The Obama administration wants to force American car makers to create vehicles by 2025 that will average as much as 56.2 miles per gallon. Not 56.1, not 56.3, but 56.2. Only government could come up with such a figure.
That would mean car makers would have to increase the miles per gallon average by five each year between now and 2025. The administration says it will save people money, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and, oh yes, substantially reduce greenhouse gases, which is their main goal.
The car makers say it is technically possible, but the cars will likely cost more, thus eliminating the saving on gas. And more importantly, people may not want to buy them. It is that last prospect that socialists don’t care about. They don’t concern themselves with market forces, because they hate the market. One size fits all. Socialism for everyone. Spread the wealth around.
Had enough of “hope and change”? There’s plenty more coming between now and the next election.
This article published on July 5, 2011. Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
