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Are automobiles a major cause of global warming?

6907 messages,  Last post on Dec 02, 2009 at 4:48 PM

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#3108 of 6907
Re: Someone needs to let the North Pole know [gagrice] by steve_ HOST
Jul 14, 2008 (8:53 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jul 14, 2008 8:44 am)

Well you have to start somewhere and it looks like oil is either going to be in shorter supply or very expensive ... or both.
 
Andy Grove of Intel was quoted over the weekend about new tech and early adopters - we can laugh at solar, wind, fusion, whatever, but 20 years ago all personal computers were good for was for BASIC games. They were expensive suckers too!
#3109 of 6907
Re: Someone needs to let the North Pole know [steve_] by gagrice
Jul 14, 2008 (9:05 am)
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Replying to: steve_ (Jul 14, 2008 8:27 am)

I have NO problem with only spending the 64 cents per gallon of gas and the 72 cents per gallon of diesel on road projects and maintenance. I think the truth is there is a big surplus from the money received and the money spent on roads in CA. We know a large chunk of the gas tax goes to mass transit already. So that means we automobile drivers are being cheated from the get go. CA now has some private roads that are paid for by toll charges. I have no problem with that. I have used the one that cuts off several miles of 5 and the 405 coming from San Diego. It was wonderful when it first opened. Now it is as crowded as the rest. Not worth the fee.
 
As far as your article, it leaves out a big factor of all the roads we have already paid for that continue to generate revenue. Which should be spent on maintenance and future roads. A very biased poorly thought out article. Put all the gas tax out there for roads and we will see how much more it takes. Then up the tax accordingly.
#3110 of 6907
Re: Someone needs to let the North Pole know [gagrice] by steve_ HOST
Jul 14, 2008 (9:15 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jul 14, 2008 9:05 am)

You'll have to complain to the state of Texas - they came out with the study. All your gas and road taxes won't even pay for the maintenance on existing roads, much less fund new ones. It sounds like you are at least fifty cents a gallon short.
 
Here's the Texas link:
 
Do Roads Pay for Themselves?
#3111 of 6907
Re: Someone needs to let the North Pole know [steve_] by gagrice
Jul 14, 2008 (9:47 am)
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Replying to: steve_ (Jul 14, 2008 9:15 am)

I see where the first article got its BS from. The state. That was so much double talk I am surprised you would believe it. First they give 25% to education of the gas tax. Then they use 75% for in their words:
 
and about three-quarters of which goes to the state’s highway fund, where it is spent on transportation uses and some non-transportation functions of government.
 
So how much goes for Roads and maintenance? It is the same crap they pull in CA and probably most other states. Put it in the general fund and then it gets all mixed up so they can make whatever claims they would like. Gas tax is now and has been a money maker for the states. They are not interested in cutting the mileage because the more gas you burn the more bucks they get to spend.
 
Now take the Federal money. TX only gets back 70% of what they send to Washington DC out of the gas tax collected. Where does the other 30% go? So maybe TX should only build those roads that will pay for themselves. So what if one 15 mile section of highway does not pay for itself. What about the thousands of miles that make them a fortune? You don't see that because they are playing games with our gas tax money. What a bunch of hooey
 
If I wasn't so cheap I would go drive my SUV up and down the road spewing GHG. Hope it chokes Ahnold the pinhead.
#3112 of 6907
Re: Someone needs to let the North Pole know [gagrice] by steve_ HOST
Jul 14, 2008 (10:36 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jul 14, 2008 9:47 am)

Seems pretty simple to calculates how much gasoline is consumed on a roadway and how much gas tax revenue that generates. Throw in registration fees and you still aren't covering the costs of the roads without everyone chipping in more in general revenue taxes.
 
The other 30% goes to Alaska btw for all those bridges to nowhere.
#3113 of 6907
Re: Someone needs to let the North Pole know [steve_] by kernick
Jul 14, 2008 (12:13 pm)
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Replying to: steve_ (Jul 14, 2008 10:36 am)

If the only function of the road was to carry passengers between destinations then the tax-revenue / cost of road would be a no-brainer. However one of the main uses of the highway is to allow commerce and business in that area - flow of goods. The contribution of roads to the economy then fuels business which then produces a myriad of taxes in various. Those taxes do go into general local, state, and federal funds.
 
Compare the economy and taxes generated of an area with a lot of roads (LA?) to any area in the U.S. with nothing more than a dirt road.
#3114 of 6907
Re: Someone needs to let the North Pole know [kernick] by steve_ HOST
Jul 14, 2008 (12:21 pm)
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Replying to: kernick (Jul 14, 2008 12:13 pm)

So, you're saying it's ok to subsidize the highways? If the real cost of moving those goods was factored in, then the consumers, not the taxpayers would bear a higher burden of the costs. All you are doing currently is encouraging waste and inefficient shipping methods.
 
And don't forget that the railroads deserve equal time.
#3115 of 6907
Re: Someone needs to let the North Pole know [steve_] by kernick
Jul 14, 2008 (12:57 pm)
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Replying to: steve_ (Jul 14, 2008 12:21 pm)

If you read the History section of the following, you will see that the main intent of the highway system is for defense and commerce, with personal transportation just being an added benefit.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Highway_System
 
A subway, bus, or HST is almost solely designed to move passengers; not moving military equipment, supplies, or general commerce goods.
 
Consumers are taxpayers usually. It's fairly hard to make $ w/o the tax-man collecting some.
 
I think trains used to haul bulk-cargo (coal, wheat, corn ...) are great and should be encouraged.
 
I think systems should be paid for by those who use the system.
#3116 of 6907
Re: Someone needs to let the North Pole know [kernick] by steve_ HOST
Jul 14, 2008 (1:09 pm)
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Replying to: kernick (Jul 14, 2008 12:57 pm)

Back in the pre-FedEx days, lots of time sensitive freight moved by bus.
 
More freight moved by trains and barges could mean fewer trucks, and maybe fewer emissions (to touch on the topic a little).
#3117 of 6907
Re: Someone needs to let the North Pole know [gagrice] by vchiu
Jul 14, 2008 (6:10 pm)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jul 14, 2008 8:18 am)

>We should be looking for ways to spend less money not more.
 
I consider education, project engineering (dam building, power plant building) Transport infrastructure building, R&D as investment. Any amount invested in those should improve human, economic or environmental benefit.
 
I consider gulf war, welfare spending, infrastructure upkeep as spendings.
I am advocating less spending and more investment. Some spendings are necessary, but others could be cut.
 
>That money is spent.
 
Do you mean there is no way to stop the counter anymore ?
The national debt is a serious issues and maybe tackling it from the root would prove effective. I suspect HST and mass transit investments were not the reason.
 
>we are near revolt over the current gas prices.
 
mm, not sure if the mindset of cheap gas being a right as equal as free speech is a healthy one. US prices are still half of European prices, so US motorists should be happy.
 
>Why do people think that we should tax automobile drivers to finance mass transit?
 
Because the polluter should be the payer. Gas is not only rejecting CO2 but also many other dangerous gas. Gas is deepening US trade deficit, gas is inherently unsustainable. Current gas prices don't reflect that.
 
>why not tack an additional tax on air travel.
 
That is also a good idea, provided that money be also used to offer alternatives. The problem is that I don't see alternatives for overseas flights.
 
>Last I read a cross country flight dumps as much CO2 per passenger seat as a small car in one year (about 5 tons)
 
I think a cross country high speed line would allow the same trip overnight. This would be a great project. It is true aircraft CO2 release is a true problem and HST bring solutions to that, albeit not 100% perfect.
 
>No buying carbon credits for the rich.
Carbon trading is a key environmental development opportunity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_credit#How_buying_carbon_credits_can_reduce_- emissions
 
We are still in the early stages, so not perfect yet. This is not a reason to throw it away.
 
> I am thinking we will all have electric cars soon. Then What do we need mass transit for?
 
because congestion won't be tackled by individual cars and railways are the best answer to that. Some people want to have the choice in their transportation mix.

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