You know what? I'm going to use that template myself...AGAINST them. They want to cry and whine about the harm done to F-series sales? Fine. I'll whine right back at them about their continued limitation on hybrid development.

Enough is enough.

*UPDATE*
This is the template the Ford workers use:

I am writing to strongly urge you to oppose Senate Bill 1419. This bill mandates fuel economy standards that are extreme and not economically feasible. Not only would this bill restrict vehicle choice for families and workers, it would harm U.S. auto industry workers, retirees and dealers. Again, I urge you to help protect America's jobs and workers by opposing Senate Bill 1419. Thank you.

I emailed my version of it both of my Senators:

To the Honorable (Senator's name):
I am writing to strongly urge you to support Senate Bill 1419. This bill mandates fuel economy standards that are not only economically feasible, they would provide the necessary motivation for the American population in general to pursue driving more fuel-efficient vehicles. Not only would this bill restrict vehicle choice for families and workers, it would potentially force the U.S. auto industry to revise their current automotive engineering practices and move America towards a more environmentally-friendly mindset. Many major automotive corporations in the United States today rely heavily on the sales of their full-size trucks and SUVs, which consume excessive amounts of fuel to do the same job a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle is capable of. Major corporations are producing vehicles which have regressed in their technological standpoint and have become heavier, larger, and overall less efficient. Enough is enough! It's time for the auto industry to begin producing more efficient and environmentally-friendly automobiles, vans, trucks, and buses. Again, I urge you to help protect Americans from the pressure of the auto industry corporations by supporting Senate Bill 1419. Thank you for your time.
Very Respectfully,
Donald McNurlin

I didn't realize it, but by connecting to each Senator's website via the links provided at capwiz.com, I was actually emailing to the Senators while connected to the Ford website! Let's fight fire with fire!

I've eMailed my Senators, urging their support; also cc'ed the Ford Grassroots Action Program.

Feeling saucy.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jun 4 2007, 09:36 PM) [snapback]455451[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jun 6 2007, 11:53 AM) [snapback]456647[/snapback]</div>

:lol: Awesome. I'll have to do that as soon as I get off of work.

See here: http://priuschat.com/Why-The-Ford-Escape-H...rap-t34075.html.

Add Senators Lautenberg & Menendez to the list of Senators urged to support the legislation.

I don't think it's possible to have a "grassroots campaign manager" and still have it be "grassroots."

Nate

I emailed my senators too to support this bill.

Sent to the 2 TN senators: Alexander and Corker...

Letters mean a lot more than emails. I remember reading that politicians assume when they get a letter on an issue that approximately fifty other people feel the same way, but were too lazy to write.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(naterprius @ Jun 6 2007, 03:28 PM) [snapback]456740[/snapback]</div>

There's a term for this. It's called Astroturfing.

So let's do like others in this post have suggested, using Ford's website to contact our Senators to support SB 1419, and take a lawnmower to the astro-turf.

I like it.

looks like a lot of americans want that bill to pass:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories....3339&EDATE=

Sent.

I am a legal resident of the state of Nevada. My wife is a legal resident of the state of Connecticut. Together, we cover 4 Senators . We're sending off 4 letters via Pony Express tomorrow: 2 from me, and 2 from her.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jun 4 2007, 10:36 PM) [snapback]455451[/snapback]</div>

Oh man, I think you ruined it! They apparently don't allow you to compose your own letter anymore, it has "required text" instead. :lol:

Edit: after a little research it looks like both Illinois Senators (Durbin and Obama) are in strong favor of increasing fuel efficiency, altho perhaps on an alternate bill also under consideration.

Letters are in the mail. Let's see Ford stop THAT!

Oh wait, I take that back. You never know when their execs could be h34r: watching...

Frankly, I think increasing mileage standards for cars is meaningless, as long as SUVs and CUVs are not classified as cars.

What would be more effective, is for the governments (federal and state) to start encouraging people to buy fuel-efficient cars. Ads on TV financed by gas-guzzler taxes on SUVs, billboards, Celebrities (some do it now) extolling the virtues of fuel efficiency.

Fuel-efficient cars are out there and available, but people would rather have SUVs. You need to change peoples minds about their transportation choice rather than make unrealistic demands on the manufacturers.

How about a weighed CAFE? Instead of a CAFE based on the average fuel efficiency in the manufacturers' stables, take a weighed average. 700,000 Silverados at 15 MPG vs 20,000 Korean built Aveos at 35 MPG?

Let's get legislation that is meaningul!

Sent to the two Senators from Texas.

Has anyone here at PC ever thought of creating a forum dedicated to political awareness - specifically for highlighting bills up for votes in federal and state legislatures related to energy, vehicles, etc.?

If it hadn't been for the OP here, I would have missed this one.