It is often said that the US has lost the race in STEM: science technology engineering and mathematics. Our national averages for student test scores, number of graduates, and cutting-edge researchers in these fields lag far behind other countries in the world.
Despite these claims, a world leader in electronic vehicle technology is found here in the US So how do we reward that American ingenuity? We reject it outright. And we put up unknown barriers to any of the foreign automakers currently selling automotive products in the United States.
I recently purchased an electric car. I must tell you that this has been one of the best purchases I have ever made. The vehicle not only provides transportation, it’s fun to drive and I love using my frunk “front trunk”. But on a deeper and more personal level, I am a toxicologist, “the toxin doctor,” and part of my mission is to help people reduce their exposure to potentially toxic chemicals. Knowing that it is impossible to eliminate chemical exposures, my goal is to help people reduce their daily dose and lower their body burden by reducing exposures in our homes, offices, food, and automobiles. A constant conundrum with driving a traditional gasoline vehicle is that I know that I am returning toxic hydrocarbons to our environment, contributing to the overall impact on our quality of life.
This is why owning an electric car excites me so much! In fact, I have completely eradicated the dose of emissions that I returned to the atmosphere by going down to zero! Zero emissions !! Wow! Zeroing the doses of chemicals in the air, water and soil is impossible, so driving a car that takes me to zero chemical emissions is quite surprising. It’s great to put my “Toxla” next to the other gas guzzlers at home. (Toxla’s name credit: my daughter)
But to put a huge cherry on top: my electric car FINALLY helped me get back to owning an American car that I’m really proud of. I have not owned an American car in over a decade and every time I bought an American car it was short lived. For various reasons, reliability, fuel efficiency, options, etc. However, to my surprise, I did not realize the obstacles that would come my way to buying an American-made vehicle in America.
Why is this so? I know that the manufacturer of my electric vehicle is not going the traditional route of doing business, but I am surprised that I could not even buy my vehicle in my own state. Too often, I see lawsuits or complaints filed by American businessmen who own foreign car dealerships, fighting against Tesla being able to sell its products in their state. Using law and politics to stimulate American ingenuity is not only disconcerting, it is not patriotic, it is not a free market, and it smells a bit like communism. As a business owner, I wonder what it would be like if others were told that their products, goods, and services cannot be sold because other business owners are concerned about the sales of my products. Don’t we have free enterprise in this country so that we can reduce monopolies? So why are American automakers and petrochemical companies allowed to monopolize the auto sales industry and dictate how cars are sold to consumers?
I want access to electric cars and I want it to be expanded. And also many others. But guess what traditional automakers? Millions of people will continue to buy vehicles that consume gas and release toxic emissions. I still have one. Overcome yourselves. Your willingness to waste time, money, and misuse of our legal and political system so that you can get away with it is quite parochial. Practice free enterprise, it’s the American way.
Learn more about The Tox Doc by visiting Dr. Noreen at http://www.doctornoreen.com // @DrNoreen
