Look up the chronology of gasoline prices, small car sales, and when the first effects of the 1975 U.S. mileage standards hit the U.S. manufacturers. More importantly, note carefully that although the mileage standards haven't changed in the past thirty years, small car sales and big car sales have dutifully followed gas prices up and down.

As far as the rest of your "mythology" is concerned: Maybe the Soviet Union would have gently folded up all by itself if Carter and Mondale had been in charge during the 80s, and followed the Democratic prescriptions of non-involvement in nations where Soviet influence was expanding, capitulation in arms deals, and non-confrontation and appeasement at all levels of foreign policy.

Maybe. Might be fun to go over that theory nation-by-nation someday. But personally, I think the burden of proof on that is with you.