Norway Would Like to Ban Gas Cars?!

All around the world, efforts are being made to move to a future of renewable fuels. That's most certainly a good development. Whatever the reasoning for your support, like independence from foreign fuels or helping the environment, progress is a good thing. But, there are times when things can be taken way too far. Case in point? Norway.

That's Kristin Halvorsen, Norway's Finance Minister. I've talked about the Nordic model of social democracy in other posts about Saab and Sweden. Sweden has denied Saab government funding, in what is an unusual change from what considered normal in that country. Normally, government can't get big enough in Sweden, but apparently that desire is being reconsidered.

Normally governments offer incentives to get consumers to move into greener vehicles. Under this proposal though, all gas cars would be banned by 2015. The Kristen Halvorson's political affiliation is telling: the Socialist Left party. At least they're honest, right?

This shouldn't be within the scope of government control; being able to dictate what you buy. Apparently it is though, and that's not a good thing. People should always be able to buy cars powered by gasoline.

Norway is the world's fifth-largest exporter of oil in the world. They would like for all of that production to be exported as they aim to become carbon neutral by 2030. The original goal was set for 2050 but they cut it by 20 years recently because they think they can implement reforms faster. In addition, they country has had a carbon tax for over two decades. So they're clearly a very progressive country in the area of renewables. However when you start telling people what they can and cannot buy, you better be careful.

So not surprisingly, there is little support in the Norwegian government for the proposal. The current Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is against it, as well as public opinion in the country. Still, it's a bit unnerving to have a finance minister be proposing something like this. Lawmakers in the United States better be mindful of public opinion when creating punitive emissions taxes and carbon caps that might cripple our economy.