August 27, 2018
by John McClaughry
A week ago I discussed President Trump’s announcement of an EPA rule change, freezing the vehicle fuel economy standard at 37 miles per gallon in 2020, instead of letting it shoot up to the 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 as decreed by the Obama administration.
Our Congressman Peter Welch, ever agreeable to bashing Trump, issued a press release doing just that. I suspect, but can’t prove, that the release was prepared by the House Democratic caucus for all Democrats to send out to an eager world.
In his release the Congressman declared that “consumers are demanding greater fuel efficiency in vehicles.” Oh? That probably caused some amusement in Detroit, where the auto makers have been forced to build small cars that consumers don’t want, unless their price is subsidized by jacking up the prices on the pickups, vans and SUVs that they do want to buy.
If “Consumers are demanding greater fuel efficiency in vehicles”, what’s stopping them from buying all-electric Teslas? Especially when they get a $7,500 Obama credit for doing so?
If consumers are demanding bacon cheeseburgers, Burger King, Wendy’s and McDonald’s will deliver them.
If the Congressman boldly said “the reason for high government fuel economy requirements is to fight the Menace of Climate Change by getting people into smaller, lighter, less comfortable, overly expensive cars, complete with range anxiety and recharge trauma, which would otherwise sell only to affluent climate change worriers”, I could at least respect that for candor.
– John McClaughry is vice president of the Ethan Allen Institute
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Love it. I’m currently driving a RAV4 Hybrid and am getting 37 to 41 mpg. The paperwork says to expect 33 mpg. I’ve driven hybrids since 2001 and have learned how to maximize the mpg.
Well Mary, if you cared for our union brothers and sisters, their families and that of their communities shouldn’t you be driven a domestically flagged vehicle?
FOR EXAMPLE:- If you drive a General Motors product; GMC, Chevy, or even a Hummer, do you know how to know if it is USA made? The first number and in the vehicle VIN tells where the car was made.
# 1 is American made vehicle
# 2 is Canadian made vehicle
# 5 is Shreveport, Louisiana (specifically the Hummer)
KIA (“killed in action”) is a Korean import, and my father served our country in the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict and to this day I can not and will not buy a vehicle from Korea.
Almost forgot—- # 3 is Mexico
Toyota’s are made mostly in the USA.
I drive a Camray at 40+ MPG. Made in America..
I had a Prius before-too small.
Wife has a rav4 due to the need for 4 wheel drive.
So what are you driving??