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#5223 of 5290
Re: Too many CA legislators still driving SUV HOGS [john500] by terry92270
Sep 27, 2006 (5:11 pm)

Replying to: john500 (Sep 27, 2006 4:50 pm)

Well all the more appropriate, really, in light of the fact the US Government distributed "free" cigarettes to the Armed Forces up until after the Vietnam War, even to VA hospitals!
#5224 of 5290
Re: Too many CA legislators still driving SUV HOGS [john500] by tpe
Sep 28, 2006 (3:58 am)

Replying to: john500 (Sep 27, 2006 4:50 pm)

We aren't talking about taxation, we're talking about a lawsuit against the auto manufacturers. Specifically they are being sued for the damage caused by the CO2 their vehicles put in the air. I'm pretty sure that these vehicles don't emit any CO2 until someone drives them. And I know that all vehicles have EPA stickers, which clearly state the vehicles mileage, which directly corellates to CO2 emissions. Yes EPA estimates aren't totally accurate but they are actually closer on low mpg vehicles than high mpg vehicles so when someone buys a Lincoln Navigator they know for a fact that they will be generating a lot of CO2 while they drive. My point is how can you sue the auto manufacturers and not the drivers? My conclusion was that its not politically popular to make individuals responsible and accountable.
 
I agree there is no completely "clean" or "green" automobile. That brings up another question. If all the vehicles on the road in CA were getting 40 mpg would you still sue the auto manufacturers? These cars are still emitting CO2 and causing environmental damage. So based on the prevailing logic in CA it would still make sense to sue in this situation but seek less in damages.
 
I read an article yesterday stating that small car sales are going to set a record this year. Imagine that. High gas prices result in changing the public's buying decisions. This should no doubt equate to a rise in CAFE for the year. It's not rocket science. If you want people to buy and drive efficient vehicles the price of gas needs to be high. To put it on the manufacturer is a cop-out and also ineffective at achieving the goal.
#5225 of 5290
Re: Too many CA legislators still driving SUV HOGS [tpe] by gagrice
Sep 28, 2006 (6:18 am)

Replying to: tpe (Sep 28, 2006 3:58 am)

If all the vehicles on the road in CA were getting 40 mpg would you still sue the auto manufacturers? These cars are still emitting CO2 and causing environmental damage.
 
I agree with your whole post. You cannot be a little pregnant. Politicians always go for the easy targets with the most visibility. If they go after the guy driving a 1975 Oldsmobile that is blowing black smoke out the back it would not make big news.
#5226 of 5290
a sad story by larsb
Sep 28, 2006 (6:31 am)
Toyota says NO DIESEL HYBRIDS FOR YOU !!!
 
Toyota has ruled out production of a diesel electric hybrid vehicle in response to plans for such cars from French carmaker Peugeot.
 
Environmentalists say a car combining clean diesel technology with electric motors could achieve carbon dioxide emission reductions that would make them cleaner than Toyota's iconic petrol hybrid Prius.
 
But doing so would push up costs far beyond what consumers would bear, according to Toyota Motor Europe chief executive Tadashi Arashima.
 
"Already the diesel [price] premium is quite high, then you'd have to pay a hybrid premium, so we're not seeing that there's a market," Mr Arashima told BBC News.

 
This is not good news. My dream car is a 5-passenger diesel/electric car that gets 70+ MPG on the EPA combined and costs less than $35K.
 
Looks like Toyota will not be building it.
#5227 of 5290
Re: Too many CA legislators still driving SUV HOGS [tpe] by rorr
Sep 28, 2006 (6:43 am)

Replying to: tpe (Sep 28, 2006 3:58 am)

"My conclusion was that its not politically popular to make individuals responsible and accountable."
 
Bingo. It is NEVER politically popular, regardless of the issue, to make individuals responsible. Remember, to a politician, we are but sheep with no minds of our own, wandering aimlessly until Madison Avenue tells us where to go.
 
"If all the vehicles on the road in CA were getting 40 mpg would you still sue the auto manufacturers? These cars are still emitting CO2 and causing environmental damage."
 
Are they?
 
We all emit CO2 just breathing - and we do it 24/7. Are we causing environmental damage?
 
"Oh c'mon", you'll say. "The amount of CO2 exhaled by a human is insignificant compared to what is emitted by a 40mpg fuel sipper, let alone a 15mpg SUV".
 
TRUE. But then the question becomes: Where is that magic line in the sand? At what point to does 'environmental damage' occur? Just how much CO2 is TOO much? Is the lawsuit saying that the 'damage' inflicted by a 40mpg car OK but the 'damage' inflicted by a 15mpg SUV is not? Now trying PROVING that point in a court of law.
 
Another point, all these manufacturers make fuel efficient automobiles. As individual consumers, WE chose whether or not to conserve fuel. Are the manufacturers being sued for giving the consumer a CHOICE? Or are the Califorinia politicos saying that the general public is just too stupid to make the 'right' choice therefor, as our esteemed intellectual betters, they must step in and protect us from ourselves?
#5228 of 5290
Re: a sad story [larsb] by gagrice
Sep 28, 2006 (7:29 am)

Replying to: larsb (Sep 28, 2006 6:31 am)

My dream car is a 5-passenger diesel/electric car that gets 70+ MPG on the EPA combined and costs less than $35K.
 
DCX built just such a car, the Intrepid ESX-3, in 1999. It was shot down by Chrysler because they did not believe anyone was crazy enough to pay the hybrid premium that Toyota is currently getting for their hybrids.
 
Much better looking than any of the Toyota hybrids IMO.
#5229 of 5290
Re: Too many CA legislators still driving SUV HOGS [rorr] by tpe
Sep 28, 2006 (7:34 am)

Replying to: rorr (Sep 28, 2006 6:43 am)

I really have no idea what the politicians are trying to accomplish other than make headlines. It would make far more sense to simply ban vehicles that got less than 20 mpg. But then people would claim that they were being denied choices. But when over 50% of the people choose these inefficient vehicles its the auto makers fault. It's lunacy but somehow it makes sense to the masses because I think the overall reception to this proposed lawsuit is positive.
 
I'm not sure what we can do about our producing CO2 when we breath. Its possible that people with certain metabolisms produce more CO2 than others. There are probably medical test that can identify these people and then they need to be sued also.
#5230 of 5290
Re: Too many CA legislators still driving SUV HOGS [rorr] by gagrice
Sep 28, 2006 (7:38 am)

Replying to: rorr (Sep 28, 2006 6:43 am)

Or are the Califorinia politicos saying that the general public is just too stupid to make the 'right' choice
 
That is exactly how the elitist in our government act. Maybe we are stupid. We keep re-electing the same people to serve us. Most make their views clear during the campaigns. They are going to give us more than the other guy. Right, they will give us our own money back as they see fit.
#5231 of 5290
Re: Too many CA legislators still driving SUV HOGS [tpe] by rorr
Sep 28, 2006 (7:51 am)

Replying to: tpe (Sep 28, 2006 7:34 am)

"It would make far more sense to simply ban vehicles that got less than 20 mpg."
 
Or simply institute gas rationing. He who owns a more economical vehicle gets to drive more. It all comes down to just which choices you want the politicos to deny. After all, what's the consumption difference between someone driving a 20mpg vehicle who drives 10k miles a year and a person driving a 40mpg vehicle driving 20k miles a year?
 
"There are probably medical test that can identify these people and then they need to be sued also."
 
Abso-stinkin'-lutely. And it's a well-know scientific fact that healthy/skinny folks generally have higher metabolisms and exchange more O2 for CO2 than the more, uh um caloric-challenged amoung us.
 
Let's sue skinny people!
#5232 of 5290
Re: Too many CA legislators still driving SUV HOGS [gagrice] by rorr
Sep 28, 2006 (8:00 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Sep 28, 2006 7:38 am)

"That is exactly how the elitist in our government act. Maybe we are stupid. We keep re-electing the same people to serve us."
 
Ah, a fellow cynic. And completely correct.

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