Mandatory vehicle efficiency in US?

In a dramatic, unprecedented proposal, the current White House is looking at an absolute fuel efficiency minimum for all new cars and light trucks in America. Shocked, I tell you, shocked. If Detroit weren't already numbed by bankruptcy, it would be shocked. But ocwed by their dependence on government aid here and in Japan, the auto makers have "agreed" to this move toward tougher standards.

Not just average miles per gallon, but ABSOLUTE minimums! THey really plan to impinge on my gawd-given right to waster money and oil.

And it doesn't feel like those automakers in Detroit and Tokyo have a whole lot of political capital right now, does it?

Of course, gthe NRDC loves this idea. Their statemnt, "President Obama, the state of California, the auto industry, and environmental leaders have come together around a global warming solution that will strengthen our economy and put the auto industry on the path to a clean energy future. The future of the auto industry lies in making cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles that reduce global warming pollution and our dependence on oil.

“These new national rules build on California’s ground-breaking standards to tackle global warming pollution from cars and trucks. Starting in model year 2012..."

The auto makers, the oil marketers, the libertarians and all fans of pollution everywhere will hate this whole idea. Why wasting fuel is as Amerian as plastic bottles, trash along the highway and throwaway batteries.