  The individual who allegedly tried to attack Zeldin was taken down by AMVETS national Director Joe Chenelly, according to the report.  After the attack, Zeldin went back on the stage and continued talking, according to the report.  The Monroe County Sheriff's Office told Fox News that it is "aware of an incident at the speech of gubernatorial candidate Zeldin this evening. A suspect is in custody and Major Crimes is investigating. We will update as further information becomes available."
Katie Vincentz, a spokesperson the gubernatorial campaign, said that Zeldin and lieutenant governor nominee Alison Esposito are safe following the attack.   As Lee Zeldin predicted after the attack, the alleged perpetrator was arrested, then immediately released on his own recognizance, in accordance with New York's weak criminal-justice laws.  I fear we may see more of this violence on the campaign trails this fall.

July 21, 2022       Permalink

DECLINE OF A GIANT:  The name "Disney" used to mean clean entertainment for families.  No more.  From Hot Air: 

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will re-open on August 25 after being closed due to the pandemic. This is good news for young children who want a makeover in the dress-up salon to transform into a princess or a knight. There is a catch, though. Disney has not learned the lesson yet that not all of its customers wish to live in a world of gender neutrality in every aspect of their lives, especially in the lives of their young and impressionable children.

Fairy Godmothers in Training provide little girls and boys between the ages of 3 and 12 with makeovers that allow them a chance to pretend to be a princess or a knight – for an extra fee, of course. For $19.95 a boy receives The Knight Package which includes hairstyling with gel and a mighty sword and shield, according to the website. That is the cheapest package available. Little girls can participate in princess packages ranging in price from $99.95 to a whopping $229.95. Hairstyling, princess gowns, makeup, and accessories are included in varying degrees, depending on how much money a parent forks over.

In today’s gender-neutral world at Disney, the Fairy Godmothers in Training will be called Fairy Godmother’s Apprentices. Why? It’s all about the employees and not at all about the children.

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Disney Parks have been a long time tradition for families to bring their children to get dressed & styled as their favorite Disney characters. But there will be a slight change coming to the famous Boutique.

Disney will continue their efforts at being more inclusive with all guests & cast members by renaming the Boutique cast members to ‘Fairy God Mother’s Apprentices’ rather than ‘Fairy Godmothers in training’. This way cast members that might not identify as female can still be part of the process to dress up & style the children without having to refer to themselves as a female Disney character.

Disney is in the business of entertainment, specifically fantasy entertainment in their theme parks. It is all about make believe and pretend. Fairy godmothers are women, though I’m not a biologist, I am certain of that fact, having been a little girl once myself. They have magic wands and grant wishes. Little girls love the princess fantasy and Disney princesses in movies and merchandise provide the company with billions of dollars in revenue. So why mess with success? Because a very small minority of employees have gender identity issues? It’s just wrong. The miniscule minority is running the show at Disney and the top officials are too cowardly to speak up for their customers. Disney puts its employees before its paying customers, without whom they would not be in business.

This isn’t the first change Disney has made recently that has set off some fans. It seems that a major corporate goal is to provide a gender-free world to children. I guess it is no longer acceptable to just enjoy being a little girl or boy.

Last summer, Disney scrubbed the use of “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls” from its theme parks, and changed its once-strict dress-code policy. Theme park employees now can show up to work with visible tattoos in whatever gender costume they wish.

Elsewhere, Disney has removed a shrunken head dealer character named “Trader Sam” from Jungle Cruise and gotten rid of the “Take a wench for a bride” scene from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride. The scene depicted crying women tied together with ropes.

There is also the kerfuffle caused when Disney decided to weigh in on the Florida’s parental rights bill, causing a battle with Governor DeSantis. Disney stock has dropped 41% over the past year. Disney CEO Bob Chapek has signed a contract to remain in his position for the next three years, so corporate officers must be pleased with the direction he is taking Disney. Too bad they are putting politics above just letting kids be kids in their parks. Little kids don’t care about words like in-training or apprentice. That’s just signaling from adults who should know better.

COMMENT:  There are many other stories about Disney being reported with this same theme.  Why destroy one of the world's greatest franchises?  This is what happens when militant left ideologies are permitted to take over. 

It's hard to know how Disney's executive decision-making will affect ticket sales.  Disney theme parks are already so expensive that you have to believe that they appeal mostly to comfortable families.  Maybe they won't care about the political gimmicks.

Identity politics and cancel culture are destroying this country's inventiveness and creativity.  There is more than a small element of totalitarianism in the air.  There is some fight back, from political figures, parent groups, and religious organizations.  There is little from the press.

July 21, 2022       Permalink