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Cars are a primary source of pollution, along with factories, airlines, and other forms of production. Factories help US GDP. Airlines are necessary to keep American businesses making money that gets fed into the tax budget. Cars can be significantly more efficient and cost the least to change, especially since car owners buy a new car every few years.
Now, there are 2 ways to regulate automobiles. The first option is to regulate automakers. This means that cars come out of the factory with better fuel efficiency. It puts the responsibility of making high-efficiency cars with the people who make cars. It only makes sense. The second option is to regulate drivers. It is unconstitutional to regulate how people transport themselves because that is a violation of first amendment rights. In effect, if the government wants to live up to its obligation to reduce pollution, one of the best ways to do it is to limit automobile pollution.
I should add that pollution from vehicles is limited in Europe and other developed countries as well. This isn't America bashing cars. The US government loves GM and Ford for their overseas and domestic sales. They bring unfathomable tax money into the federal budget. Everyone should be able to drive powerful, efficient cars. In every other industry in the business world, efficiency is a primary goal. Why shouldn't that be true of the automotive industry?
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