EDITORIAL - Democrats are very careful to line up on the pro-choice side of the abortion issue. But they are resolutely anti-choice when it comes to owning a gun, saying a prayer at school, or buying a car. They not only want Americans to drive more efficient cars, they want to make it impossible even to manufacture a full size SUV or sedan. House Democrats have sent an energy bill to the Senate that mandates 35 mile per gallon cars and light trucks by 2020.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced the bill with this shotgun blast at every worthy touchstone within range: "This is about national security, it’s about jobs and the economic security of our country, it’s about the environment, therefore it’s a health issue, and it’s a moral issue." She also inexplicably characterized this legislation, whose requirements take effect in 2020, as "immediate."

The new fuel-efficiency mandates in the bill, which will necessitate smaller, lighter, less powerful, and more expensive vehicles, do nothing to guarantee that Americans will buy such cars. The bill only compels manufacturers to build such cars. The hope, as in all central-planning Communist societies, is that an all-knowing and all-powerful Big Government can decide for all people what is best, and see that they get it–and nothing else. This is why Russia, with the greatest expanse of arable land in the world, still imports wheat from other nations, from a peak of 46 million tons in 1981 to about 7 million tons today. Central planning is always a disaster.

The reason is that there is no more reliable, efficient and compelling force in commerce than the free market. People don’t buy the cars Detroit wants them to buy. If that were the case, we’d all be driving Chrysler K-Cars, Ford LTD’s and GM A-body and X-car clones from the 80's. Those were high-profit, low technology, inefficient flagships of a declining industry.

It was the free market that introduced fuel-efficient Japanese cars to Americans during the fuel shortages of the 70's. The first Honda car was a tiny laughable coupe that looked as if it might fit in the trunk of your average Cadillac. But the Japanese cars answered a need in the market for economical, reliable transportation. The embrace of Japanese cars by Americans never faltered.

American car companies suffered, stalled, complained, and asked for protection. But the market forces overwhelmed all those actions, until Chrysler, Ford and GM started building vehicles people would buy. Ford’s Taurus forever changed the shape of the mid-size car and Chrysler’s minivan created an entirely new vehicle category. American cars are immeasurably better now because of free market competition–faster, safer, more powerful and more economical.

No government mandate forced American car companies to make better cars. The market did that. If they didn’t make better cars, they’d be out of business. As it is, they have already frittered away their market dominance, and are now playing catch-up. Nothing focuses the executives like plunging market share.

Likewise, there is no need now for the government to mandate more efficient cars. Three dollar-per-gallon gas has already done that, more effectively and persuasively than any ham-handed central planning legislation.

It seemed to happen overnight at dealerships. The giant, luxury SUV’s that were once the industry profit leaders were shunted to the back of the lot, festooned with multi-thousand dollar rebates and sagging helium balloons. Pushed to the fore were economy cars, compacts and smaller versions of every vehicle type. Dealers could react quickly. The manufacturers take a little longer.

But every car company, foreign and domestic, is working on gas-electric hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, more powerful batteries with longer endurance and less weight–all at great expense. No one has to force car companies to offer more fuel efficient vehicles. The free market is already doing so, and will ruthlessly punish those that don’t.

However, some Americans need or prefer large SUVs and trucks, more powerful and roomy cars. The car companies must cater to that market as well. Forcing them to abandon it to foreign competitors is merely handing over hard-won customers to the Japanese and Korean manufacturers. Ask union auto workers, one of the Democrats’ favorite constituencies, what they think of that.

Forcing American car companies to make more fuel efficient cars won’t save gas. Those who want such cars can buy them now. Chevrolet has five models that 30 mpg or better on the highway, including the new mid-size Malibu. All companies are developing even more efficient vehicles. But consumers who want big trucks and cars won’t downsize their dreams, and they will have two alternatives.

First, they can buy foreign vehicles. The Japanese have already shouldered into the once-exclusive full size truck market with Toyota Tundras, Nissan Titans and Honda Ridgelines. Second, big-car and -truck buyers can shop the used market, creating a demand for currently unpopular luxury SUV’s and powerful sport sedans. Just as classic muscle cars now fetch six-figure prices, Lincoln Navigators and Chevy Tahoes may command premium prices once the factories stop turning them out.

Sound impossible? Not with do-good legislators catering to global warming alarmists and petro-pessimists, and forcing our factories to churn out nothing but featherweight econoboxes. Once Congress starts tinkering with the free market, logic and choice go out the window. Consumers, car companies and auto workers will pay the price.

And Nancy Pelosi will still be driven to the office in a big, gas-guzzling SUV.