Michael Foster wrote:
> solved by rationing. We could encourage the sidelining of gas guzzlers
> by taxing new large vehicles like SUVs. The old ones will wear out in
> time and sideline themselves.
Excuse me while I run outside to wave my little worker's hat and sing
another rousing chorus of the Internationale.
Oh come now. The government has spent the last 50 years subsidizing oil
production, blocking alternative energy, and giving huge tax breaks for
SUVs. Why is it now suddenly Socialism to suggest that the government
stopped tilting the playing field in favor of these technologies and
perhaps do something to discourage them instead?
Look at the history of the LUZ solar-electric power system. It was obvious
all along that the federal government and the government of California were
heavily influenced by fossil fuel producers, and they made it nearly
impossible for LUZ to survive. They forced LUZ to build units much smaller
than the optimum, and they forced them to throw away billions of kilowatt
hours of electricity, by defocussing the collectors. If wind energy makes
did not have a potent lobbying organization and lots of public support,
fossil fuel producers would have crushed them long ago.
We do not have pure unfettered capitalism. No country does, or ever will.
Here in the real world politics always play a role, and government must
pick sides, help the underdog, and see to it that new technologies are
given a fair chance. Capitalism will not work without a strong and active
central government to counterbalance the political and economic power of
the big corporations. Without a strong government we will have Socialism
for the rich and powerful only, and corporate welfare.
- Jed
