Washington State is NUMBER TWO...passes Hawaii!!

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by tpatrick

If I may add the car manufacturers are taking advantage of the emphasis towards EV and Hybrid cars. I recently purchased a new car and initially wanted a hybrid, namely the Toyota Rav4 hybrid. They were asking $5,000 over MSRP just for the right to purchase the hybrid vehicle. This is in addition to the upcharge from gas to hybrid. I ended up with a gas Honda CRV. I figured I would not own the car long enough to reach an even point on the cost of the hybrid vs cost of gas. Everyone needs to get on the same page if we are truly going to make the move to all EV/Hybrid cars.

Funny that you mentioned Rav4 since that is the older car we were replacing. After visiting our local Toyota dealer, it was a complete joke from the sheer lack of inventory to the ridiculous prices over MSRP. No thank you, Toyota!! So much for being a loyal customer for decades.

However, we did find a competitor hybrid who is really doing great against Toyota and Honda. And I was a able to negotiate under MSRP! So, we picked up a Kia Sportage hybrid which drives nicer than the Rav4 as well.

I do think American and foreign manufacturers are gearing up for greater EV production. And prices should eventually come down. The one causing the biggest stir is Chevy's new Equniox starting at $30k before tax rebates. After the $7500 federal rebate, it's price drops to $22.5k which is the cheapest EV yet. If CA offers another $7500 off state taxes, that puts it down to a mere $15k for a new car which is screaming deal assuming it won't be loaded with reliability problems out the gate. At those prices, they are priced to sell and take market share back.

Did Tax Credits Just Make the 2024 Chevy Equinox EV the Cheapest Small Electric SUV?

I doubt Toyota will have an answer given their greedier approach to current pricing. Plus, I don't think they qualify for EV tax rebates.

Though Tesla just changed their manufacturing supply chain to meet to the federal tax rebate requirement. So, a new Model 3 costs less than a Toyota Camry in California now. Tesla’s Model 3 eligible for $7,500 tax credit, making it cheaper than a Toyota Camry

Derek

[509]

Currently Washington state taxes on gasoline are 94.4 cents a gallon for regular gas and 1.054 for diesel. California drivers are paying a total of $1.19 a gallon in taxes.

This includes the gas tax at 49.4 cents a gallon and the new carbon ”fee” at 45.0 cents.

For comparison the profits that oil companies make from gasoline average about 50.0 cents a gallon.

In 2013, when Inslee and the Democrats started their push to make gasoline unaffordable for working people, Washington state gas tax was 37.5 cents a gallon.

Next carbon auction is later this summer.

[87112]

A lot of complaining about Democrats. How funny when voting times comes around they win everything. They don't even have to try for your vote.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by 87112

A lot of complaining about Democrats. How funny when voting times comes around they win everything. They don't even have to try for your vote.

It's gonna be an interesting election for governor. I think many moderates are open to all options. In today's current political climate of extremism, it unfortunately comes down to the least really bad option. Put a criminal Trump wannabe in there on the opposite end and its a DOA proposition. That doesn't mean the alternatives are great either. Its just not quite as disgusting. That will depend who actually runs this time around. You can't assume one party will always be best. Neither side have offered great choices. Hopefully we'll see more from both parties or an independent that could actually win. While hopeful, I'm not going to hold my breath either.

Derek

[509]

The problem is that we keep electing the lesser of two evils. Thereby, we are stuck with still a evil person.

Just fire the elected officials, in the next election. Then fire the next elected official if they don't perform. At some point, and I suspect it would be rather quick the elected officials will start paying attention to voters.

We need better voters and that will lead to better politicians.

I don't see that happening, so we will continue to watch society continue to unravel.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by 509

The problem is that we keep electing the lesser of two evils. Thereby, we are stuck with still a evil person.

Just fire the elected officials, in the next election. Then fire the next elected official if they don't perform. At some point, and I suspect it would be rather quick the elected officials will start paying attention to voters.

We need better voters and that will lead to better politicians.

I don't see that happening, so we will continue to watch society continue to unravel.

Return to 'volunteer' service and strict term limits for politicians and NO lobbyists (thus no ex-politicians turned lobbyist) Require true 'public servants' from the ranks of those choosing to serve constituents.
Election spending reform... incumbents get to spend ZERO (since they already have a voting / performance record). Challengers can ONLY advertise in free public service information sources (not a media empire influencing the electorate).

EDUCATE the voters and require a short competency quiz on the issues to assure the measures and people they are voting for is understood.

That would never pass current election law and freedom, but... our freedoms come at a very heavy (unnecessary) cost.

Our existing system has outlived its usefulness, since it can now be manipulated because we have a large % of uninformed and unconcerned voters. When I was working in China, we had a very nice high rise apartment building adjacent to factory, and lots of not so nice places nearby. I was informed that the nice apartments were for those voters aligned to 'the party', and their votes already bought and confirmed.

[PhoenixSomeday]

It's definitely extremely bizarre that term limits weren't added to congress when they were added to the presidency, and not since then either. Being able to be a lifelong politician is absolutely a conflict of interest when it comes to trying to make laws that benefit the masses.

[SciFiNerd1]

Originally Posted by 87112

A lot of complaining about Democrats. How funny when voting times comes around they win everything. They don't even have to try for your vote.

I was thinking the same thing when I read this thread. I am actually trying to move to WA State from the red state of Texas. I wish I could just trade places with some of you. Lol

[rkcarguy]

Originally Posted by SciFiNerd1

I was thinking the same thing when I read this thread. I am actually trying to move to WA State from the red state of Texas. I wish I could just trade places with some of you. Lol

I'm the first one to admit I can't deal with Texas heat, otherwise, I'd consider it lol