“LIL’ BILLY LONGS FOR A HUGE AMERICAN GAS TAX”

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We’ve come to expect an outbreak of crackpottery on “Earth Day.”

And FoMoCo scion William Clay Ford, Jr. (Lil’ Billy) almost never fails to disappoint.

So when Autoblog Green reports that Lil’ Billy is apparently campaigning for a return of $4.00+/gallon gasoline in the U.S.A., courtesy of a massive spike in the federal gas tax, our expectations for Earth Day insanity are exceeded.

Lil’ Billy is apparently intent on squandering what little good will Ford has left with American consumers.

While Chrysler and General Motors are saddled with the “Scarlet B” (as in "bailout"), which seems to have generated a backlash among some consumers, Ford has emerged as the exclusive choice for those who still want to “Buy American.” Ford is also somewhat alone among the Detroit 3 in the capacity of its captive financing arm enabling more buyers to obtain vehicle loans.

And as fuel prices moderate from the hysteria and speculator-driven, pre-recession peaks, a slim hope for economic recovery and increased Ford sales is emerging.

Still, FoMoCo’s cash burn, the looming prospects for collapse of Chrysler and GM, and huge uncertainties about Obamanomics mean that Ford’s survival is not assured.

A prudent Ford leader would concentrate on continuing to stabilize Ford’s business model and improving the competitiveness, quality, and value of Ford’s products.

Yet FoMoCo’s bumbling Executive Chairman has decided to alienate a good percentage of Ford’s potential customer base by campaigning for a regressive tax increase that even Barack Obama has the good sense not to openly advocate.

(Most certainly, last weeks’ erroneous U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finding of “endangerment” under the Clean Air Act for carbon dioxide, and the “fast track”** push by the Democrats for the huge stealth tax increase euphemistically known as “cap and trade” will amount to even more of a constraint on energy use than a mere tax at the pump – but the Obamaians are counting on the American voters not to notice, until it’s too late)

Instead of focusing on improving the fuel efficiency of vehicles customers might actually want to buy (i.e. an EcoBoost electric hybrid V8 (not V6) Mustang, E85 capability across Ford’s non-diesel lines, lighter weight diesel pickups and SUVs, credible V8-optional sports sedans, an EcoBoost/mild hybrid Focus) and then letting the not-so-free market decide, Lil’ Billy wants a return to the very conditions that killed the market for new vehicles!

Perhaps a “gas tax” isn’t much of a big deal when you’re a filthy rich trust fund baby and environmental dilettante who mostly failed at running the family business. But for millions of Americans, jacking up fuel taxes would mean the death of the American dream.

It would compromise safety.

It would deny full participation to scores of auto enthusiasts who have struggled to obtain one last sliver of supercar excitement before they die (or the liberal greens and their Democratic sycophants completely outlaw most of our vehicular liberties in worship of the false “climate god”).

It would further force migration from smaller communities in the heartland to increasingly crowded urban centers.

It would help impoverish small-town America and drive up prices on virtually every consumer and business good or service sold.

It would gut what’s left of grassroots motorsports for at least a generation.

It would destroy America’s farms and ranches.

It would squeeze small businesses and entrepreneurs.

It would lead to the extinction of our beloved Ford Mustang in any recognizable form.

It would subsidize even greater expansions of the federal government.

Yes, Lil' Billy, it would be as brilliant and effective as some of the moves made by the Detroit Lions football club.

(Perhaps the NFL ought to tax losing, so that the Ford Family can get a better taste of punishment through taxation.

. . . Or better yet, why not just tax the hot and “dangerous” gasses escaping from Lil’ Billy’s apparently empty head . . . . )


**

House lawmakers drew their battle lines in the debate Tuesday [April 21, 2009] over a massive climate bill, opening hearings on a sweeping proposal to curb carbon emissions and restructure the nation's energy industries.

House Democrats lauded the draft plan, saying the time had come to address climate change and praising a fast-track schedule set by the plan's authors, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman, California Democrat, and Rep. Edward J. Markey, Massachusetts Democrat.