You guys need to lighten up a little.
CAFE, IMO, is a useless gov't acronym that does nothing! How many other programs are just as bad?
TAXES, definitely not wanted but allows ECONOMICS to come into play. I'm against ANY tax but we need a BIG fuel tax to reduce our rampant consumption. Economics? all I remember is bread or guns on a silly chart. But, I think lifestyle or fuel might fall on that same chart.
Lollipop economics WILL NOT WORK. Subsidizing ethanol, hybrids, electric vehicles... is a guaranteed FAILURE. Free lollipops will not make the world quit smoking. Free milk won't stop someone from boozing. Heavy cigarette taxes has caused a reduction in smoking. Its the same with your FUEL! Imagine how much booze you could drink if there were no alcohol taxes? The tax is a simple way to reduce or control consumption since prohibition of alcohol, fuel, food, cigarettes will just not work.
If you can afford it, who cares. If you can't, then ADJUST or get skinny. Thats it!
Eliminate CAFE. Eliminate subsidies.
I'm glad to see that some have noticed how pathetic our roads are. Yes, we need to get rid of tolls that keep us idling, wasting fuel, and going nowhere. Not an efficient use of time or fuel. And, in the northeast, do they actually pave the roads or are the roads a byproduct of military weapons testing? Potholes everywhere killing tires, alignment(mpg), causing excessive steering issues, brake wear..... Some of that tax increase can fix the roads and eliminate those tolls and issues. Smooth paved roads are not bad for social engineering. Not having to spend 3hrs on the bridge before NYC too would be a fix to that social injustice.
I enjoy the comments from the Canadians(border so close but lifestyle/education/thinking process so interesting). Sad, but they sometimes make us look like we flushed common sense down the toilet. Your Utopia isn't as great as you think it is. But, at least you TRY. Why does it seem that so many of us, in the USA, have given up?
We passed a recycling law years ago. We recycled by using garbage and recycling bins which were kept separate on garbage day. But over the years, everyone forgot how to recycle. So, we had to pass a new law that, if there was no recycling bin with stuff in it, the regular garbage would not be picked up. Its time to increase the US gas tax since we're not making enough of an effort on our own.
The reason why industry and homes aren't addressed is because its not seen. Trucks/suvs are seen everywhere and are an easy target as "gross wasteful consumers". I can't order you to wear a sweater to reduce your home heating bill because I can't see through your walls. And, we like going to work so we don't attack the 'employers' utility bill either.
With hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes, I think that nuclear power needs to be questioned. Electric vehicles are not feasible.
