Good points all, but we can do all the hand wringing we want among our
circle of cars enthusiasts but if you don't follow the laws being proposed
in your state and make your point of view known to the legislators it is all
for naught. Pick up the phone and make some calls or fire off an e-mail.
In California we have the Association of California Car Clubs that is an
umbrella group monitoring legislative proposals and lobbying on behalf of
the car hobby in Sacramento. I encourage all who cherish the hobby to join
if they are in California, or find a similar group in their state. The ACCC
website is www.defender.org
John F. Quilter
Brisbane, California
1951 MGTD
1960 Morris Minor
1965 Jaguar 3.8S
1969 Austin America
----- Original Message -----
From: <peter-thiel@sbcglobal.net>
Cc: <mg-t@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 4:51 PM
Subject: [Mg-t] scrappage laws
> Hi Folks,
> This is a situation that we should all be aware of, of things that are
> happening in the name of "greenness":
> http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2009/04/21/ .
>
> I don't think I'd replace my MG TD no matter how much money the
government
> gave me. It's not about that. This kind of legislation is simple meddling
with
> our freedom. They want to make us feel bad about using too much energy and
> polluting so much, driving collectible cars? How about the amount of
energy
> that is put into manufacturing new cars? From the mining to the sheet
metal,
> from the raw plastics to the dashboard and bumpers, all the energy, waste,
> pollution, and cost that goes into tooling up and manufacturing a new car
is
> huge. Witness that it's tough to find a decent new car for less than
$15,000.
> There'd be a tremendous cost (burden) to many a family if they were
required
> by law to buy a newer car. The cost of living is reduced by driving an
older
> vehicle.
>
> There is also a big difference between an old "clunker" and a
collector
> car. I envision some pinheaded do-gooder sitting in his/her office in D.C.
(or
> Sacramento, Albany, or _________ fill in the blank) wringing hands over
people
> driving a 16 year old Chevy or Ford or a rusty old pickup truck with 200
> thousand miles on it, smoking away as they go about their lives, trying to
> make ends meet. On the other hand, those other terrible folks (us) are
racing
> around pointlessly enjoying their useless hobby and polluting their little
> tiny world. (Forgive the acerbic flavor here.) As far as the people
driving
> "clunkers", they probably would retire the car at the first opportunity if
all
> the bills were paid and life was perfect.
>
> I love a sunny top-down day with the wind in my hair, taking in the
> scenery while toodling down a country road, getting smiles and thumbs-up
all
> along the way.
>
> Pete Thiel
> '53 MG TD
> '91 Volvo 240
> '99 Taurus
> '00 Mazda 626
> and various old motorcycles
>
> P.S. Rebut or chime in as you wish, my intention is just as food for
thought.
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