Enviros trying to ban our Kubotas?

[MrP]

When it comes to diesels, the gov't walks a fine line. Any regs that take a portion of trucks off the road will seriously impact the economy. Can anyone here name one product that they bought in a store that didn't come by truck???

In addition, any reg that makes it more expensive for the trucks to run, makes every product in the nation more expensive.

The price of diesel fuel directly affects every person in this contry.

 

[Buck]

Glueguy and Patrick,

It wasn't the Government that gave us these benefits. It was the price of gas and Japan making significant headway in the U.S. automotive market that got the auto industry in gear.

Don't get me wrong, the environment is our future. Frankly though, I am more worried about the impact of people who think government is the only way to go when it comes to solving problems. This is far more of a serious problem.

I have traveled throughout eastern Europe where the environmental artifacts of the "Governement knows best" philosophy can be seen at every corner. If you haven't been there, you ought to go. It is a very inexpensive vacation.

Buck

 

[John_Mc]

<font color=blue>Frankly though, I am more worried about the impact of people who think government is the only way to go when it comes to solving problems.</font color=blue>

Good one! While I may think that there are cases where the government should step in (unfortunately, they seem to botch these cases more often than not), I also feel that the best way to make an impact is to just do it yourself. If you are worried about pollution from autos, by all means, buy an electric car, and feel free to try to convince me to as well. But don't make a law that says I HAVE to buy one.

John Mc

 

[billboe]

<font color=blue>We won't now have decisions made to play to the media and we won't have decisions intended to cover up hanky panky (spelling?) in the oval office. </font color=blue>

No, decisions are made to play to big business... Just follow the money... It is true for republicans or democrats!

 

[k8ny]

John Mc,

Thanks for the reply and the clarification on your environmental position. I guess my ideas are similar regarding laws and protection for the environment.
I am in full agreement that there are entities out there that are given fully to the profit motive at the expense of the environment however, laws have been implemented to address these situations (my own state of West Virginia is a prime example). I do feel that the government (federal, state and local) has a tendency to over regulate and also is not too shy about building and EXPANDING their own bureaucratic empires.
I could cite many examples of this over regulation (and I am sure most folks are quite aware) however the point really is this: How far do we want government in our lives? There are some who believe that the government's role should dictate to citizens how to live where as there is the opposite side that feel it is the the citizen's role to determine how we are to be governed. I am in the latter camp.

Bob

 

[upgw]

Well, 30 years of intense competition hasn't convinced dodge to build a reliable car for me.... believe what you will...

I don't believe the government can solve all problem, doubt glueguy does either. I do believe it has a role to play in a complex economy. I'll agree, you need as little government as you can get away with, not as much as you can tolerate, and we are much closer to the latter.

There is simply no comparison between failed eastern block communist regimes and governments of the 'west'. In the east, goverment and big business were one and the same, usurping all aspects of life, and the environment was utterly destroyed as a result. It wasn''t "Government Knows Best", it was "Government operates in total secrecy, answering to no-one..."

- Patrick W.

 

[Buck]

Patrick W.,

It wasn't "Government Knows Best", it was "Government operates in total secrecy, answering to no-one..."

Agreed. However, the two aren't far from one another. One mid-sized crisis could push us over the hill if we are not vigilant.

With respect to your Dodge, well, maybe you'd like to hear about my aluminum block Mazda 626 that I salvaged.

Buck

 

[GlueGuy]

<font color=blue>I don't believe the government can solve all problem, doubt glueguy does either. </font color=blue>

Got that right! My political views are a strange amalgam of Democrat/Libertarian/Republican/whatever. I don't really trust the gov'mint any further than I could throw it. The current administration scares the %$#@!$#@! out of me, for different reasons than the previous one did. Just the same, they both scared me, as will probably the next one.

The direction that mad-dog Ashcroft is going has me deeply disturbed. I'd rather have Alfred E. Neuman in his position.

I believe the biggest threat to the country, and maybe the planet is the growth in population. However, that problem is self correcting, as any high school biology student has learned. Only problem, we may not like the journey on the way to self-correction. That's the main reason that I favor reasonable environmental controls.

 

[JoeR]

Since we are on the topic of government,environment, and vehicles:

The gas crunch of 1973 (If my memory is correct) allowed Japan to get a strong hold in the American Car industry. My first car was a 79 Datsun 310, and it got 32 MPG. On another note, my first computer was a Texas Instruments TI-99/4A in 1983-4??. It is now 2002, about 23 years later and cars still don't get much more than 32 MPG; although, my current computer compared to my TI-99/4A is LIGHT YEARS different!!! So much improvement on PC's and almost none on vehicles. Why??


Overall, why hasn't there been any real advancements in transportation in the past 20 years?

Joe

 

[k8ny]

At this stage of the game, mechanical improvements are much more difficult than electronic improvements. Just more area to play in electronically.