Did Obama just give Tesla a huge bump?

[Mycroft]

Exactly chrono. I consider myself conservative. I believe global warming is likely a fact and that it really doesn't matter if it's being helped along by human activities, because the amount of change that would be required of human activities to cause even a minuscule amount of reduction in warming would be cataclysmic! On top of that, we are a single volcanic eruption from a new global ice age.

That said, I love EV technology because it reduces our dependence on foreign oil, it extends the life of all oil sources that we need to make products, and unlike ICE technology, EVs can be powered from a wide variety of sources.

[NigelM]

I believe global warming is likely a fact and that it really doesn't matter if it's being helped along by human activities...

The world is getting warmer, that's an undisputed fact. The question is whether the human population is causing it. I really liked Elon's point that he made in the Charlie Rose interview (thread here) when he said (and I paraphrase!) that even if global warming is 99% natural why would we even want to help it along that extra 1%? It makes no sense to deliberately accelerate global warming and fossil fuels are a limited resource anyway.

Like most Americans I agree with both political parties on some issues. Obama is right when he pushes the point that this country needs to reduce its dependency on oil. There's plenty of other threads around here where the members have highlighted the lunacy of subsidizing our use of a limited resource.

[Iamthecaliflower]

I'm a moderate (leaning towards conservative) and I agree that the only way America can get out of the mess it is in, is to do some of the things Obama mentioned. The Government needs to make money available, in the form of long term loans (not bailout/free money), for the purpose of pushing the development of infrastructure. I disagree with his plan to push for better education, while I agree that reform is needed. I think reform of teachers unions will have to play a big role in education reform, but that' snot really relevant (even though it sort of is, since we need more capable "American" engineers that can build the technology). Requiring mandatory schooling through age 18 may not be constitutional, since it may impose an "unreasonable burden" on certain families. Building factories/ facilities that can facilitate the transition over to EV requires billions of dollars in R&D. Tesla is not along in doing this. They just happen to be at the head of the game. Regardless of if it can be proven that we are speeding up the process of climate change, there is no question that the Precautionary Principle should be applied to something this significant. To ignore Climate change is to doom our species, or to produce a world where 4-5 generations down the road, the cost of "ALL THINGS", becomes more than anyone that manage. Oil will eventually reach $150-200 a barrel. What then? Not saying what Obama is proposing is going to save the world, but this is definitely something that needs to be discussed now, especially when you consider that any policies/bills signed into law will not see a "SIGNIFICANT IMPACT" for 5-10 years.

[dpeilow]

"EVs are good because they move us toward energy independence. Less foreign oil means a safer America." Say that to your right-leaning friends, and they will be on your side in a heartbeat. Stop talking about global warming; they aren't listening.

You're assuming that MIC wants that scenario.

[Uncle Ron]

EDIT,,

[AnOutsider]

Dang, can't believe I feel asleep and missed it.

[drees]

The world is getting warmer, that's an undisputed fact. The question is whether the human population is causing it.

There really is very little doubt that human activities are behind global warming in the scientific community. Most of the doubt is related to how much warmer the globe will get and the effects from said warming.

[gg_got_a_tesla]

There really is very little doubt that human activities are behind global warming in the scientific community. Most of the doubt is related to how much warmer the globe will get and the effects from said warming.

Enough to delay the next ice age apparently!
BBC News - Carbon emissions

[dmckinstry]

Judge Obama by his actions, not by what he says. They are not by any means the same!

Much of what he said was "Send me the bill and I will sign it." That's irrelevant, since they'll never send him a bill that he's asked for, even if they happen to agree with it.

[Norbert]

He had to be circumspect about doing that after Solyndra though. And, whatever we all might say, the Model S is still not a car for the masses so, the President should not be seen to be touting a company that makes cars for the relatively well off (atleast as of now).

We should look at Model S as a demonstration of what is technically possible, not as a car for the wealthy. As soon as it is being delivered, of course. The only reason to be hesitant is that we need the proof to be on the road, in fact that will be the point of it, so better wait for that before making too big words.