Robert Hughes: The Detroit mistake

One explanation for the rise of the Japanese auto industry – and the accompanying decline of Detroit – has it that when the U.S. government established fuel economy standards for motor vehicles in 1975, Japan hired 1,000 engineers to meet the standards while Detroit hired 1,000 attorneys to try and beat the standards.

Currently, it seems that North Carolina, among several other states, is determined to play a starring role in an unfortunate repeat performance of Detroit’s mistake.

The current EPA guidelines for the reduction of carbon emissions form one step toward a more sustainable, cleaner environment. I hope that North Carolina will see the benefits of a better environment for future generations.

This story was originally published August 13, 2015 at 5:08 PM with the headline "Robert Hughes: The Detroit mistake."