Emissions, States Rights, and the Auto Industry (Santa Ana: house, to buy)

[Gustav]

President Obama has reversed a position held by the Bush administration that kept states like California from setting their own carbon emissions standards higher than those required by the Federal government. Several other states have pushed for the right to set their own policies. But critics are saying this will harm the auto industry, requiring car manufacturers to put more money into development. But the free market system abhors a vacuum. If the big 3 can not deliver what the people demand, why not allow those companies who can, like Aptera, to flourish? If we are worried about putting people out of work, there may be a place for workers building electric trains and cars.

[NewportBorn]

CA really does need its own standards, after all it is the most populous state, so its common sense really.

More People = More Cars = More Pollutants = More need to reduce pollutants.

[cobmw]

You say the free market should provide what people want. It does. People just don't want to drive around in cracker boxes. Yes there are those die hard greenies who will drive anything to make a point. But the average family wants a car with room and ammenities. And that is just what the car manufacturers both domestic and foreign have been making.

The BO crusaders are going to force people to abandon their comfortable cars for underpowered, lightweight, no-fun cars. Do you know that the most effective way to reduce C02 is to reduce car weight? But for every 100 pounds reduction in weight there is a 5% increase in your chance of dying in an accident. So take off 500 pounds and your chances of dying go up 25%. Too bad so many have bought A. Gore's fraud because a lot of people are going to die for nothing.

[Lovehound]

Just noting two things:

(1) California led the nation in auto emissions standards, and for some years we were the only state that required smog control devices. Now the devices are required in all 50 states.

(2) Which would you rather have, a healthy auto industry or healthy lungs?

I'm all for California taking the lead again.

[cobmw]

We're not talking about pollution, smoggy skies, hurting lungs and acid rain. We're talking about a ridiculous plan to limit C02 - an odorless, colorless gas emitted by all animals and used by all plants. Don't fall for the environmental extremists who want you to think that C02 is a pollutant.

The wacky California legislature has no business trying to control C02. And it's going to cost a lot of lives.

[Ultrarunner]

I think the big 3 are going to see market share in CA fall even more...

[cobmw]

So far the wacky rules coming out of California have gotten incorporated nationwide. That means no more V8 engines (how you going to pull your boat?) and lots of little micro cars. A few of us will hang onto our current cars for as long as we can just to have something nice to drive. It was fun while it lasted.

[cobmw]

It just came to me. I think I can see the plan here.

Nancy Pelosi, esteemed leader of the house of representatives, recently said that population control would help the US economy. Could this be tied in? Get as many people as possible to drive these dangerous micro cars and ....

[buckeyenative01]

Who has the money to buy a boat right now, much less the upkeep?

I like my micro car. Cost me a whopping $15 to fill it up from a quarter tank last Saturday, has five-star front and side impact rankings from the NHSI and I've never once felt threatened by larger vehicles on the freeway.

[cobmw]

And I am happy to hear it. Hope you enjoy driving it and saving money. But would you deny me my choice of cars? Shall I toss the station wagon out of my garage in Santa Ana and be forced to drive a micro car too?