California hypocrites

The San Francisco Chronicle today points a finger at the hypocrisy of various state government opfficials and legislators who support the ridiculous "greenhouse gas" legislation that is sure to drive business out of California, but who personally use gas guzzlers. It is a classic "do as I say, not as I do" situation.

The global warming bill's co—author, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D—Los Angeles, travels in a state—leased 2003 Ford Explorer that gets about 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. Two other lawmakers who voted for the legislation, Assemblyman Dario Frommer, D—Glendale, and Assemblywoman Rebecca Cohn, D—Saratoga, drive Jeep Grand Cherokees, which the U.S. Department of Energy has noted is the least fuel—efficient SUV in its class at 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.

For sheer audacity (or more charitably, cluelessness) nobody can top the hard left Assemblywoman Wilma Chan of Oakland, who defeated the sole Green Party member of legislature, Audie Bock.

The Democrat drives a 2004 Lincoln Aviator that gets 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.

"I would admit that I should get a better mileage car," Chan said. "But I mainly looked at the crash—test factors. I drive every day from Oakland to Sacramento, and I see these horrific accidents on I—80."

I wonder if the good Assemblywoman has considered the possibility that others might feel the same way, hence the popularity of such vehicles. Or perhaps she just thinks others' lives are not nearly as important as her own.

The huge gap between what they prescribe and what they practice is symptomatic of a much larger problem in California government: a divorce from reality. Imposing strict emission controls on carbon dioxide in California will do little or nothing to stop alleged global warming, even if you accept the hypothesis that atmospheric CO2 has something to do with average temperatures. All it will do is drive jobs and prosperity away.

Thomas Lifson  9 26 06

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