A huge ad on the right hand side of the page (to see) markets the Ford Escape Hybrid Car. The tagline under the logo states "Makers of Earth's First Full Hybrid SUV".

Like I'm supposed to believe they care about earth?

Let's be real. Ford has not taken the hybrid car movement seriously, and is far behind Toyota and Honda in hybrid technology. In fact, Ford's so very earth-friendly hybrid SUV is based on Toyota's technology, utilizing the powertrain of the Prius Hybrid Car - already a several-generation edition auto.

Some reports I've read state that Ford is only going to sell about 15,000 of the Escape hybrids this year.

That's nothing, barely a drop in the bucket. And where is the rest of the Big 3?

It's just plain 'ole foot dragging. Plain, old SUVs - never mind the rollover issue - are making the industry good money, while salvaging the years of Fat, Dumb, and Happy times of unquestionable marketshare and stagnant U.S. automotive innovations, unlike their Japanese counterparts.

Toyota and Honda didn't start that way, but they always strove to be better, to make a better product, and to make the customer experience better. In Japan, they call it, kaizen.

Instead of American kaizen, the legal arm of the U.S. 'Big 3': Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler (Actually more German than American) is already threatening lawsuits if the California legislation is approved - something everyone on both sides agrees is going to happen.

Would it really be that hard to achieve the California requirements? Probably, but it is certainly achievable.

Essentially, California wants to reduce local smog and global warming increasing emissions from cars and trucks by about 30% - the averages are higher for cars and slighter lower for bigger trucks and SUVs.

Today, hybrid car technology already achieves those marks. Today, the Toyota Prius hybrid achieves that mark, the soon-to-be released Honda Accord hybrid will also achieve those marks - even Ford's Escape SUV hybrid will achieve those marks.

The technology is already developed, it has already been successfully integrated into production vehicles.

So, what's the problem? Not enough money? Consumers just don't seem to care about the future?

In fact, the first round of reductions is not required until 2009, and automakers have until 2016 to achieve the full amount of the emission reduction requirements.

Some industry experts argue California only contributes about 1 percent of the world's global warming, seemingly arguing, 'What's the point?'

I think anybody who has ever been to Los Angeles knows that is a stupid question. It's not just global warming, it's local warming. Los Angeles is severely affected by smog, much of that smog caused by car emissions.

Ill health has been directly linked to smog. It has been theorized that the negative health effects, caused by smog pollution, will shorten the lifespan of many Southern California residents.

And yes, in terms of global warming, it might be just one percent. But why stop in California. America as a whole must count for 5%. Shoot, Mexico City alone probably accounts for 5%.

But, all joking aside, pollution-fighting cars are the future.

The Internet is better informing segments of America, especially the 18 - 34 year olds - the most important consumer segment - and the future of the automotive industry. They are mad, and they are not going to take it anymore, especially when it comes to marketing.

They have been inundated with the ads that fooled their parents. They aren't buying, and the Big 3 better wake up.

Things can be done, and significant improvements can be made by the industry - for the better of everyone - and it won't be that expensive. Plus, it's an investment in the future.

There can be no argument against doing this. The welfare of the entire state, perhaps even a Nation, a planet, cannot be so dangerously tainted for nothing other than a drive for profit. The fact that Japan continues to lead in people friendly, mother-earth-friendly technology, is embarrassing. It's a plague upon America.

And I haven't even brought up foreign oil yet.

What are we waiting for?

If the Big 3 don't want to lead California, America, or even the world into the future, others will. Ford isn't the only automaker leasing Toyota's Prius hybrid technology, so is Nissan, and so is the Nation of China - probably the future of the world's auto industry.

Yet, where is America?

Pollution has become a real issue because the consequences of pollution have become ever more obvious. If the Big 3 want to hire lawyers guaranteeing the industry the right to bury their heads in the sand - if the people have become that expendable - maybe it's time for America to make a new choice.

Click here to join the hybrid revolution.