by MiS11

Created on: June 27, 2009   Last Updated: July 06, 2009

Think you don't have a say in government? Well you do, we all do, that is as long as you vote. Elected officials want to know what their constituents think on important issues. You are the ones that vote them into office and you are also the ones that can vote them out. So, write to your legislatures - often. Write so much they know your name - it works.

Here is a sample letter I wrote against raising the CAFE standards.

I am writing you in regards to the legislation designed to destroy U.S. automakers. The legislation I am referring to is the one that will increase the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards by 4% each year. The already financially troubled U.S. automakers cannot afford such costly changes. The increase in CAFE standards will force more lay-offs in the U.S. auto industry due to increasing manufacturing costs of vehicles that meet the rising standards. This increase in manufacturing costs will force the auto industry to raise the price of new vehicles, which will reduce consumer spending on new vehicles, thus contributing even more to our nation's greatest recession since the Great Depression.

The Heartland Institute states that CAFE standards do not benefit consumers, in fact raising CAFE standards would actually be detrimental to consumers. Smaller vehicles are historically more dangerous than large vehicles. This has been proved repeatedly by product safety ratings. A Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study found that the increase in CAFE regulations would lead to an additional 2200 3900 motor vehicle fatalities each year. As a parent, I pray that one of my children is not included in that number. As a spouse, I pray that my husband is not included in that number and I am confident most of your constituents feel the same way.

Forcing the American consumer to purchase a small, unsafe, fuel-efficient vehicle would do nothing to help the environment. Carbon dioxide emissions from all transportation modes, including public, private, governmental, and business transportation account for less than 30% of total emissions. As fuel-efficiency rises, people drive more and rely on public transportation less, which offsets any gains in reducing carbon dioxide emissions from privately owned vehicles. So please join me in keeping the United States a free market economy were demand rules supply, not the federal government. Thank you so much for taking the time to consider this important topic.

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