Minnesota to try and ban gas powered equipment

[dstig1]

First off, I think banning IC engines is a pie in the sky idea, but I also thought five years ago I'd never own a battery tool of any sort, and now I am replacing my Stihl gas powered stuff with battery powered stuff, they work good and are lighter. Did I do it to save the environment? No, I got sick of cleaning out carburetors when I forgot to drain the gas.

I agree that the climate religion folks tend to have a "sky is falling" attitude, however the same could be said for the anti-climate religion folks. The truth is somewhere in between.

I can remember the very first Earth Day, our high school science departments created a room that had the same atmospheric condition of LA smog, us farm boys were encouraged to walk in and see what it was like. Quite honestly, I doubted every thing that I was being told, but overtime a lot of what they said was determined to be true especially about the use of lead in our gasoline.

Facts can change over time as more data is developed. A prime example would be Einstein's theory of relativity, what was accepted as fact for many years is now possibly wrong.
When people start sprouting facts to me, I usually ask them where they're data came from and make up my own mind.

By the way, I gave you a good post earlier because I thought your response was well thought out and well written, it didn't seem to have any personal agenda or attack in it, I enjoy good discussion and like to be challenged.

Even a couple years ago I would have said banning ICE's was pie in the sky also. I am no longer so sure. In neighboring MN, the D's tipped the senate to a very slight majority and kept their also slight majority in the house last fall. Well they are now behaving like they got 90% of the seats and just ramming through all sorts of things that are starting to border on extreme, so this would not surprise me. They already mandated that all electricity must be carbon free by 2040. To blazes with the laws of physics! The overreach is astounding every time this crew gets the slightest majority these days. You saw it in the Federal govt after 2020 too. No compromise, just ramming speed!

So yeah, I am very concerned they are going to do something dumb like this. Often these arguments devolve into screaming matches over one side saying that the other side wants no regulations and to poison the earth and the other side saying the opposite side wants everything to stop. From what I see, the second one is much closer to reality. I refer to the environmentalist crowd as the "No, Nothing, Never" crowd because that is how they approach Every. Single. New Project. First off they say No to it. So you ask them what would be acceptable. The response to that is not compromise but "nothing" will be acceptable. When will they come around? "never". When you oppose absolutely every bit of development all the time, it becomes ridiculous to deal with. The goal appears to be delay and add costs to everything so fewer things can get done. They know that eventually they will lose most of the time, but if they just just stretch it out and make it more costly, then that many fewer things will get done. And this is progress? But that is the mindset here, and it is existentially dangerous to society, IMO.

I will buy and use battery tools as I see fit and as they make sense. Same with Gas tools. You want to win the argument, make better stuff.

 

[airbiscuit]

Don't worry.

1. That bill is not going to pass
2. You live in Wisconsin

 

[dstig1]

Don't worry.

1. That bill is not going to pass
2. You live in Wisconsin

1. I'm not so sure
2. Why yes. Yes, I do . And I thank God for the wisdom to make that decision many, many years ago. Though I do work in MN and live right near the border by Minneapolis/St. Paul, so it dominates the news here. We see much more about what goes on in MN than WI in general.

 

[Hay Dude]

Cities suck!
City people suck!
We need more factories producing things here in the US!
Where do factories locate?
Near cities.
Why?
Because they need a workforce.
I'll never live or work in a city!
I'm a farmer!
Hey, we're getting a new factory!
New factories are taking up farmland!
Factories suck!

Not very funny and also quite inaccurate.
Also, there hasn’t been a “factory” built on farmland around here in decades or in a city for that matter.

 

[Fixastuff]

Some of the biggest polluters are two stroke outboard engines...there are very limited electric outboard options...the realistic alternative is four stroke outboards...

I went snorling in Mexico and this big deal was made about not wearing sunscreen while snorkeling. Then you get taken out there in a little two stroke boat with dozens of other ones with other groups. You could smell and taste the oil and fuel in the ocean but sunscreen is the problem?? Lol.

 

[ddbackhoe]

And that is the problem. It is a belief. Not a fact. Every regulation has 2 sides to it: benefits and downsides/costs. Both must be considered in the balance. But the climate religion will not consider that there are any downsides as it has gone well beyond any semblance of facts.

That is what our regulators do best, damn the facts full speed ahead on agenda.

 

[ddbackhoe]

regulations dreamed up by panels of regulators that are homeowners,

Quite a few arent even at that level. They rent or live in “condos”. Oh not so long ago, one of them couldnt believe her new job didnt pay for the rent in a new town.

 

[ddbackhoe]

Valid points today. If the progress made in the last 5 years is an indicator of future progress then I think the gap will close for the majority of users and purchasers of new equipment. Lot’s of HOA’s requiring battery tools today.

Bad enough when the neighbors try to stick their nose in, but give them a kittle bit of “power” and the fun really begins.

 

[ddbackhoe]

Democracy is rule by the majority but so is gang rape. The market will cater to the numbers but will provide for the minority if there is profit, government rules no so much.

Any group that is allowed to vote while talking to their stockbroker is only looking after profit.

 

[Hay Dude]

Quite a few arent even at that level. They rent or live in “condos”. Oh not so long ago, one of them couldnt believe her new job didnt pay for the rent in a new town.

Quite a difference, isn’t it? And it makes a huge difference when it comes to what new regulations we get.

Long ago, many of our leaders were farmers or business owners. Today, I don’t think there’s but a handful of them. There may be a few more business owners.

Comical when you complain about regulations, then one from the rules/regs crowd starts chirping about how the complainers want to go back to child labor.

You can’t win. It’s more regulations with each passing year until the act of mowing your lawn becomes criminal. Don’t laugh, right now you can be fined in some communities for running a gas blower.

And it will only keep getting worse as the emotional teenagers in charge (the new “red guard) takes over the country.

Good thing I only have 20 years left to work. Lord help us. We need adult/common sense intervention and we need it now.