Posted on 06/20/2007 7:40:04 AM PDT by libertarianPA
WASHINGTON, June 19 — For a quarter-century, American automakers and their allies argued that any legislation to increase fuel economy standards would rob them of profits, force them to lay off workers and deprive consumers of the vehicles they wanted to buy.
Even as recently as last weekend, a lobbying group financed by auto companies was still running radio ads in 11 states, raising the prospect that soccer moms might lose the opportunity to buy big sport utility vehicles if they did not urge Congress to reject legislation calling for higher mileage.
“Why can’t they let me make the choice?” one of the ads said. “I’m all for better fuel economy, but for me safety is my top concern.”
But this week, with a vote possible in the Senate on an energy plan, Detroit blinked, and the car companies retreated from their longstanding argument. They are now lobbying for a modest increase in mileage standards, a position already adopted by Toyota, in the hopes of silencing calls for even tougher targets.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
“force them to lay off workers”
You mean downsize the UAW. That sounds good to me.
“standards would rob them of profits, force them to lay off workers and deprive consumers of the vehicles they wanted to buy.”
They must have been correct. Detroit, Michigan in general has the highest unemployment and less positive future then any city/state in the country except NOLA due to Katrina.
Even the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration admits that today’s fuel economy standards are forcing smaller cars and that these smaller cars are killing more than 3000 occupants each year. NO MORE BLOOD FOR OIL!
Try and put a carseat in a Prius.
And those democrats DO want you to not be able to own an SUV. They want you on busses. THEIR busses. And trains. THEIR trains. But the busses and trains will run on time. THEIR time. And you can go where you want. WHEN THEY want you to. Most of the world lives that way - why should americans be more free? Ask a rat.
Interesting enough, the UAW has embraced these regulations.
And a few years ago, I emailed the UAW to ask them their position on drilling in ANWR. They told me they were against it. So they obviously don’t give a damn about the workers. All they care about is Democratic Party politics.
While they’re at it, they need to make Pi = 3, so we can forget all of that “.141592653589797...” stuff.
Framing this debate as Washington vs big auto is a lie. They can just as well sell us little cars as big ones.
What is going on here is Washington vs consumer choice.
I wonder... If a Prius will not carry a family of 6 or more and two vehicles are required, what is the BTU/person/mile of those two vehicles compared to a single minivan or SUV in good condition with a driver who doesn't punch the accelerator? I'd almost bet they compare or the single vehicle is better.
On a similar note, how does the single vehicle compare to a city bus loaded to the hilt as well as with only the family of 6 in it (since most busses I have seen are sparsely occupied)? I'd almost bet we could significantly reduce energy use by parking the buses and giving the few riders their own vehicles.
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