...but when I read passages in articles about new environmental policies passed in the Legislature:
The legislation would provide a framework and goals, including one to cut the number of miles driven by state residents. Details would be worked out later. [emphasis mine]
...I don't get the warmest feeling that all these little "details" that will be "worked out" at a later date won't come without some troubling unintended consequences. Example, from the article itself:
Another controversial matter was a set of goals for reducing the number of vehicle miles driven by state residents, which could take some of the pressure off industry for reducing emissions. Critics questioned the logic of a total-miles-traveled approach for cutting carbon dioxide."Vehicle miles traveled does not distinguish between a hybrid and a Hummer," said Todd Myers, environmental director for the Washington Policy Center, a conservative think tank.
I mean, before we go about transforming society in our state with a "sustainable revolution," could we first get some basic things right and, say, replace the Alaska Way Viaduct and 520?
Posted by Eric Earling at February 20, 2008 12:11 AM | Email ThisMan did I pick the worng job.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on February 20, 2008 06:31 AMHows your Billary today. HAHAHAHAHA
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on February 20, 2008 06:55 AM(a) Decrease the annual per capita vehicle miles traveled by eighteen percent by 2020;(b) Decrease the annual per capita vehicle miles traveled by thirty percent by 2035; and
(c) Decrease the annual per capita vehicle miles traveled by fifty percent by 2050;
At what cost?
Washington state:(i) By 2020, reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the state to 1990 levels;
(ii) By 2035, reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the state to twenty-five percent below 1990 levels;
(iii) By 2050, the state will do its part to reach global climate stabilization levels by reducing overall emissions to fifty percent below 1990 levels, or seventy percent below the state's expected emissions that year.
Tolls on roads; higher taxes to pay for choo-choo's; higher energy costs; higher food costs; higher housing costs; higher taxes to pay for family leave; higher taxes to pay for universal healthcare; higher tuition costs for colleges; higher taxes to own a car....etc., ect., etc.
With all the increased taxation, fees, costs - how can any wage be a "living wage"? Do the Democrats really believe that they are helping the poor?
Democrats really believe that they are helping the poor?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOPE, the dem party only uses them for votes and nothing more.
Since the 1960's the dem's have been help the poor and guess what. They are still poor.
Give me a break. A revolution? Jeez, it is nothing more than retro-history. Since you libs have rewritten the daylights out of history, it is obvious you not only don't remember it, you don't know what it actually was.
I am no fortune teller so I can't say who will win in Nov. but I do remember history and you flakes are taking us down that tired old miserable road again. No, it's no revolution, it's just the same ole sh-- dished out by different people with the same ideology.
Hope you like standing in lines for stuff.
Posted by: REBEL on February 20, 2008 07:51 AMWe can all see how the Libs have helped the EU.
Just look at France with all of it's problems & riots in the streets. Plus what 8.5% are not employed. So much for the gov giving out jobs and money.
You can't tax the rich forever and people like Duff will never learn.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on February 20, 2008 08:28 AMYou got all of the touchy-feelies going, tell everyone how I'm wrong in my previous post. Of course I'm gonna want to see some facts to back your erroneous claims.
Gee we'll all be living in a man made utopia. The one evisioned by the likes of Karl Marx. The selfish corporations will be history.
Duffie, do you think we'll all just wake up each sunny morning (they'll all be sunny) and put on our white robes and go to communal dining rooms and eat fruit?
No one will drive autos anymore because everybody cares so much for the environment.
I can hear some cute little blonde headed kid asking, 'Daddy, how did the fruit get on our tables?' Daddy answers, the molocks put it there son.
social engineering run by morons.
Posted by: Andy on February 20, 2008 08:55 AMHow can they demand I drive less on what grounds on what basis can they restrict my movements. What law have I broken that requires this? This is unconstitutional on many grounds. I have fully funded all the roads they cannot restrict my movements on them.
I could take this the other way. The Freedom Imposition Act requires all citizens to spend their money to grow the economy and to buy things they want in transactions agreed to be two parties with out the imposition of an intervening third party. Basic foundations of this act include freedom of movement. There are several other facets as well. Oh wait that is the US Constitution!
Mao would be so proud of his little communist concentration camp builders.
The only cut I will make will be on your throat when I take what you waited in line all day for.
Your utopia is a breeding ground for criminal activity. If this happens you and your ilk will have pushed too far, got what you wanted and then you will have to pay.
You like the idea of beuracracy? Didn't you know that all people are corruptable? Didn't you know that no one cares for you like you do?
Why would you give so much power to people who do not care about you as an individual? Why don't you get it?
When the government controls everything you will have lost every bit of freedom you have left. Don't be an imbecile, please.
http://www.theolympian.com/living/story/362790.html
Generation green: Determined young ecowarriors enlist parents to help them save the planet
LEANNE ITALIE
By LEANNE ITALIE
M a rika Martin is a vegetarian. So is her husband, Charles Gonzalez, who rides his bicycle to work every day in New York City traffic, rain or shine.
The couple cares deeply about the environment, but if you ask their kids, 12-year-old Sinika and 8-year-old Soren, it's sometimes not deeply enough.
"My hopeless mother is obsessed with plastic bags," said Soren, a third-grader and huge fan of Al Gore's global warming documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."
"A lot of plastic can't be recycled," chimed in his sister, who's in the seventh grade. "The turtles can get suffocated and it can go into the water. My dad gave her a cloth bag but she doesn't use it. Plastic drives me nuts!"
Posted by: JDH on February 20, 2008 10:04 AMThe best way to reduce miles is to permit growth in the outlying areas that includes both commercial and residential areas, and add a lot of apartment space. This will give people low cost options they can take near their jobs. Businesses should encourage workers to move closer by giving them "moving bonuses" similar to the relocation amounts that are awarded to corporate executives.
Businesses will have to hire people to monitor and produce the emissions reports to the government, costing the businesses more with no increase to productivity or profit.
The government will need to hire more to process the reports, increasing the union rolls and Democratic funding base.
In order for the miles driven to be reduced, the people will have to either not go anywhere, or spend more time on public transportation. In order to make sure everyone is participating fairly in mile reduction, transponders will be mandatory and all driving will be closely monitored (and tolled) by the state.
In order to have public transportation replace the trip reductions, billions in taxes will have to be raised to increase the trains and busses.
In order to make up for the lost gas tax revenues, billions in taxes will have to be raised in order to allow the government to continue funding spending increases.
Because of all of the taxes and goods and services increases, more people will not be able to earn enough to keep up and will need more assistance from the government.
Because more people will need assistance, taxes will have to be increased in order to provide more services.
What happens to these billions of dollars when it is discovered that the sun is more responsible for climate changes than CO2?
Posted by: SouthernRoots on February 20, 2008 10:16 AMI truly do understand what you are hoping for. I just do not have the faith in my fellow man that you do. I do not trust people who are power hungry, claiming to do what is right for everybody. I think that many people will be hurt when the government is in complete control. Hell, the government already hurts people and it only has partial control. Your living in a fantasy if you think that people will still have freedom when your people prevail. I think it will happen too, I just don't think it will last because people always want to be free. The rule ought to be, if what I do does not hurt anyone leave me alone as I will you.
Your crowd buys into junk science and calls it fact and then you use that to justify saying that what I do hurts people. Some day you too will agree with me, I'm afraid you will have to learn the hard way though.
Posted by: REBEL on February 20, 2008 10:25 AMI've had the chance to experience the glorious peoples revolution, and what living under socialism is like - and folks, we're rapidy getting there.
Posted by: Orzel on February 20, 2008 11:30 AMI would also advocate that all self proclaimed greenie weenies who "care deeply" about the environment give up their driver's licenses. And in the even more wishful thinking department, we should cut off electricity to their homes so we won't have to build more capacity for awhile. Just think of the dramatic cut in greenhouse gases we could achieve with these simple measures!
Posted by: Burdabee on February 20, 2008 11:44 AMTranslation: Pass the bill now, raise the taxes after the elections.
Posted by: SouthernRoots on February 20, 2008 12:02 PMYou lefties need to wake up.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on February 20, 2008 03:20 PMI remember when leftists were constantly referring to how "the man" was cramping their freedom. In the words of Peter Fonda from one of those classic hippie biker "B" movies of the '60's, "we just want to be free and stuff".
Guess what, now you leftists ARE "the man". And you love telling people how to live their lives even more than "the man" you protested against in your youth.
History is full of irony.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on February 20, 2008 05:47 PMThis is another example of the barely concealed glee that the environmentalists and their hangers-on in the Democratic party greet the supposed doomsday scenario that is global warming. At last they will be getting real power to force their pseudo-religious beliefs on the rest of us.
Posted by: Bill K. on February 20, 2008 10:20 PMGore of internet fame (no scientist he) produce and stars in a pr stunt labeled a documentary. He points to graphs to support his points. Clearly the graphs when closely examined refute his points that global warming is caused by co2. Many scientists inform us that co2 is caused by global warming. The green revolution is born as a result of careful planning, education and subsidies (grants). This pr stunt is capped with a Nobel Peace Prize. And the UN joins the choir. Alas, a "religion" is made. True believers unable to argue facts point to the Nobel Peace Prize and published reports from the UN.
In short the basis of the green mass hysteria comparable to a religion is founded on a false premise. However it is convenient and rewarding to "true believers".
These types of "religions" usually experience a relative brief life ending in an explosive force. However, during their lifetimes an incredible amount of misery and tragedy is inflicted on civilization. Witness the countless tragedies resulting from the religions of Communism and Eugenics. Tens of millions of people were slaughtered or starved to death as cleansing sacrifices in many countries. Unfortunately, even today, all too many people ignore history and are prepared to sacrifice this country on the altar of Communism. Sometimes it takes longer for a bad religion to die. And Eugenics provided supporting dogma used by the fascist that ultimately provided the Holocaust. The religions of Global Warming, Communism and Eugenics share a common roots as they are founded on a false premise supported by noble people who directly benefited.
After being born, like a growing child, the religion must grow. Government intervention usually provides the most successful growth media.
In one stroke, governments rewards followers and destroys naysayers.
Already, many thousands of people in third world countries have suffered tragedies resulting in the name of "Global Warming". Witness its stifling impact in Europe and Africa.
Now we are facing the same stifling consequences in America. As the encroaching dogma is being used by "true believers" to gain power, riches and acceptance.
Of course people suffer. That is expected. Mother Earth must be saved at all costs. Do not take these occurrences lightly and don't think that it will go away. The religion is still in the infancy stage and will continue to grow. Be very afraid, your whole world is about to change in a short time. Not from global warming; but by the results of a false religion.
During this stage of growth the religion of Global Warming must stifled. Hold the government people and "true believers" responsible for their actions and challenge their false premises. The Global Warming religion must be exposed as the destructive force it is.
Posted by: Snuffy on February 21, 2008 08:30 AMPolicies that promote traffic gridlock in order to convince us all that we'd be better off with one-size-fits-all mass transit are probably the largest source of carbon emissions in the state. And Mayor Nipples own methane production runs a close second.
Posted by: BananaLand on February 21, 2008 03:48 PMOnly seems fair, doesn't it?
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on February 21, 2008 04:05 PM