Tesla should get the big bucks

Let me attempt to understand: We pay ("lend") $20 billion to General Motors to survive, Chrysler about half that over recent years, and now $6 billion to Ford "to produce 13 new fuel-efficient vehicles."

Now comes the whammy: we're also funding a Japanese auto company in Tennessee $1.6 billion "to make advanced vehicles and build a battery manufacturing facility." Is the Department of Wasted Energy afraid of using the words "electric autos?"

But now for the double whammy: the DOE has allotted the astronomical sum of a $465 million loan to Tesla Motors in California, to "build electric vehicles." For the unknowing, Tesla Motors, at last report, has around a dozen cars running around the country. In fact, at Willow Creek Community Church's annual Dadfest of prize cars last Sunday, they had one on display. Tesla's 2-seater sport model leaves Porsche and BMW in the dust, reaching 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Tesla has a four-door, six-seat sedan with performance not too far behind the sport model and it has all the goodies inside and out.

Guess what? It's completely electric-powered. No gas, no oil, no exhaust fumes, quiet as a church mouse; in quantity production the Tesla will be yours for $49,000 after the government subsidy kicks in. Now there are obstacles to overcome, like plug-in stations, quicker battery recharge, etc., but by far the largest and most dangerous is BIG OIL.

In my humble opinion, DOE's awards should be reversed. With a $20 billion loan to Tesla we can look forward driving the cars we should have been driving 20 years ago. Detroit dropped the ball 25 years ago when they caved to the unions, much to Reagan's chagrin. That began the era of gas guzzling sport pickups, 22-foot luxury behemoths, and the inevitable SUV's.

Smarten up folks, I'm ready to invest in Tesla. So should you.

F.E. Lind

Huntley