Week 11: "This Is a Big Deal" - Thomas L. Friedman, NY Times

This week, Tom Friedman's column discusses the potential impact of the deal between the E.P.A and the Department of Transportation. This deal calls for annual mileage improvements of 5 percent for cars (and about 5 percent for light trucks and S.U.V.'s) until 2025. It also requires that all automobiles made by U.S. automakers must reach an average mileage of 54.5 mpg in 2025. Tom Friedman applauds this step towards making the U.S. more environmentally friendly and the U.S. cars significantly more efficient. He also emphasizes the impact that this deal will have on the U.S.'s energy and environmental agendas, and how this deal will shine a positive light on President Obama (because of his support). Tom Friedman references different  organizations, such as the Global Automakers trade association and the Safe Climate Campaign of the Center for Auto Safety to highlight the positive results this deal encourages. He criticizes the conservatives who are against this deal, emphasizing the negative impact that their anti-E.P.A. efforts had on the US economy and auto industry and sarcastically claiming that their efforts are, "a thing to be proud of."

Source: Friedman, Thomas L. "This Is a Big Deal." New York Times. 04 Dec 2011: n. page. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/opinion/sunday/friedman-this-is-a-big-deal.html?ref=thomaslfriedman>.