Something akin to prohibition – outlawing alcohol from 1920 to 1933 – is happening in California. Other states are thinking about it. Word is these states are all planning – bless their hearts – to ban the sale of gas-fueled cars in a dozen years, by 2035.
I can see it now, can’t you? While folks in Montana, Florida, Texas, and Maine drive SUVs over mountains in snow, wind, heat, and hurricanes, California and other forward-banning states will bask in the re-discovered glory of Maoist Peking (now Beijing) circa 1965, pedaling bicycles in happy herds along formerly car-filled streets, pretending electric scooters are powered by the sun, filling up at electric pumps on the fossil-power grid.
Living the dream, Californians who stay for the 2035 show, will get Flower Power 2.0. Nirvana usually falls short but cycling and walking will make family trips very different.
Californians who stay will get the satisfaction of saying, once again, they beat Trump. They will swap long vacations by car for cycling to local parks, and camping with the homeless population. Today 160,000 homeless Californians populate public parks, about the number of California’s fossil fuel jobs that should vanish by 2035.
To assure parks are not empty, California also has two million illegal aliens – or undocumented non-citizens – with more invited. This too is the product of forward-thinking liberal policies.
So, it seems California is in the process of “reimagining” the world as a place where big, strong, fast, machismo gas-powered cars are banished – replaced by Utopia. As in China, cyclists will carry umbrellas to stave off global calamities with no power windows. Someone clever will put solar cells on the umbrellas, further cooling the earth.
One Caution – even modern China’s cycling umbrella industry has hit bumps. Companies that tried “umbrella sharing” (like scooters) found it hard, since not everyone shares, even in a Communist country.
Never mind, Utopia will come. Diesel trucks will vanish, ushering in what historians will dub the Great Rickshaw Renaissance, tens of tons of heavy goods – especially those wind turbines, solar panels, bales of kale (harvested by solar or cycling combines) being towed by beefy rickshaw drivers.
California will push the long-overdue reversal of Henry Ford’s inventions, the combustion engine, and the four-wheeled car. One can imagine the competition for energy-saving, two-wheeled cycles replaced by unicycles, and ride-sharing on five-seated cycles up San Francisco’s hills. The future is coming!
People will wear Wright Brothers’ shirts, not because the clever Kitty Hawk brothers pioneered gas-guzzling flight – but to celebrate their real accomplishment of running any early bicycle shop.
Statues of Henry Ford and those who drove gas-powered cars, trucks, trains, tractors, or airplanes will be taken down – to applause. Apologetic speeches for car driving will be made by legislators. Only John Kerry’s statue will still stand, as he always took a bicycle on his plane. If there is no statue to him, they will put one up – riding a bicycle.
Yes, sometimes you do not realize you are in the presence of the future, even though you stand right there. Imagine bringing Communist China’s eco-streets to California, allowing the state to outdistance China itself – now mysteriously producing two and half times all US emissions.
As car-buying increases in China – 281 million cars sold in 2021, just 2.9 million of those electric – the whole world may flip. Of course, making things easier, Chinese buyers are not allowed to ask, “Where does power come from?” or “Are these really running on coal power off the big grid?”
Yes, life is mysterious, wonderful, and never more magically nonsensical than in that high rent, high tax, and no gas (except for cows) California. The aim is to be done with gas-powered cars as soon as possible, which will be good for everyone, since all that unused fossil fuel can be sold to China or redirected to the power grid, finally bringing down gas prices outside California.
Californians will lead the way, showing America how to be economical, spending money on taxes, massages, suntans, social media, and more taxes. Why? Because California’s 54-cent gas tax, which presently generates 8.8 billion dollars for the state, will suddenly vanish. Poof!
As people bad at pedaling flee the State, desperate for something less like China and more like America, there will be lots of land for those who stay and lots of new taxes to cheerfully pay.
The whole thing seems better than prohibition in 1920 since it is far harder to build a gas-guzzling car in your backyard still than a quart of moonshine. But count on this: Politicians – practiced in enforcing mask mandates – will be looking from air-conditioned gas-powered cars.
Yes, sometimes politicians, especially those from California’s Democratic caucus, get ahead of everyone. If you can ban gas-powered cars, what can’t you ban? Think about it, the future is coming – as Mao predicted. And you will be able to say you were here when they hit the gas!
Let me see if I understand this stupidity; sell only electric cars therefore build many more electric charging stations, close the gasoline stations because they no longer can pay their overhead, so (me being a tourist) visiting California in my petroleum powered vehicle must carry enough fuel for the round trip entering and exiting? Sounds like California is no longer interested in encouraging a tourist trade, less revenue for motel trade so they will close, no visitors to Disneyland or their National Parks so these will close; people out of jobs and with no income are now on WELFARE and what does the IRS and the State collect in taxes to repair roads and bridges, as well as pay these construction workers so these electric car have smooth roads to drive on ( have yet to see an electric ATV); would appear to be a mass exodus from the State; how does that all look on paper?
NOT for CA.
No energy for Grid
As I’ve said before, California should become it’s own country. It’s also ironic that so many individuals strive to become smarter with more education and become more ignorant. Hopefully when “the big one” hits California all the emergency vehicles and construction equipment will be fully charged. Maybe one day California will require all of it’s children to become proficient in Chinese. Never thought I’d see the day.
Interesting article by Mr. Charles.
Not sure where California is going to get the electricity for all these electric cars, trucks, buses, trains, (airplanes also?). By 2035, they could be without hydroelectric power once Hoover Dam’s turbines stop spinning because of no water in the Colorado river (or Lake Mead). Hard to pedal all those bicycles without water for the riders.
During the1920s the 2 most brilliant men in America, Henry Ford and Mr. Electricity, Thomas Edison, collaborated on an electric vehicle. They determined gas and diesel were superior propulsion alternatives and dropped the project.
Actually Thomas Edison’s most profitable business was selling batteries to the various Interurban railroads (trolley lines). Tesla (actually George Westinghouse with Tesla’s patents) made money selling power plants to the Interurban railroads. And California yanked out the interurbans and trolleys in the 40’s.
Add NY to the list of states banning gas-powered cars ( actually reliable cars) by 2035. Another reason in a long list of them why people will leave. They’re sick and tired of being dictated to. The states that are doing this don’t think these things through. Where is the energy supposed to come from since they’re forcing people to only use so-called renewable sources of energy. NY for example is banning new natural gas hookups. ALSO, since not everyone has a charging station outside their house, how are they supposed to charge the vehicle? In addition to all this.I find it appalling that governments think they have the right and the authority to dictate what cars we should drive.
this is insanity my tiny community can’t support charging cars
They’re trying to lock everyone down again using climate change instead of a COVID crisis.
Gavin Newsom is an idiot. He’s going to ban sales of gas powered cars yet just yesterday he requested that Californians don’t charge their EV and to limit their electric usage to avoid power outages. Unbelievable…………… and he wants to be president!!!!! LMAO
The mental capacity of a liberal is ten steps below granite.They do not have the capacity to think things out before they engage thier mouths.
Kerry needs to get an electric plane. Let’s go Brandon.
One of the best ideas I’ve heard in quite awhile
His jet will have solar panels on the wings. And crash at night or when the sky is cloudy.
Yes it sounds like democrackheads reality is so far fetched all they are looking for is power and if you’re not rich then screw you we will make you more poor . They have no common sense with anything they do . China is at the the brink of collapsing itself and we want to use them as an example? really , we need to get the crack heads out of office all they are doin is taking us backwards. This is not about climate control its about power and screw the little guy.
To be fair and consistent any State that outlaws the production or purchase of fossil fuels cars should also ban the purchase of out-of-state electrical power created using fossil fuels. In short, unless the electricity is produced by renewable energy as defined by the DOE (no hydro) or nuclear power they cannot receive that electricity into their State.
Great article, funny but showing us the future if we don’t start protesting like the libs!
I’m so okay for California to ban gas cars. You get what you vote for. This leaves the States with common sense who decide to leave it up to the people on whether or not they want to purchase a gas car or an EV. It gives us a better selection of gas cars to purchase.
Not everyone in California is stupid. Many “blue states” are actually that way based on the morons living in the cities with more people than the rural areas. For example, Nevada is run by Clark and Washoe County. Don’t think California Stupid doesn’t trickle down… like a virus. It will be everywhere soon!
Very true, California stupid is showing up in Arizona.
The political cancer is all over the country even in “conservative” states. Where I live we have a governor that was from California and is quickly destroying this state.
You are correct, I’ve spent time in CA outside the big cities and those people are generally level-headed and more conservative. They can only shake their heads at what the big city dummocrats continue to do to them. Actually many blue states are in the same boat, one or two counties ruin it for the entire state.
Sad but true, I laughed my backside off. My grandkids thought I was going crazy!!!!!
Newsome will not be governor, by choice or election, by 2035 and that ill fated law will be rescinded. California will recognize electric cars will do little or nothing to get the results they were promise…..saving the planet. The EVs are not what is advertised. The electric power to charge those cars is not clean energy, the materials needed to build are not produced clean, the batteries when no longer usable have to go somewhere and we are creating more and more every day. If you think nuclear fuel is hard to dispose of just imagine all those batteries. Good luck CALI!
Even when Newsom is gone they will have another extremist liberal in control. These extremists do not care about the people of their state and have no intention of going back on their agendas. Look at the homeless problems and they keep bringing in more illegals to the detriment of their own citizens.
People that support the Green New Deal at living in LA LA LAND
No, Newsome will not be governor, sorry to say, he will be president of the US, and his utopia will be the law of the land.
If democrats get their way and remove the current electoral college for electing the president, then newsom would be president.
These politicos are out of touch elitists living in their own comfortable bubble
While we go broke losing our freedoms
This is Orwell’s Animal Farm in the real world.
Those electric cars are toxic extravagantly costly radiation machines
Produced in the most environmentally harmful ways with inhumane labor
If you think Biden is dumb how about this CA bunch.
AMEN
The problem with this article is that is 100% hysterical and not based upon any facts.
The ban is only for selling NEW gasoline powered vehicles beginning in 2035.
There is NO ban on currently existing gas powered vehicles.
There is also NO ban on currently existing or new diesel powered vehicles at all.
Stop with the hysteria already.
and you Know the Facts ? lmao.. Fact number 1.
You are Hysterically Brain washed to even actually write such b.s.
and believe you know a Fact about anything. Seek Professional
Help Quickly !!!
I just saw the bill for a Chevy hybrid battery replacement. $29,842. Enjoy your green plug in, all while remaining “calm.” BTW, what’s the real impact lithium mining and battery disposal to the environment, since you have the facts? That Green New Deal is some deal, that’s for certain!
Democrats are from a different planet.
I agree..but conspiracy theorists can start any ball rolling for the gullible
This is not hysteria, this is fact. We have folks in our government that exhibit control issues. This is a free country. If you want a battery car than you should have that choice and if you want a gasoline car you should have that choice. This is poor leadership and a ridiculous idea that you can force people into buying something that we don’t have sufficient materials and infrastructure to support it. This is also a signal to the auto industry for them to stop producing gasoline cars taking away our choice even earlier than 2035.
You’ve got to be kidding me — you really think it stops there? It’s just the first step. As I said in my own comment, you will see dealerships pop up along the Nevada and Arizona borders and a whole industry designed to ship “used” cars into CA (even 1 day old is “used”). CA will look the other way for a while content that they done their virtue signaling. Then the road use tax for electric car charging will hit as the gasoline taxes diminish (see road use taxes for propane). At some point when they feel they can get away with it they will progressively ban non-electric vehicles until only “collectors” can have them (and all the big wigs will be “collectors”).
Yes yes heard it all before. And they aren’t after my guns either… right? Just the black dangerous looking ones…
They will ban cows too. They will drink oat milk and eat vegan diets. The sad thing is that their decisions will affect us all.
While the politicians live in comfortable bubbles
If there is any water for irrigation remaining for farmers in California to grow oats or almonds for milk.