A Nation of "Energy Saving Shower Head" Users

Jan 23 13:37 UTC 1995

We are in sorry shape when people think they're doing something meaningful
to save energy and clean up the environment by such miniscule efforts as
using energy saving shower heads and "miser" light bulbs, while they continue
to cruise around in the biggest waste of energy, the individual automobile.
In addition to being a scourge on the environment, the automobile is ruining
the soul of America, destroying community by isolating us behind power door
locks and air conditioners with closed windows.  It is culturally ugly. (See
Enviro Item #7, "The Similarity Between the tomobile and Television).  It
builds a culture of selfishness and privatism.  It is used as a ego and status
builder by people who have no clue as to what real worth is.  If a dumb
high school dropout auto worker who does work that can be performed by a 
trained monkey can afford a new Ford Bronco, of what significance or value is
it.
Oil is one of the world's most valuble assets, and it is extremely undervalue
d in monetary terms today.  It take 10 million years to make it, and we are
squandering an eon's supply in 100 years.  Rather than in energy production,
the real  value of oil lies in its use for chemical feedstocks, making a wide
variety of useful products including plastics.  Plastics may not seem that
impressive to you, but they have become extremely strong and versitile while
remaining cheap.  Are we to deprive our children and grandchildren of "the
good life," a comfortable and non-tedious life for our own indolence?
Dependency on the automobile is an economic disaster.  The U.S. is making 
gains in productivity while the developing nations are experiencing raises
in the standard (and cost) of living.  We are at a point where we could regain
some of the jobs previously exported, if only we could reduce our cost of 
living.  The automobile is an extremely expensive form of transportation, and
I you say, I can afford it, I'm a free American, leave me alone, you must 
remember that the rest of society pays for your lifestyle.  Your demands for
pay are reflected in increase in the prices for goods and services we all pay.
You scream for tax breaks.  Give yourself a break and take the bus: You'll 
have money in the bank and society will have more investment capital.
This becomes even more important when it comes to creating jobs for the 
unemployed and giving people an option other than turning to crime.  Those
jobs we can repatriate will pay $8. an hour which is not that much if you 
have to pay rent.  In Chicago, a bus pass is only $73. a month, unlimited
ridership in city and suburbs, except Metra commuter rail to the distant 
suburbs.  F
Figure it out, folks, what kind of nation are we, and what kind do we want
to be?

response 2 of 398:

Jan 23 18:06 UTC 1995

No, it can't: the rest of the world will catch up.

response 4 of 398:

Jan 23 18:56 UTC 1995

No doubt true.  If they could, they would, though, I bet.

response 6 of 398:

Jan 30 01:16 UTC 1995

Uh... okay, first off I take the bus every where I go that isn't within walking
distance (walking distance seems to become shorter as the winter progresses ;))
, I could afford a car, but I don't want one, too much trouble, and I really 
don't like them (not the one's we have anyway.)  Now, with that out of the way
I would like to respond to the last portion of your statement.  I take a little
offense at the seemingly holier-than-thou attitude that your taking.  Of course
I could be misunderstanding you, and please tell me if I am, but I don't think
that we are any less real just because of where we live.  I have been to Chic-
ago, visting family, and aside from it's size in terms of people and business
(and crime for that matter) I don't it being any different.  Life is what you
make of it, not where.  We *are* real people here.  And besides, if it's so
real and all that over there, why are you sitting in front of a computer at 
6:00 in the evening?

response 8 of 398:

Jan 31 04:41 UTC 1995

A few points:

1) I lived in Toronto for eleven years. It was great to live in a city where
   you can go anywhere by public transit -- bus and subway. However, the car
   is still better.

2) I will continue to drive my new Jeep which gets only 17 MPG until the
   government raises prices at the gas pump. I work hard and I have the
   right to drive whatever the hell I can *afford* to drive. If the 
   government thinks the American people are using too much gas, the 
   government can raise gasoline taxes and lower some other taxes in return.

3) The government can raise CAFE standards. The government can implement 
   harsher "gas-guzzler" taxes (with equal tax cuts elsewhere). People should
   be able to drive whatever they can afford to drive. The only barrier to
   automobile transportation should be economic, not moral. 

4) I agree with some of Bill's premises -- primiarily that petroleum is
   monetarily undervalued. The proper thing to do is to raise gasoline taxes
   while lowering other taxes. This implements a free-market, hands-off 
   limiter to how much oil Americans use. It's natural. Poor people can use
   public transit while wealthy people have the option of driving whatever
   the hell they want, whenever they want. That is the American way. As a
   matter of fact, if gasoline where $5+ per gallon like it is in Europe,
   you'll see a huge jump in the number of people using public transit and
   car-poolers. 

response 10 of 398:

Jan 31 08:02 UTC 1995

I also agree. I think the solution is to raise gas taxes by an order of
magnitude. When gas costs $3.00 to $5.00 a gallon, you *will* see it's
use go *way* down. I also agree with the original article, the *chemical*
store house in all the world's oil is of much greater significance than
it's energy value, and we're squandering that.

response 14 of 398:

Jan 31 22:33 UTC 1995

Re:#13,  #1: Definately.  Even in cities like Chicago, which has *excellant*
pub trans, it's basically 1920s technology, on a like it or lump it basis.
Go to the more distant suburbs, and it's pretty thin, except the commuter 
rail, radially oriented into the city downtown.  Go to the Detroit suburbs,
it's worse than non-existant.  Ann Arbor Trans Auth buses have such long
headways (times between buses) that it can take double or triple the time as 
by car.  It doesn't have to be that way.  I've had schemes for 25 years that
are faster and more convenient than the car.  In that last few years I'm been
writing various transit planners around the country, and I think they're 
starting to bubble up to the surface.
See tomorrow's Free Press.
#2: I wrote too much, #2's gone from my screen, & i'm so tired i can't remember
- will reply later.
#3: You don't need to be a rocket scientist to be able to figure out that 
we're ruining our environment and depleting our oil stocks and spending way
too much on transportation as a % of our living expense.  The problem is
that the media's biggest advertisers are car manufacturers, and they sell
the automotive idiot's dream of happiness 24 hours a day.  Most people 
reading this have never lived w/o a car, and think public transportation is
only for the poor.  That's why I suggested at the beginning of this Item that
they should leave their car & TV behind, and go live in Chicago (or Boston,
Seattle, or SanFrancisco, not NY, I'd never want to subject anyone to that
zoo).  It'll clear up your acne and headaches!
If you don't believe the automobile is poisoning the atmosphere, consider 
this: in the past 10 years, the incidence of asthma (from which I suffer) has
gone up 42%.

response 16 of 398:

Feb 1 04:47 UTC 1995

#11: You're gaining some sense. :-) 

#12: Public transit will "magically" appear once gasoline is $3-$5 like
     Greg mentioned. The gas tax will fund tax reductions elsewhere. It's
     futile to subsidize public transportation when gas prices are $1.00.
     The government is spinning its tires, so to speak. 

#13: Population growth is the single greatest problem facing humanity today.
     Because of ignorance and brain-washing by the Catholic church, nothing
     is being done. I don't bother worrying about population-growth anymore
     because there are too many stupid and ignorant people on earth for
     anything significant to be done. I'll just enjoy myself while I live.

#15: I recycle because it takes little more effort and time than not 
     recycling. I don't litter because it takes little more effort and time
     to dispose of trash properly. 

     I am not going to take the AATA to work (probably over 1 hour) while
     I can drive anytime in 15 minutes. My doing so will benefit nobody. 
     That's a difference of probably 1.5 to 2 hours a da. My time is worth
     at least $50/hr. Gasoline would have to be at about $50/gallon before
     I start taking public transportation to work. For those whose time is
     worth $5/hour, public transportation would be worth their while. 

     The smart society would price gasoline appropriately to start weeding
     people out economically for public transportation. The crude society
     (sorry for the pun) would do nothing and let the extreme environmentalists
     make us feel guilty. No can do. I absolutely refuse -- out of principle
     and out of pure stubborness -- to be strongarmed into abandoning my
     vehicle for anything but economic reasons.

response 18 of 398:

Feb 1 06:16 UTC 1995

<sigh>
I wish I could stop driving.  I try to avoid it as much as I can by
walking or biking whenever that's feasable.  Unfortunately, I still end up
putting in a few hundred miles per week in the car, including a weekly 80
mile round trip to Detroit.  If we had a good public transportation system
I would be able to greatly reduce my car use.  I'd love to be able to
support a gas tax increase, but without a good public transportation
system I just can't afford it.

response 20 of 398:

Feb 1 06:30 UTC 1995

I am not an environmental extremist.  Americarians are just extremely
irresponsible and indolent.  You, rogue, are soulless, putting in down
to an economic matter.  I'm sure you earn $50./hour ripping people off.
Chicago Taxi Willie

response 22 of 398:

Feb 1 12:55 UTC 1995

The #1 reason to use the entergy saving appliances, showerheads, compact
flourescents, etc. is to save $$$$, and incidentally slightly reduce you
long term environmental impact.  Most "green" thingy-bobs pay back in your
electric bill in a year or so, or water, or new incandescent bulbs that burn
out faster.  
I also occasionally ride the bus to work; it takes 30 minutes instead of 15
driving, and sometimes the downtown connection misses, but it is really 
useful to *know* how to ride the bus.  One morning my car didn't start;
and I knew exactly where&when to catch the bus and still get to work.  Last
night my dad's car died so today he has mine while I ride the bus...which
I would not have even thought of previously.

response 24 of 398:

Feb 1 19:03 UTC 1995

It's unfortunate that such a gigantic majority never experience mass transit in
any form.  People just continue to become more isolated ... sad, & frightening!