Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels? LIP SERVICE!

[theHandpuppet]

You know the government isn't truly interested in decreasing pollution and reducing our dependence on oil when they have played such an integral part in the systematic dismantling of the nation's passenger rail system. It wasn't in the best interests of Big Oil or the automakers, not to mention those making billions of dollars in highway construction and kickbacks, to make a commitment to expand passenger rail in this country or even make the current passenger rail system a viable alternative.

With the inevitable changes that will and must be made in the face of global warming and peak oil, doesn't anyone else find it odd that there has been no mention of a commitment to revitalize the nation's rail system? All we hear about are changing the autos themselves or the fuel they require -- but no one seems to be talking about reducing the number of automobiles and trucks, period.

Let's face it -- we've refashioned our society to suit the car, building suburb after suburb miles from city centers and workplaces, which has led to families requiring two or three cars for commuting long miles. Good news for the developers, auto and oil industries, to be sure. But when this house of cards comes crashing down around our heads, we will have no infrastructure in place that will transition families and workers to a world of mass transit.

And let's look at another angle of a commitment to rail. JOBS. Well-paying union jobs to build, maintain and operate an expanding rail system. So what's the downside? Less pollution, less dependence on fossil fuels, less wear and tear on the highway system -- or just less profit for those now running our government?

To date I have heard NOTHING from either Repukes or Democrats about the development/redevelopment of the rail system in this country as a way to reduce our dependence on finite fossil fuels and by extension, reducing the pollution which has led us down the path of global warming.

The question is, WHY?

[4dsc]

1. WHY?? That's simple..

Read all about it here!! We are leaderless on this issue.. Politicians are afraid of what the future holds.

http://www.countercurrents.org/eriqat130306.htm

The End Of Civilization

I had a mild epiphany the other day: it’s not President Bush who’s living in a fantasy world, it’s most of his critics who are. I’m no apologist for Bush – I neither like nor dislike him. He’s no more significant to me than a fly buzzing around outside my window. So permit me to explain my reasoning.

Now, I’m just one person. And I’ve been closely studying economic, environmental, and energy issues for only a few years. And I’m no expert. Yet I’ve come to the conclusion – and I don’t want to be a “Chicken Little” here – that civilization as we have known it for the last century is doomed. Our wasteful manner of living – heck, the sheer size of our human population – is unsustainable. Everywhere you look you can see signs of strain on the Earth, from spreading pollution of the air, water, and land, to disappearance of life in the seas, to depletion of natural resources. Something’s got to give. Things simply cannot continue as they have.

[theHandpuppet]

4. Agreed!

All I've seen are proposals akin to putting a band-aid over a mortal wound. I don't see any leaders who are being totally honest with the people -- perhaps with the exception of Al Gore -- about where this world is headed in the next twenty to fifty years. Yes, it's frightening, but it will be a helluva lot more frightening when the reality finally smacks us in the face knowing we should have started to prepare for these changes decades ago. It's like the lobster in the pot metaphor.

We don't need to just reduce emissions or switch to hybrid cars. We need to rethink our entire infrastructure and way of life! So that's why no one wants to talk about it, and why I fear what kind of future today's generation will inherit.

[Kolesar]

2. It is to the oil industies advantage to use up the cheap oil quickly

...so they can rape the world for profits on the precious oil--and control the world!

[Jayhawk Lib]

3. We used to have passenger trains

and other forms of mass transportation but we the people did not support them.

I notice the buses in my city travel the streets with very few passengers. Probably not enough passengers to pay for the fuel and other expenses associated with the bus. Passenger trains were the same way.

Oil is sold on a world market (an auction) and I can see no way to control that. No one is going to sell their product below market price.

[Kolesar]

6. The Big Three had a 600 Billion dollar ad budget to promote their excesses

And the RTA runs a few commercials on AM and FM radio--how could they compete with that seduction?
I'll admit that there is a lot more to it than that. (note: all ad budgets in this post are estimated)

[theHandpuppet]

5. This is just one example of the sham

My partner and I were interested in retrofitting our circa 1891 home for solar -- at least partly solar. First, we couldn't find anyone IN OUR STATE licensed to do such installations and would have to hire an outfit from Maryland to come down and do it. Second, we found out that installing the solar wouldn't even be allowed, since the power companies have our state and local govts by the balls. So even when you want to make a change for the better THEY WON'T LET YOU. (Shame on you, West Virginia!) TPTB have made certain that retrofitting our society for green technologies will be expensive and rare. In the meanwhile, energy costs are going to continue to rise to the point where we won't even be able to afford light and heat.

Instead of giving tax breaks to people to drive those asinine Hummers, how about one for those of us who want to really do something about energy dependence? It's a joke.

[FloridaPat]

7. Another point - states & the feds get tax money from gasoline.

If you reduced the amount of gas consumed, the taxes would go down. Double the mileage, and you halve the income.

[theHandpuppet]

8. Good points

Yep, the reason we're not having a honest push towards energy independence is because too many people running this country have their hand in the till!