Reply #13: 4 day work/week & an alternative

[44mpg by 2010]

First, a number of companies have been doing this for years in the 24-7 environment.

The potential problem is the tendency to find other activities ... often travel ... on 3 day weekends.

Here is an alternative.

In the USA today there are no "domestic" vehicles that have greater than 35 mpg(US) combined average, UNLESS you consider HONDA, NISSAN, and TOYOTA "domestic" .
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byMPG.htm

In fact the Detroit 3 have NO vehicles that have a combined average over 30 mpg using the 2008 EPA rating system.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratings2008.shtml

On the other hand, the auto companies with significant sales in the USA (or their Euro partners) have over 48 vehicles in Europe that achieve over 44 mpg(US) combined average. A majority are diesels meeting Euro Step IV emission with CO2 emissions below 140 g/km. By comparison, the typical "domestics" typically range between 240 and 400 g/km.
Here is a list of high mpg vehicles in Europe
http://www.40mpg.org/pdfs/021407_fuel_efficient_vehicle_gap.xls
This can be verified at
http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/search

Since these vehicles with greater than 44 mpg(US) combined average already exist ... all we need is for Congress to waive for 36 months (or a quantity) ALL restrictions and TARIFFS on these vehicles.

If you believe this is the right approach. please Call YOUR candidate for President as well as elected representatives in DC. Keep in mind that President Bush could do this immediately with an Executive Order under the War Powers Act since he has declared that "Oil Imports" are a National Security Issue! Days ... not months or years!

"44+ mpg(US) by 2010"

"NOT for ALL ... not for average CAFE ... JUST MORE CHOICES for those THAT WANT better than 44 mpg ...”

"Waive ALL import restriction (for 36 months or 300,000 units of any model satisfying the criteria = including clean diesels) if that is the only way!"