Passage Summary: The author argues that we need government standards to ban inefficient products because fossil fuel efficiency won't improve on its own. An objector counters that we should just let the free market handle it.

Conclusion: Decisions regarding the use of energy should be determined by market forces rather than government intervention.

Reasoning: The objection assumes that the market is the most appropriate and effective mechanism for managing energy consumption and efficiency.

Analysis: To weaken this objection, we need to find a reason why the market isn't actually the best tool for the job. Markets usually fail when there is a lack of information or when the true cost of a product isn't reflected in its price. Look for an answer that suggests consumers don't have the data they need to make efficient choices or that market incentives currently favor waste over efficiency. If the market is 'broken' in this specific context, the objection that we should leave it to the market loses its persuasive power.