Auto execs go to Hill to discuss mileage

[babylonsister]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070606/ap_on_go_co/fuel_economy;_ylt=ApXRmsgs7a5GsNRiStQVctbMWM0F

Auto execs go to Hill to discuss mileage

By KEN THOMAS, Associated Press Writer 1 minute ago

WASHINGTON - The heads of the domestic auto industry are pressing congressional leaders to revisit a plan to increase fuel efficiency standards that automakers say could hurt their industry.

Leaders of General Motors, Ford and the Chrysler Group on Wednesday were to discuss the impact of health care, trade and energy policies on their companies, and urge congressional leaders in private meetings to consider an alternative to a proposed overhaul of Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for vehicles.

"It looks like within the climate that's being experienced now, it's very likely there will be increases in CAFE," Rick Wagoner, General Motors Corp. chairman and chief executive, said Tuesday in Wilmington, Del. "I think our concern is, let's make sure that we also fix the real problems while we're doing that."

The Senate is expected to vote next week on a proposal to raise CAFE standards to a fleet average of 35 miles per gallon for a manufacturer's cars and trucks by 2020, an increase of about 10 mpg over current levels. From 2020-2030, the auto industry would face 4 percent annual increases.

Auto industry officials have called the Senate bill unworkable and resisted attempts to increase the requirements in the past. But they concede that Congress is likely to impose higher standards this year as consumers deal with $3-plus gasoline prices and remain worried about global warming and want to help shape any new requirements.

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[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. The Civic got 40 mpg in...................1973!

:think:

[hatrack]

2. After self-inflicted shotgun blasts removed our feet, you'd be CRUEL to take our walker away!

Don't worry, though - John Dingell's new plan would allow 14 years for cars to meet a new standard, and 17 years for trucks.

Of course, this might be just too tough a deadline for Detroit to meet . . .

[Strelnikov_]

3. And in 5 years (or less) people will be clamoring for EV's to avoid the gas ration queues

Bit of a disconnect.



Won't quote that section from 'Collapse' again.



Oh, what the hell . . .

As our fifth strand, we have to wonder why the kings and nobles failed to recognize and solve these seemingly obvious problems undermining their society. Their attention was evidently focused on their short-term concerns of enriching themselves, waging wars, erecting monuments, competing with each other, and extracting enough food from the human peasants to support all those activities. Like most leaders throughout human history, the Maya kings and nobles did not heed long-term problems, insofar as they perceived them.

. . .

Like Easter Island chiefs erecting ever larger statues, eventually crowned by pukao, and like Anasazi elites treating themselves to necklaces of 2000 turquoise beads, Maya kings sought to outdo each other with more and more impressive temples, covered with thicker and thicker plaster, reminiscent in turn of the extravagant conspicuous consumption by modern American CEO's. The passivity of Easter chiefs and Maya kings in the face of the real big threats to their societies completes our list of disquieting parallels.

From Chapt. 5, 'The Maya Collapses', from 'Collapse: How Societies Choose To Fail Or Succeed’ by Jared Diamond

[BlooInBloo]

4. The entire problem is American management.