By: Eric Buechele | Posted: Sunday, January 1, 2012 9:00 pm

Eric Buechele is a Carlsbad resident.

As publications across the world talk of austerity measures and tightening budgets at a private and public level, it is hard to think why anyone would be opposed to measures that would save a few dollars.

A big missed source of savings for Americans starts at the pump: As demand for oil accelerates with China and India’s continued growth, Americans can expect sharp increases in the cost of fuel in the future.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. If Republicans in Congress, such as our own Rep. Darrell Issa, R-49th District, would stop blocking sensible fuel standards for cars and trucks, we could go a long way toward a common sense approach to conserving and using limited resources such as oil and gas.

Even if you think the evidence against global warming is dubious, with current price hikes in oil prices, it is prudent for the Obama administration to work with car manufacturers to increase average fuel economy standards. Why? Because it just makes good economic sense. If fuel could consume proportionately less out of American household budgets, this money could be spent on other forms of consumption. This diversified consumption will stimulate other areas of the economy instead of just oil-dependent supply chains. Republican pundits, however, claim this isn’t free market economics, and that auto- manufacturers should set the trend.

When semi-conductor computer chips were first developed, they were commercially unfeasible to produce for the private sector. The US Department of Defense stimulated demand through generous contracts until manufacturing costs came down. Today, no one in the US would dispute the gains average Americans have reaped not only from semi-conductors themselves, but from the hiring and economic growth this invention has stimulated.

The point is, not only is it acceptable to have the government help private enterprise, but government support and collusion can help firms reduce uncertainty and risk the investment in cleaner technologies requires. It seems wiser to establish standards the auto companies endorse instead of passing reactionary legislation with goals that are not feasible.

That is why I have such a hard time understanding the shortsightedness of policy makers like Rep. Issa when he opposes the collaboration of auto-manufacturers and the Obama administration working together to create reasonable standards that benefit both parties. If we can create initiatives that reduce fuel consumption, stimulate clean energy research and development that will yield high-paying dividends in the future and give consumers more money in their pocket, isn’t it a no-brainer?

It seems abiding by a strict, conservative dogma has trumped the laws of economics —- for now. As a citizen, I enthusiastically support initiatives that will help spur growth domestically and hope by electing sensible representatives, others do too.