As we purchase gas at the highest price we ever have in the U.S., George Bush wants to look good. He is all image. Perception is reality. His handlers certainly try to control the public perception of him but he isn't doing so well lately. So the adminstration is calling for new fuel econmy standards. Wow. This must have taken a lot of thought. Can't you hear them talking? "How can we improve Bush's image? Pretend to do something about the high gas prices."
The Bush administration has announced fuel economy standards. The rules will increase slightly the fuel economy standards for minivans, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles starting in 2008. It seems like a token effort. They undoubtedly hope it will prop up Bush's dismal approval ratings.
Here is what Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta had to say.
"This plan is good news for American consumers because it will ensure that the vehicles that they buy will get more miles to the gallon and ultimately save them money," said Mineta.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/08/23/fuel_economy/
Good job, George Bush! High five, buddy! You are a true leader. Way to make the tough decisions.
Then, I realized it isn't even a token effort. It is bullshit. Here is the truth.
The new rules -- the first major rewrite of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy or CAFE standards since they were created in the 1970s -- will replace the current requirement that automakers meet a single average mileage standard for their entire fleet of light trucks with a new system that divides vehicles into six classes based on their size.
For example, a small SUV such as the Honda CRV would be required to get 28.4 miles per gallon, but a large pickup such as a Dodge Ram would have to get only 21.3 miles per gallon.
"This proposal gives automakers another excuse to not make the cars that people want -- ones that use available technology to save consumers money at the gas pump and cut pollution," said Dan Becker, director of Sierra Club's global warming program.
The new system will continue to exempt large sport utility vehicles and trucks weighing more than 8,500 pounds -- such as the Hummer H2 and the Ford Excursion -- from fuel economy standards because they are considered commercial vehicles, even if they are not used as such.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/08/24/FUEL.TMP
So the gas mileage for large pickups is going down? This is crazy!
The Bush administration Tuesday called for new fuel economy standards for light trucks by size. Here are two sample categories with examples of vehicles that fall under those categories:
SMALLEST PICKUPS, MINIVANS, AND SUVS:
28.4 m.p.g. by 2011
(up from 23.5 m.p.g.)
Subaru Forester, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Suzuki Vitara, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota RAV4
BIGGEST PICKUPS AND SUVS:
21.3 m.p.g. by 2011
(down from 23.5 m.p.g.)
Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Hummer H3, Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab, Nissan Titan
http://csmonitor.com/2005/0825/p01s01-usec.html
I repeat. This is crazy. The standards are being lowered for large pickups and and SUV's. How do these people get away with this????
This will do virtually nothing to reduce our dependence on oil. Who does he thinking he is fooling? The American people?
To George Bush: The American people may have bought what you were selling in the past. But not anymore. Your little sound bite games and talking points can't save your ass anymore. The truth will be known.