Forcing fuel efficiency

Nature abhors a vacuum, but politics fills it. That's what is happening on global warming and fuel efficiency. The Bush administration and Congress have refused to act on either issue, so the states are doing it for them.

New York and Massachusetts are the latest to consider adopting California's auto-emissions standard, which is tougher than federal guidelines. The state rule would reduce carbon dioxide emissions and indirectly force better mileage. In all, 10 states (and Canada) are planning to follow California's lead.

States have a choice because when the federal government decided to regulate automobile pollution, California was already doing it. So under the law, states can choose either federal or California standards. It isn't a partisan choice. The governors of half of the states looking to California are Republicans.

The auto industry has sued California and threatens to do the same to every state that adopts its rule, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (also a Republican) vows to defend it strenuously. Obstinacy is a familiar industry response to progress. In 1959, Chrysler objected to mandatory seat belts as "an unnecessary imposition." Seven years later, Henry Ford II called a federal mandate for laminated windshields, collapsible steering columns and shoulder belts "technically unfeasible."



http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/10/Opinion/Forcing_fuel_efficien.shtml

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are not a worthwhile cause? At all?

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Typical Repug strategy is to cripple Federal efforts and then turn the whole thing over to "the private sector" = bigtime Repug donors "because the government approach isn't working". But for-profit isn't the only alternative to Federal programs. Expect to see more state and local governments, as well as nonprofits, take over where the * maladministration has failed to act.

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SUVs are the problem, not cars that get 25 MPG

please, stop pushing people into SUVs

there ain't all that much efficiency left to be got
...tire drag, air drag... will always be with us.

go after the vehicles that get 10 MPG