[Byte1]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Markets can't DECIDE everything because markets are just a small subset compared with the influence of the national government. Markets can't decide how BIG to make the CIA, but the US government can. Markets don't decide where large interstate highways go, gut government does. Markets don't decide when to start a WAR, governments do.
........The US government takes all factors into consideration such as limited amounts of fossil fuel, pollution from fossil fuel, health risks associated with fossil fuels, which countries are US enemies, increasing global temperatures due to fossil fuel - and then asks the question, "how to we decrease fossil fuel use". Then, US government may decide to stimulate the use and purchase of non-fossil fuel burning automobiles. Markets can't decide that, so government MUST!

I can see how "someone " finds Europe so appealing. It is NOT the American way to have the government dictate what we need and what we really want. Americans prefer the freedom to make their own choices. At least, most Americans do.