My own interpretation of "85% feel strongly that the government should do something about it" is not that it is "Somebody Else's Problem", but that in order for anything to be done about it, stronger regulations need to be put in place. Until the government (that we vote into office) decides to impose stricter regulations on things like emission standards for automobiles and factories, energy efficiencies of home appliances, etc., the designers of the products we buy have very little incentive to put money towards development of more efficient technologies. Our corporations focus their "development" on providing bells and whistles to lure in the attentions of the public while accepting money from "contributors" like Exxon.
What was it that decreased the levels of pollutants in our air and water in the latter half of the last century? Government regulations. As long as our government is taking kick-backs from industry and oil gurus, instead of focusing on the health of our places and people, we'll just keep slipping backwards. The bottom line for manufacturers is money-- always has been and always will be. We need there to be financial incentives for developing new, more efficient technologies-- but also to bring them to market at competitive prices so that consumers will have the choice. They will NOT do it voluntarily if there's nothing in it for them. Has anyone kept track of all of the changes in allowed levels of water and air pollutants over the tenure of our current administration? I'd love to see them all listed in one place... Carrie DeJaco David Bryant wrote: > Bill and Maiken, > > I recently read an editorial regarding public perception of global > warming stating that the majority of Americans now believe that > global warming is real and that 85% feel strongly that the government > should do something about it. > > So this begs the questions: A) Who do we think is responsible for > fossil fuel consumption? and B) Who do we think the government is? > >
