Federal 'Fuel Economy' Mandates Have Perverse Consequences: The Case of Ford’s Classic Mustang

One of the clearest, saddest, and most infuriating lessons of fascist government manipulation of what should be free markets can be found in the federal government’s decades-long “CAFÉ standards” imposed on automakers.

Conceived in 1975, and mandated in 1978 for passenger cars, and in 1979 for “light trucks,” the Carter-era commands not only start from an unsound premise -- the immoral idea that politicians can tell people what to make and sell, and tell consumers what they can and cannot buy – and not only are forced onto carmakers via unconstitutional means, they also result in perverse, deadly consequences.