CAFE versus gas taxes, etc.

The choice for 40 percent of car consumers?

"Applying taxes to consumers is an unpopular and unpleasant solution. But dependency on foreign oil and global warming are unpleasant problems. If other consumer-level, demand-driven tools can be devised, so much the better. If not, then taxes on engine power and fuel may be neccesary. But mandating command economy efficiency standards will not address the problem, no matter what Hudson River water-drinking columnists might fantasize," writes Dan Carney this morning on MSNBC regarding the whole Friedman, NRDC attack on Toyota and CAFE.

Will CAFE fix America's oil problems?

At today's level of foreign oil consumption, 35 mpg across the fleet will not end OPEC dependence, especially when foreign oil consumption increases almost every year. And, based upon past legislation, it can be assumed that there will be numerous loopholes in whatever CAFE legislation is ultimately passed.

While CAFE is getting some people hyped up, its not a real solution. It is, at best, a step in the right direction. On the other hand, making consumers responsible for their purchasing decisions utilizing a gas tax that better reflects the real cost of gasoline could have much quicker and much more dramatic effects than CAFE ever will.

So, won't the real activists please stand up?