RenMan68
Member
I'm not sure where to put this question but this forum seemed the closest.
I am wondering why conservatives hate EVs so much. I had no idea before buying a Model 3 how much politically conservative people hate electric cars. A 70-year old guy in my father's neighborhood railed against them, saying that ICE cars are perfectly good, and thus wondering why people are trying to make electric cars. This was not just intellectual curiosity on his part, mind you, because he continued on with an expletive-ridden rant about how liberals are set on destroying the country and EVs are just one more front in the war. The negative reactions I have experienced range from that kind of thing to, at best, my friends refusing to say anything about my car and just pretending I never bought one to avoid the shame. So, what is it that bothers them so much? Is it as simple as, "Gas cars are the way we get around so don't try to change it."? That's a progressive idea and thus bad? I've read some stuff about how it's an assault on big oil. Is their complaint there that Big Oil is a cherished institution and thus not to be attacked? Isn't that how capitalism works? (There is some complaint about the tax credit which, while I disagree, is at least a position I can understand (not agree with) and thus talk about.) And then the vitriol thrown at Musk baffles me. They accuse him of being a threat. This guy came to the U.S., started two successful companies, and became a billionaire. Isn't that the dream? Is it because he's an immigrant? His car company is in the US, employing Americans, making money here. (And exporting a product too!). I just don't get it. Is it about the environment? Does EV ownership present a challenge to them in terms of it being heard as a condemnation of their ICE ownership on grounds of global warming?
Love to hear people's thoughts on this.
If you do consider yourself politically conservative and you're on this forum your perspective would be particularly of interest.
I just want to understand.
I am wondering why conservatives hate EVs so much. I had no idea before buying a Model 3 how much politically conservative people hate electric cars. A 70-year old guy in my father's neighborhood railed against them, saying that ICE cars are perfectly good, and thus wondering why people are trying to make electric cars. This was not just intellectual curiosity on his part, mind you, because he continued on with an expletive-ridden rant about how liberals are set on destroying the country and EVs are just one more front in the war. The negative reactions I have experienced range from that kind of thing to, at best, my friends refusing to say anything about my car and just pretending I never bought one to avoid the shame. So, what is it that bothers them so much? Is it as simple as, "Gas cars are the way we get around so don't try to change it."? That's a progressive idea and thus bad? I've read some stuff about how it's an assault on big oil. Is their complaint there that Big Oil is a cherished institution and thus not to be attacked? Isn't that how capitalism works? (There is some complaint about the tax credit which, while I disagree, is at least a position I can understand (not agree with) and thus talk about.) And then the vitriol thrown at Musk baffles me. They accuse him of being a threat. This guy came to the U.S., started two successful companies, and became a billionaire. Isn't that the dream? Is it because he's an immigrant? His car company is in the US, employing Americans, making money here. (And exporting a product too!). I just don't get it. Is it about the environment? Does EV ownership present a challenge to them in terms of it being heard as a condemnation of their ICE ownership on grounds of global warming?
Love to hear people's thoughts on this.
If you do consider yourself politically conservative and you're on this forum your perspective would be particularly of interest.
I just want to understand.