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Ford Fights Fuel Economy Legislation

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by toyotablackbox, Jun 4, 2007.

  1. toyotablackbox

    toyotablackbox New Member

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    My friend forwarded this Ford internal email sent to dealership employees today asking them to fight proposed fuel economy legislation. I thought it would only be fair to ask all of you to contact your local senators in support of the fuel economy legislation as I have done. The link from the email doesn't work outside the Ford intranet, but it shouldn't be hard to find your local politician's email via Google. Please send your thoughts and comments to the Ford grassroots program manager as well. I think it is about time the least fuel efficient automaker in the U.S. is forced to make some changes or close up shop altogether. WARNING! The attached FORD email is very upsetting, and is not for those with a weak stomach:
     
  2. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Haha. I think I know who I'm going to be calling tomorrow.

    And as a former Hoosier, I'm calling them as well.
     
  3. ozyran

    ozyran New Member

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    You know what? I'm going to use that template myself...AGAINST them. They want to cry and whine about the harm done to F-series sales? Fine. I'll whine right back at them about their continued limitation on hybrid development.

    Enough is enough.

    *UPDATE*
    This is the template the Ford workers use:

    I am writing to strongly urge you to oppose Senate Bill 1419. This bill mandates fuel economy standards that are extreme and not economically feasible. Not only would this bill restrict vehicle choice for families and workers, it would harm U.S. auto industry workers, retirees and dealers. Again, I urge you to help protect America's jobs and workers by opposing Senate Bill 1419. Thank you.

    I emailed my version of it both of my Senators:

    To the Honorable (Senator's name):
    I am writing to strongly urge you to support Senate Bill 1419. This bill mandates fuel economy standards that are not only economically feasible, they would provide the necessary motivation for the American population in general to pursue driving more fuel-efficient vehicles. Not only would this bill restrict vehicle choice for families and workers, it would potentially force the U.S. auto industry to revise their current automotive engineering practices and move America towards a more environmentally-friendly mindset. Many major automotive corporations in the United States today rely heavily on the sales of their full-size trucks and SUVs, which consume excessive amounts of fuel to do the same job a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle is capable of. Major corporations are producing vehicles which have regressed in their technological standpoint and have become heavier, larger, and overall less efficient. Enough is enough! It's time for the auto industry to begin producing more efficient and environmentally-friendly automobiles, vans, trucks, and buses. Again, I urge you to help protect Americans from the pressure of the auto industry corporations by supporting Senate Bill 1419. Thank you for your time.
    Very Respectfully,
    Donald McNurlin

    I didn't realize it, but by connecting to each Senator's website via the links provided at capwiz.com, I was actually emailing to the Senators while connected to the Ford website! Let's fight fire with fire!
     
  4. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    When sending a message to the honorable Dick Durbin, the website wanted to automatically name my message "Oppose Extreme Fuel Economy Mandates in S. 1419". So I copied the heading and clicked [Compose Your Own Letter]. Then I changed the subject line to "Please support Fuel Economy Mandates in S. 1419" and pasted ozyran's letter.

    And above all else: Make sure you (and this is great) "Send a copy of this E-mail to the Ford Grassroots Action Program" :D
     
  5. Pinto Girl

    Pinto Girl New Member

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    I've eMailed my Senators, urging their support; also cc'ed the Ford Grassroots Action Program.

    Feeling saucy.
     
  6. boulder_bum

    boulder_bum Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jun 4 2007, 09:36 PM) [snapback]455451[/snapback]</div>

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jun 6 2007, 11:53 AM) [snapback]456647[/snapback]</div>
    :lol: Awesome. I'll have to do that as soon as I get off of work.

    See here: http://priuschat.com/Why-The-Ford-Escape-H...rap-t34075.html.
     
  7. Proco

    Proco Senior Member

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    Add Senators Lautenberg & Menendez to the list of Senators urged to support the legislation.
     
  8. naterprius

    naterprius Senior Member

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    I don't think it's possible to have a "grassroots campaign manager" and still have it be "grassroots."

    Nate
     
  9. priusFTW

    priusFTW Gen III JBL non Nav

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    I emailed my senators too to support this bill.
     
  10. Miss_Taz

    Miss_Taz New Member

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    Sent to the 2 TN senators: Alexander and Corker...
     
  11. kidtwist

    kidtwist New Member

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    Letters mean a lot more than emails. I remember reading that politicians assume when they get a letter on an issue that approximately fifty other people feel the same way, but were too lazy to write.
     
  12. danatt

    danatt New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(naterprius @ Jun 6 2007, 03:28 PM) [snapback]456740[/snapback]</div>
    There's a term for this. It's called Astroturfing.

    So let's do like others in this post have suggested, using Ford's website to contact our Senators to support SB 1419, and take a lawnmower to the astro-turf. :D

    I like it.
     
  13. onlynark

    onlynark Member

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  14. boulder_bum

    boulder_bum Senior Member

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  15. ozyran

    ozyran New Member

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    I am a legal resident of the state of Nevada. My wife is a legal resident of the state of Connecticut. Together, we cover 4 Senators :D. We're sending off 4 letters via Pony Express tomorrow: 2 from me, and 2 from her.
     
  16. nerfer

    nerfer A young senior member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jun 4 2007, 10:36 PM) [snapback]455451[/snapback]</div>
    Oh man, I think you ruined it! They apparently don't allow you to compose your own letter anymore, it has "required text" instead. :lol:

    Edit: after a little research it looks like both Illinois Senators (Durbin and Obama) are in strong favor of increasing fuel efficiency, altho perhaps on an alternate bill also under consideration.
     
  17. ozyran

    ozyran New Member

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    Letters are in the mail. Let's see Ford stop THAT!

    Oh wait, I take that back. You never know when their execs could be :ph34r: watching...
     
  18. Per

    Per New Member

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    Frankly, I think increasing mileage standards for cars is meaningless, as long as SUVs and CUVs are not classified as cars.

    What would be more effective, is for the governments (federal and state) to start encouraging people to buy fuel-efficient cars. Ads on TV financed by gas-guzzler taxes on SUVs, billboards, Celebrities (some do it now) extolling the virtues of fuel efficiency.

    Fuel-efficient cars are out there and available, but people would rather have SUVs. You need to change peoples minds about their transportation choice rather than make unrealistic demands on the manufacturers.

    How about a weighed CAFE? Instead of a CAFE based on the average fuel efficiency in the manufacturers' stables, take a weighed average. 700,000 Silverados at 15 MPG vs 20,000 Korean built Aveos at 35 MPG?

    Let's get legislation that is meaningul!
     
  19. briloop

    briloop Junior Member

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    Sent to the two Senators from Texas.
     
  20. danatt

    danatt New Member

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    Has anyone here at PC ever thought of creating a forum dedicated to political awareness - specifically for highlighting bills up for votes in federal and state legislatures related to energy, vehicles, etc.?

    If it hadn't been for the OP here, I would have missed this one.