To the Editor:

Last time I checked, we were able to choose what kind of car we buy and drive.

But someone needs to tell that to our elected officials and policymakers.

Look no further than the Biden administration’s electric vehicle mandate. This gross government overreach is designed to artificially increase electric vehicle production — leaving consumers with less choices and inundating the market with new products that the consumers should decide if they want — not the government.

That doesn’t sound like a free-market economy to me.

Don’t get me wrong, the technology has benefits and eventually it may be what consumers want, but the technology needs to be further developed and the decision to go electric should be consumer driven, not governmental mandate.

When there is a legitimate consumer demand for electric vehicles, the auto industry will organically shift to a larger electric vehicle fleet.

But the truth is, the demand simply isn’t there. But certain government officials are bound and determined to manipulate the marketplace and consumers by mandating the industry to have 2/3 of their new vehicle production consist of fully electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids by 2032. This will impose more costs and limit choices for consumers.

Our elected leaders need to take a step back, remember that we are a market-based economy, and to stop interfering with the market.

Sincerely,

Larry Padora

Schuylkill County Commissioner