Mike Carrell writes: >I have read that many states have used the compensation from tobacco >companies not to help those with lung disease, not in anti-smoking campaigns >aimed at kids, but as supplements to the general revenue . . .
That is a shame, but as long as the huge payments drive up the price of smoking the goal is accomplished. Cigarettes are now far more expensive relative to other goods than they used to be. >Some time ago California tried to legislate the laws of physics by demanding >electric or high mileage cars. There is even a movie about the death of the >electric car ignoring the state of available technology. This is contradictory. Since there were such cars, at worst California tried to legislate the laws of economics. >In the US, who will give up air conditioning and winter heat to get true >high gas mileage? The Prius has a highly efficient air conditioner that makes no measurable reduction to gas mileage. Winter heating in any car is done with waste heat from the engine so this costs nothing. In other words, with good technology you sacrifice nothing; you have your cake and eat it too. As one energy expert remarked, "compact flourescent lights are not a free lunch, they are lunch you are paid to eat." - Jed
