20 in 10

[Shawnee123]

Bush wants to cut back on greenhouse emissions and regulate higher fuel efficiency.

In his State of the Union address in January, Mr. Bush set a goal of reducing gasoline consumption by 20 percent over 10 years. Under his plan, this would be accomplished by increasing the use of alternative fuels to 35 billion gallons by 2017 and boosting fuel efficiency standards in new vehicles.

It seems a good idea, on the surface. Bush gets to look green, car manufacturers are forced to produce higher fuel efficiency cars. What are your opinions? Here are a few of mine:

1) What about now? I'm sure many people would love to buy into a high efficiency car; many of us cannot afford to buy a new Prius or other hybrid. Meanwhile gas prices are through the roof. Are we smoke-screening the issue that gas prices are a hardship on many, that the oil companies still make billions upon billions of dollars with the promise that in 10 years we'll feel better?

2) The burden on our already faltering auto industry is another issue. I'm all for big corporations being environmentally responsible, but another news report I saw last night talked about the eventuality of auto companies being forced to send the work overseas, that a US car will be in name only.

I'm interested in you politically/ environmentally/ economically savvy folks' opinions.