Well, I'm no economy guru, but it seems to me if the government would stop
manipulating the cost of good in the form of subsidies and taxes, the
natural law of supply and demand will take care of the rest. That may seem
simplistic, but if there's truly a shortage of any resource, the price will
go up, consumption will go down, and smart entrepreneurs (did I spell that
right?) will seek the opportunity to come up with new and profitable
solutions. I think this would work to the benefit of the environment as
well. People will only accept and respond to a shortage of resources when
they simply can't afford it anymore.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jay Jorgensen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 3:35 PM
To: CF-Community
Subject: RE: Lightbulb changing, CA style
<lurk mode="off">
Hello all, I just had to chime in on this one. This list sure has taken on a
serious tone this week.
As I understand it, we here in the states have *enjoyed* artificially low
gas prices due largely to very strong oil and auto lobbies, which have been
able to get our gov't to subsidize much of the real costs of gas by having
them absorbed by other entities and huge tax breaks, the end result of which
is cheap gas and cars for all.
Talk to urban geographers, and they will tell you that this is a major
factor in the loss of a sense of "place" or community in suburban US.
Everyone basically has a car, so there is no need to build the Piggly Wiggly
in a central location so the community can walk or bike to it. We build
"gated communities" now, not neighborhoods.
I have had a theory forming that these gas prices may just be artificially
inflated themselves. I my be opening myself up for abuse here, but my theory
is based on the fact that these subsidies and tax breaks have not changed,
and I understand our oil reserves are rather robust. We now have oil men as
President and VP, and they want to build a power plant every week for the
next 20 years (about 1300 total), drill in the Florida Keys, Gulf of Mexico
off Florida, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Alaska), etc. All this
runs contrary to another huge multi-agency multi-year study released a few
months ago which details how we could save TONS of energy by implementing
simple measures, but you won't hear VP Cheney mentioning this study.
"The National Resources Defense Council, Union of Concerned Scientists and
National Environmental Trust were among the green groups that said the Bush
administration was ignoring the role of energy conservation measures."
(Yahoo News, May 9)
Yes, I am concerned. I live in Florida, a state that is supposed to
deregulate the energy industry next year. I hope those in power have learned
some lessons from California, but the pessimist in me doubts it. Oh yeah, we
have another oil man as guv'nah, Jeb Bush.
But don't take my word for it...
http://www.icta.org/projects/trans/
http://www.rense.com/political/gas.htm
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010509/pl/energy_bush_conservation_dc_1.ht
ml
.....and no muffins thanks, I've just had lunch.
<lurk mode="on">
jj
-----Original Message-----
From: Daye, Marianne [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 2:00 PM
To: CF-Community
Subject: RE: Lightbulb changing, CA style
So which is the cause and which is the effect?
1. Does public transportation require funding via fuel taxes, thereby
making personal transportation unaffordable?
OR
2. Is fuel in such short supply that that fuel prices sky-rocket, thereby
increasing the demand for public transportation?
Given the 400% fuel tax, I suspect the former.
-----Original Message-----
From: Philip Arnold - ASP [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 1:06 PM
To: CF-Community
Subject: RE: Lightbulb changing, CA style
> My sentiments exactly. Except, we were lulled for years and years by
> artificially low fuel prices. So of course instead of adequate transit
> systems, we have highways, so everyone can exercise their inalienable
> God-given right to commute long distances with one person in the vehicle.
> And everyone seems to want an SUV or pickup, which are classed as light
> trucks not cars, so don't have to meet fuel economy rules.
>
> Am I correct that most of your higher price is in taxes, which goes to pay
> for transit etc.?
>From what I remember, our wonderful government takes something like 71p on
every pound on petrol tax... yup, that a 400% tax! And people complain about
other taxation...
If you want figures... http://www.abd.org.uk/taxtable.htm
Philip Arnold
Director
Certified ColdFusion Developer
ASP Multimedia Limited
T: +44 (0)20 8680 1133
"Websites for the real world"
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