Dinosaur Thoughts

"The US vice-president, Dick Cheney, was behind a controversial decision to block California's attempt to impose tough emission limits on car manufacturers, according to insiders at the government Environmental Protection Agency.

Staff at the agency, which announced last week that California's proposed limits were redundant, said the agency's chief went against their expert advice after car executives met Cheney, and a Chrysler executive delivered a letter to the EPA saying why the state should not be allowed to regulate greenhouse gases."

from digby.blogspot.com

Excuse, but I was a certified mechanic for years. I seem to remember that you had to know whether a car was made for California emission standards, which were more stringent that the rest of the US, for years. They often had different parts and different tune-up standards. What's the big deal now? It would cost too much. C'mon. Yes, it does cost more to have two different standards. So?

Emission and mileage standards have been more stagnant than a sewage lagoon in the Midwest heat. A little change and innovative engineering never hurt anyone. I have read of "hot-rodders" having contests to see how far they can push the mileage in Priuses. But major US auto manufacturers cannot make SUVs with good mileage. Maybe fiberglass body panels on Excursions, Suburbans and Boleraphons?

how stupid.

rojo