Caulk is cheap

Is updating a 40 plus year old relic of the Ford administration really “change we can believe in”? It’s a failed policy at that. CAFE standards, when first implemented as a reaction to the Arab oil crises in the early 70s, were supposed to wean us off foreign oil. That worked out so well. Somehow the fact that when driving becomes cheaper people drive more has escaped the grasp of the brain trust that is the Obama administration.

Let’s not forget CO2 emissions. Obama says that CO2 emissions will be reduced by 900 mmt (million metric tons) over the lifetime of this policy. According to this calculator the CO2 emissions saved would reduce the earth’s temperature by .002 C. That’s two thousandths of a degree. I’m sure I’ll notice.

But wait, there’s more. The bankrupt/mostly government owned domestic auto companies will now have to charge $1,300 more for these new cars. At my current driving habits, it would take me over 11 years to make up that difference.

So to recap: if history is any measure, reliance on foreign oil will continue to rise, there will be no noticeable effect on climate and new cars will cost considerably more. What’s not to like?