[phoenix0468]

Or put the cost of developing new fuels, or more efficient automobiles on the auto industry. I realize this is a bold statement, but they would be the ones to benefit from any new technologies in the market. Why should the United States government be burdened with the cost of research and development that will eventually be used around the world? The auto industry, regardless of financial news, is flush with capital and could easily make new tech or much higher efficiencies happen. The U.S. government should put penalties on automakers that do not meet certain benchmnarks. For example, every vehicle must acheive at least 30 mpg by 2010, an alternate energy source must be available on all cars, either hybrid or compete, by 2015. Hydrogen vehicles should be considered very heavily in this equation. The fact is that production of Hydrogen will become more efficient and less expensive as more cars add it as a fuel source.

[xpertskir]

"Or put the cost of developing new fuels, or more efficient automobiles on the auto industry. I realize this is a bold statement, but they would be the ones to benefit from any new technologies in the market. Why should the United States government be burdened with the cost of research and development that will eventually be used around the world? The auto industry, regardless of financial news, is flush with capital and could easily make new tech or much higher efficiencies happen. The U.S. government should put penalties on automakers that do not meet certain benchmarks. For example, every vehicle must achieve at least 30 mpg by 2010, an alternate energy source must be available on all cars, either hybrid or compete, by 2015. Hydrogen vehicles should be considered very heavily in this equation. The fact is that production of Hydrogen will become more efficient and less expensive as more cars add it as a fuel source."


OMG> I cannot believe that you want to penalize auto manufacturers. That is patently SOCIALIST. When the price of gas is high enough people will shop for cars that are more efficient, when people shop for cars that are more efficient the manufacturers will provide in typical supply/demand fashion. do some ECON research PLEASE>

[John Valentine]

I agree that this should be left to the automakers and others in private industry.

But I don't agree that the government has any role to play whatsoever. They should stay completely out of it and let the market work.

The ONLY thing that government can do is distort the market, and the end result of that is higher costs and misdirected resources.

Always.