At 02:38 PM 12/23/2007, mike stainbrook wrote...
>requiring US manufacturers to at least match what Japan has been doing
>for
>years if not decades,and even China is getting there...pity Detroit
>can only
>buy tech,re-badge,etc..  my 2c.

Detroit can do it just fine. They're hasn't been a reason, because they
can sell gas guzzlers for more profit. If we had a truly
representational democracy (a republic), there would be no need for
fuel economy laws - people would vote with their dollars, and the
market would adjust to meet the mix of people who are concerned about
fuel economy and those who aren't. Instead, special interests (i.e.
campaign contributors) work to artificially affect the result. It's not
"big oil" fighting against mileage requirements, it's the "greens"
pushing their agenda on everyone else.

Also, the law doesn't force manufacturers to meet a fuel economy
standard, it just penalizes them financially if they don't. The net
effect is to screw with the efficiencies which a free market naturally
produces.