. . . programs, also has environmental costs: It takes additional energy to shred and recycle metals; plastic components often cannot be recycled and end up as landfill cover; and the engine fluids, refrigerants and other chemicals essential to operating products end up as hazardous wastes.”

And what about the new cars being bought? Are Americans trading in their Ford Explorers and going home with Toyota Priuses? Well, here’s where the data gets dicey. According to the official government list, the answer is yes: seven of the top ten sellers were small cars. However, according to the way car sales are usually tabulated, two of the top three and three of the top five sellers under t...

. . . programs, also has environmental costs: It takes additional energy to shred and recycle metals; plastic components often cannot be recycled and end up as landfill cover; and the engine fluids, refrigerants and other chemicals essential to operating products end up as hazardous wastes.”

And what about the new cars being bought? Are Americans trading in their Ford Explorers and going home with Toyota Priuses? Well, here’s where the data gets dicey. According to the official government list, the answer is yes: seven of the top ten sellers were small cars. However, according to the way car sales are usually tabulated, two of the top three and three of the top five sellers under the program were actually SUVs or trucks. The government counted two wheel drive and four wheel drive versions of the cars separately, meaning the Ford Escape only made the government list in seventh position (the four wheel drive version) despite having sold more actual cars than any other make and model.


The funny thing about this government recalculating is that if they had just released the traditionally tabulated list, it could have been a PR coup for them. On the traditional list, seven of the top ten sellers were American cars. But on the government’s list, only three of the ten were. The government chose to prioritize small car sales over American car sales. And that illustrates the priorities of the radical green agenda, our activist government, and President Obama: Environment first, country later.