Peter Vevang is mistaken in quoting Loki Anderson. Mr. Anderson inexplicably reposted Gary Hoover's post in it's entirety twice with no additional commentary. I agree with Vevang that supporting farmers going into ethanol is important and the right thing to do, but add that we may have passed the point where any subsidy makes sense for E-85, i.e., the new industry may be at the point where it can survive on its own in competing with conventional gasoline blends with petroleum or ethanol based oxidizers. I disagree with Vevang and Hoover that we need a "sustained political effort" to bring about sustainability or that the present regulatory structures for development and redevelopment somehow perpetuate unsustainable construction. Unquestionably, codes and practices must be and have been tweaked to accommodate new technology as it has been again and again since the "1940's" and will continue to adapt, but what will drive sustainable practices in the construction and energy industries is demand. Demand, demand, demand sustainability and don't settle for anything but and we will see change in these industries. Government can be increasingly restrictive in dictating sustainable practices in any industry, but as Vevang points out there is money to be made. There is probably tax revenue to be lost in micromanaging any particular industry from City Hall. Of course, guidelines are a different story and if one wishes to apply pressure, this is the way to go, they way we have gone. As far as sustainable lifeways go, try parking your cars and place an immediate demand on the Met. Council to improve mass transit. Shop locally and work for transit oriented businesses. The way to put the screws on the big wheels of industry is to demand that they serve you in sustainable ways: write letters, make different choices, give some things up.
As far as David Shove's contribution to the thread (like my own, it is plain to see the great value of most posts from Shove through careful reading), Greens are powerless for a reason; a reason that I pointed out and a sore spot as Shove's post attests: most of them left the Democratic Party in frustration to bring about the changes that many of us want, and they lost any chance of success in doing so. They weaken the position of any sustainability minded Democrats, Republicans, or Independents; and the Cassandra-like whining actually undermines any hope of bringing needed change. I don't recall or accept the premise that I said any particular evil, aside from undermined environmental protections, has been brought about by Greens; I'm content to lay any blame for evil on the human species as a whole, but tempted to lay it pretty thick on certain scribes in Roseville or other suburbs further out. Bill Kahn sustaining myself BAP in Prospect Park REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
