When politicians in Washington look down from their offices, they apparently see only two things: politically correct consumers doing their civic duty by driving small cars and hybrid-electric vehicles that are helping America achieve energy independence and curb global warming; and they see people who need to be protected from themselves because they are driving big vehicles made by Detroit. “It’s difficult for the auto industry to understand how unsympathetic members (of Congress) are from other parts of the country. People look at them like they’re the tobacco industry,” Michigan Congresswoman Candice Miller tells Newsweek magazine. Clearly, now that Washington is loaning Detroit auto makers $25 billion to begin repenting their evil ways, legislators will try to turn the fuel-economy screws tighter so they can limit the number of unhealthy vehicle choices General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are able to sell weak-willed consumers.