Blame consumers, not car companies

Re “Climate commitment,” Opinion, May 23

Ronald Brownstein blames stagnant gains in fuel economy on “manufacturers prizing performance above mileage.” Wrong. It’s consumers who prize performance above mileage.

When I bought my car, the dealer would have been happy to sell me the four-cylinder model -- there were plenty in stock -- but I valued the tire-smoking V6 over the extra 4 mpg. It’s my fault, not the auto industry’s.

If you want to toughen fuel economy laws, at least have the intellectual honesty to say that you are regulating consumers, not the car companies.

Better yet, instead of trying to micromanage our automotive preferences, put a tax on carbon fuels (offset by cutting other taxes) and let market forces respond with reduced consumption and new technologies.

FREDERICK SINGER

Huntington Beach