From: jfed@athena.mit.edu (Jude G Federspiel)
Subject: Re: Fwd: Michigan remarks
Reply-To: jfed@athena.mit.edu.UUCP (Jude G Federspiel)
Organization: MIT Project Athena
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1992 07:43:41 GMT

In article <IedtQvG00WBOI3v6Fz@andrew.cmu.edu> mk56+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael J. Keating) writes:
>---------- Forwarded message begins here ----------
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>---forwarded message from: sug6@usite-next.uchicago.edu (Patrick Sugent)---
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>In article <kedcv5200Uh7A6zKQs@andrew.cmu.edu> "Michael J. Keating"
><mk56+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>>While I sympathize with the people of Michigan, especially the
>>autoworkers, something Bush said has immensely troubled me.  Bush is
>>vehemently against Clinton's plan to make it mandatory for engines to be
>>more fuel-efficient in a few years.  Bush claims that this will have a
>>negative effect on jobs, and that he would fight against any such moves.
>> It seems ironic to me that the president of the nation that has been
>>such a producer of ideas that bettered the quality of life is now
>>fighting against standards (that could be implemented yesterday if not
>                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>for politics) that represent the natural process of achievement. 
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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>  Is this true?  I really don't know much about this and the
>politics have only served to confuse me further.  What would it
>take to get our cars to an average 40 mpg.  I've heard it said
>that we would have to adjust to smaller cars, but then I've heard
>that disputed.
>
>  If it is true that this could be implemented yesterday, why
>hasn't the car industry done it?  It seems to me that a more
>fuel efficient car would sell better.  Why must the government
>step in?   Why would it cost jobs?  Wouldn't a more fuel-efficient
>car sell better and create more jobs?  Is it really that expensive
>to build a more fuel-efficient car?  Why hasn't competition given
>us more fuel-efficient cars?  Is it because Americans just don't
>care about fuel-efficiency? (Certainly our inability to adjust after
>the first oil shock in the 70s would indicate this is/was true to
>some extent.)
>
>
>  A lot of questions.  I hope someone has the answers. :-)
>
>



The Honda Crx has been achieving a mileage (at least highway mileage)
of 40+ mpg for several years.  It has recently been joined by (I believe) the 
Geo Metro, which seats four.

>
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>Pat
>
>-- 
>Patrick Sugent				"Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip   
>sug6@usite-next.uchicago.edu		 the Hogs of Peace."
>(708) 447-1771				 --P.J. O'Rourke
>
>I'm not positive on this, but here is what I understand to be the
>relationship.  Bush will not work towards making greater fuel efficiency
>mandatory for a few reasons.  First, he does not want to rock the boat
>for the oil industries.  A feul-efficient car consumes less gas, driving
>prices and volume purchased down because of less demand.
>Also, I believe that the companies that can make these engines are not
>the ones which currently employ the most workers.  If these engines went
>on the market, competition may wipe out the job market for workers at
>other plants.  Someone please correct me if I am wrong, so I can
>understand more fully!

The twisted thing is, letting those companies suffer as a result of their
inability to compete in a "free" market is exactly what free enterprise
is all about--you fight to win, and you take some punches, or you take it 
easy and you lose.  Bush doesn't want to let them lose because he (like 
the automakers, obviously [except for Saturn, a GM brainchild, which, 
while being a kickbutt little car, very inexpensive, super reliable, 
and in _very_ high demand, has yet to turn a profit]) looks only for short 
term gains and is willing to screw up the process.  I don't know why the 
carmakers don't shoot for better fuel efficiency on their own--perhaps 
they still think the concerns on the mind of Americans are looks, size, 
power?  Partly true, but changing rapidly in the next cuppla years, I bet.

Jude Federspiel
jfed@athena.mit.edu


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