A large portion of the electorate does not believe in global warming or believe it is man made. This is a debate for another thread, let's not go there, it is j

A large portion of the electorate does not believe in global warming or believe it is man made. This is a debate for another thread, let's not go there, it is just how it is for a number of reasons. Therefore, why not burn more fuel? It is good for the economy, good for heavy industry (planes, cars), and good for your quality of life (if you don't believe it will end the world). Taxes on fuel, large vehicles, and efficiency requirements hurt the middle class and poor consumer more. It makes products more expensive, and reduces choice, so that only the rich can drive gas guzzlers (the left needs to figure out how to make this hit the rich people too and restrict their choices if they want to tickle the populist portion of the electorate). From a purely economic standpoint, if you don't believe in global warming, then increasing fuel consumption is the BEST way to encourage development of alternative energy. You will use up your supply more quickly, prices will raise naturally, and the market will develop alternative solutions.