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An Oval Office Scene We'd Like to See
August 29, 2005
Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation released a feeble light truck fuel economy proposal that seems to care more about enabling bad business decisions in Detroit than reducing America’s dangerous dependence on oil.
What a missed opportunity. Here’s an alternative scene we’d like to see:
CEOs from the Detroit automakers troop into the Oval Office and sit down for a lecture from the man behind the desk. He’s not in a good mood.
“Gentlemen, the price of gasoline is closing in on $3 per gallon. The oil market is as tight as it’s ever been because demand worldwide is outrunning supply. Anything that roils the market — a hurricane, a pipeline bombing, a strike — sends prices upward.”
The CEOs stir uncomfortably as the president continues.
“I’m afraid the days of cheap oil aren’t coming back anytime soon. Oil has become a seller’s market. It’s not strategically wise for our country to become more and more dependent on an energy source whose largest reserves are located in the Middle East and other trouble spots.”
The man behind the desk locks eyes with the CEOs.
“Bottom line. Your business model is based on selling lots of gas hogs in a world where fuel is cheap. Your business model no longer works. I can’t tell you how to run your companies. What I can tell you is that reducing our dependence on oil is going to be a national priority.”
The CEOs stare nervously at their feet. Here it comes, one of them mutters.
“We’re going to start by requiring you to build motor vehicles that are much more efficient. I’m sending the necessary legislation to the Hill this afternoon. I don’t want to hear excuses on why you can’t comply. Last March, you cut a deal with the Canadians to cut tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent in five years. That means cars and trucks that you sell in the Great White North will be more fuel-efficient. What’s good for Canada ought to be good for America.”
The CEOs look shell-shocked. The president relaxes his gaze and leans back in his chair.
“I’m not all stick and no carrot, however. I’m prepared to discuss with you incentives to help your companies retool to build the cars and trucks of tomorrow – plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that run on farm-fresh alcohol, and later, fuel cells running on hydrogen that we produce from American fuels. We’re also going to discuss big incentives for consumers to buy those cars and trucks.”
The president closes with a smile.
“If we work together, we can make our country stronger. Your companies will be better positioned to meet the new energy realities. We can even reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which will get some of those enviros off my back and yours. And my successors will be able to tell OPEC to go blow.”
“Gentlemen, what do you say?”
