Known throughout corridors of Republicanism as the party's most admirably reliable servant of President Bush's agenda, Idaho might at last have good reason to break from hidebound GOP opposition to sensible fuel conservation measures.
Idaho could do it in one of two ways, or both, and in the process show political fortitude and independence as well as establishing itself as a state that values vision and progress over political pandering to industry.
First, Idaho could announce its support for California's new regulation requiring a 30 percent reduction in automobile gas emissions and an increase in fuel efficiency by 2009.
Second, it could oppose this week's tardy and pitifully meaningless fuel-efficiency proposal of the Bush administration, and urge more drastic standards sooner for Detroit automakers to adopt.
Siding with more rigorous auto fuel efficiency (cars and trucks devour 40 percent of the nation's gasoline consumption) would be good for Idaho's economy as well as for energy conservation.
As the price of gasoline soars, drivers are drastically reducing road trips—and an obvious loser in sharply scaled back driving are Idaho's sprawling, widely separated family recreational attractions that are accessible only by car.
Consider the sad tidings of the retail giant Wal-Mart: It reports a decline in shoppers because of gasoline prices.
There's not much comfort or wisdom for Idaho in waiting for a change in the grim gasoline news that's not apt to change. Greater worldwide demands for oil, a shortage of U.S. refining capacity and heavier U.S. autos designed for speed rather than fuel efficiency add up to less gasoline available for more consumers, which in turn means higher prices that discourage driving.
By not bucking President Bush's obstinate refusal to demand more efficiency of Detroit's automakers, Idaho's Republican leaders merely show their weakness for following wastrel policies and their inability to show independent thinking.
These are not the elements of a state that leads, but only follows.
No single issue has as widespread impact and long-range consequence as U.S. petroleum consumption.
Until the nation drastically reduces petroleum consumption, its economy will be influenced by the availability of oil supplies largely dictated by foreign producers whose own political agendas might well clash with U.S. energy needs.
President Bush wants to drill the nation out of this dilemma with more wells pumping out limited U.S. oil reserves.
A more sensible approach is to conserve and save for a rainy day.
Idaho's political leaders can serve the nation and their own state by becoming a champion of energy conservation and fuel efficiency, even if common sense means offending the president of the United States and his policies of waste.
