Sometimes a presidential candidate’s deranged ramblings about a battery-powered boat and a shark attack are really about something else. Like electric vehicles, the oil and gas lobby, and most importantly, Republican tribalism. Trump — meaning the Republican Party — has become vehemently anti-EV.  Sure, it may have something to do with the candidate’s recent billion-dollar ask of the oil and gas industry. More likely, though, it’s that Republicans are trying out a new anti-woke culture war issue. If climate change is a hoax, then why not gin up hatred of those elitist electric cars that are more popular in certain blue coastal states? Never mind that much of the auto industry has gotten behind the push to EVs and the United Auto Workers endorsed Joe Biden. Electric vehicles have become the new low-flow toilet or energy-efficient lightbulb: yet another cudgel for the right-wing to swing around in the Great and Endless Culture War.
(And unfortunately, some Democrats in swing states are caving to Republican fear-mongering.) EVs have plenty of issues and they won’t magically solve climate change or make the evils of the automobile disappear — but I sure am looking forward to driving something that doesn’t run on gasoline. I’ll be back here very soon with more posts, including some behind-the-scenes drawing and commentary.
In the meantime, thanks for being here and supporting my work! -Mark |
