Ah, Pete Buttigieg, our ever-optimistic Secretary of Transportation, recently decided to test the waters of analogy-making and, let’s just say, it didn’t go swimmingly. In an attempt to champion electric vehicles (EVs) on Fox News, Buttigieg likened Americans resistant to ditching their gas guzzlers for EVs to those nostalgic souls clinging to landline phones. You know, suggesting that just as cell phones replaced landlines, EVs are the inevitable upgrade from petrol-powered cars. Sounds straightforward, right? Well, not quite.
???? Pete Buttigieg disparages Americans who don't want to be forced into electric vehicles:
"I feel like it's the early 2000s and I'm talking to some people who think that we can just have landline phones forever." pic.twitter.com/fnHXMOGdlu
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 2, 2024
Social media had a field day, quickly pointing out the holes in Buttigieg’s comparison. Unlike the seamless transition from landlines to cell phones, the shift to EVs is fraught with potholes—both literally and figuratively. For starters, EVs come with a hefty price tag, a not-so-convenient charging infrastructure, and the environmental toll of lithium mining needed for their batteries. It seems Buttigieg’s analogy skipped over these inconvenient truths, much like skipping over potholes in a low-slung electric sedan.
Critics were quick to highlight that, unlike the outdated landlines, petrol-powered cars aren’t exactly relics of the past, given that they’re still, you know, affordable and practical. They also pointed out the current dilemma facing the EV market, with Tesla’s sales taking a nosedive and the industry laying off workers faster than you can say “range anxiety.” It appears the Biden administration’s electric dream might be running out of juice.
This is the problem – Democrats think EV's are to gas-powered cars what cell phones were to landlines.
In reality, EV's are to gas powered cars what Fyre Fest was to music festivals. Sounded cool, had potential, but was built on false promises and artificial market forces. https://t.co/EVONdjLVpa
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) April 2, 2024
Having a landline costs a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of what an electric vehicle costs on average.
Otherwise, great analogy from the smartest guy in the administration. https://t.co/thp4UVjTOy
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) April 2, 2024
Ok but you actually had reasons why cellphones were better than landlines. What’s your argument in favor of EVs other than “they’re newer”? https://t.co/9ltdQtZt91
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) April 2, 2024
Remember when the government put artificial restrictions in place to coerce consumers away from landline phones while compelling us to buy cellular ones?
— JD Breen (@realjdbreen) April 2, 2024
Don't landlines still exist? And, don't they work?
— readingmylifeaway (@AliceCaterpill1) April 2, 2024
Does Pete think the federal government banned land lines???
I know he doesn't go into the office much, but isn't there a phone on his desk? pic.twitter.com/a8G69bOfHp
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) April 3, 2024
Moreover, Buttigieg’s analogy failed to acknowledge that landlines, while not as hip as their mobile counterparts, still serve a purpose and are, in many cases, more reliable and cheaper. This oversight didn’t sit well with people who prefer their analogies like their cars: practical and making actual sense.
The backlash Buttigieg faced underscores a broader issue: the push for EVs, driven by what critics describe as false promises and artificial market forces, isn’t convincing the average Joe and Jane. It’s as if the administration is trying to sell us a car without wheels, promising that the roads will eventually catch up.
In essence, Buttigieg’s attempt to drive home the superiority of EVs ended up backfiring, highlighting not only the current limitations and challenges of electric vehicles but also the disconnect between political rhetoric and the everyday realities of American drivers. As we navigate this bumpy road toward an electric future, perhaps it’s important to ensure that our political leaders’ analogies don’t run out of battery midway.