The Model T

If elected, Tinklenberg proposes to make, "Sensible, progressive increases in CAFE fleet standards for fuel usage of automobiles and trucks. Henry Ford's Model-T got better gas mileage than most cars on the road today. America can do better!"

Is that really true that our vehicles are less efficient than the Model T, Mr. Tinklenberg?

The 99 inch wheelbase Model T had a fuel economy of 13 to 21 mpg. It weighed 1,200 pounds.

Let’s compare it to the Ford Focus with a 102.9 inch wheelbase and a weight of 2,617 pounds. With more than double the weight, it gets significantly better mileage than the Model T—24-35 mpg.

Even a Crown Victoria, at 4,057 pounds and 114.7 inch wheelbase, gets 17-25 mpg. With more than three times the weight of the Model T, the Crown Victoria gets better gas mileage than it did.

Tell me again, why would anyone who looks at the numbers ever want to vote for Tinklenberg?

Tax and Spend, Tax and Spend

So what are Tinklenberg’s solutions to the non-problem?

• Give tax breaks to conserve energy. (Somebody has to pay for those tax breaks.)
• Create a carbon tax on carbon-based fuels.
• Tax to encourage development of alternative and sustainable fuels.
• Increase fuel standards for vehicles (Congress has already done that).
• Increase taxes to fund more light rail.
• Pass a windfall profit tax on Big Oil.

That ought to do it. Just tax us to death so we can’t use any more oil. What other solution is there for a Democrat? Government must do it all and you must pay for it.

The Bureaucrat/Transportation Complex

Wade Vitalis posted a comment at the Post Review, stating, ". . . 33,000 jobs/year will be created by the transportation bill recently passed by the legislature."

Senator Rick Olseen (D-17) wrote, "This transportation funding package will not only improve the safety of the state’s roads and bridges, but will create an estimated 33,000 jobs per year."

Rep. Jeremy Kalin (D-17B) issued this news release, stating, "Passage of this bill will also result in over 30,000 new jobs every year for the next five years – nearly all from private contractors."

At least partially, these three local liberals justify the massive taxing and spending for transportation on the grounds that it will create jobs and improve a sluggish economy.

On the other side of the issue, "Deputy Minority Leader Tom Emmer, R-Delano, slammed the transportation bill, which contains a gas tax increase, sales tax provision, tab fee increase and other revenue raisers, as neither creating thousands of jobs nor a guarantee property taxes would decrease," reported T. W. Budig.

Channel 5 Reporter, Tom Hauser, analyzed the Dem's assertion and found it hollow.

On his blog, Drew Emmer presents a list of those who lobbied for the transportation bill, many of whom will benefit from it. When those who will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the money are lobbying for that money to be appropriated, we taxpayers do not stand a chance. We are the true victims of legislators and the bureaucrat/transportation complex.

However, we who are victimized must never adopt a victim mentality and thereby capitulate in despair. We conservatives must band together, devise plans, rally hope and fight this pork barrel mentality. We must not enable the tax abusers to victimize us. We must vote out the thieves. We must do this at every level of government, from city councils and township boards, to school boards, to county boards to the legislature, to the constitutional offices of the state. My pocket book has been robbed enough. How about yours?