tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post7368448295932707143..comments2024-03-28T06:13:48.205-05:00Comments on Althouse: Joel Achenbach wishes he could be "something other than a detestable, oozing, suppurating lesion on the body of civilization."Ann Althousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-32540999197902874812008-12-18T01:01:00.000-06:002008-12-18T01:01:00.000-06:00I second that, AJ Lynch.I second that, AJ Lynch.Freeman Hunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16202310075717963694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-52156425680696546452008-12-17T21:47:00.000-06:002008-12-17T21:47:00.000-06:00Blake just made the smartest comment of the month ...Blake just made the smartest comment of the month IMO!I'm Full of Souphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00241724007440718575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-90686068982121562042008-12-17T20:13:00.000-06:002008-12-17T20:13:00.000-06:00Being anti-power is being anti-human.Efficiency is...Being anti-power is being anti-human.<BR/><BR/>Efficiency is fine. We'll need more power--lots more--if we're going to progress.<BR/><BR/>Conservation is not the answer. It has limited utility in certain circumstances but our survival will depend on us mastering energy levels several magnitudes higher than what we can do now.blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05430444326700437630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-43304114115136192852008-12-17T16:14:00.000-06:002008-12-17T16:14:00.000-06:00No, JAC, it's not "both" as you so flippantly sugg...No, JAC, it's not "both" as you so flippantly suggest, unless you think that being human, in and of itself is evil (which I suspect many environmentalists actually believe). People are not angels, to be sure, but there is a difference between being flawed as all humans are an being evil. <BR/><BR/>Man's attraction to woman (and vice versa) is not evil simply because in some instances it leads to stalking. Similarly, a desire for greater individual power over our surroundings is not "evil" because of how some people go about meeting that desire.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-74448439102442584022008-12-17T15:24:00.000-06:002008-12-17T15:24:00.000-06:00Yes. Definitely a demand for video of any bureacra...<I>Yes. Definitely a demand for video of any bureacratic sap who shows up at DBQ's house to forcibly install GPS</I><BR/><BR/>LOL. Yes, it would be pretty entertaining between myself and my husband who loves his trucks almost as much as he loves me.....or he'd better do so anyway.<BR/><BR/><I>And I'd venture a guess that the purchase of a fuel-efficient used car would be just as easy on the environment as the purchase of a brand-new hybrid...</I><BR/><BR/>This is actually true. The cost to manufacture and the environmental impact of manufacturing a "green" (I hate that term) car is just as great if not more so, because of the batteries, than an efficient standard vehicle. The cost return on saved fuel in buying a "hybrid" would take years and years to recoup the additional costs.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.hybridcars.com/news/hybrid-car-math-german-style.html" REL="nofollow">Here</A> Don't argue with Germans about engineering.<BR/><BR/>Today it has warmed up to about 5 degrees and I'm working from home. Yay, computer commuting. My husband, plumber, is inundated with calls for frozen pipes, frozen well heads and frozen cattle troughs among other things. When it warms up to above freezing then it will be gushing pipes and broken pumps and flooded houses owned by absentee owners who still haven't been able to figure out that water freezes at 32 degrees and you should either blow the water out your pipes i your unoccupied house, put anti freeze in your toilets or turn on your freaking heat. Dumbshits. We have over a foot of frozen snow and another blizzard due tonight with storms expected all weekend. <BR/><BR/>His take on a Prius or other hybrid? "When you can make one that has 4 wheel drive and can haul a backhoe/tractor up a snowed in grade of 6% or one that can carry a load of pipe, tools, welder, generator, fittings and a 5horse ag pump.....then we'll talk."<BR/><BR/>Hybrids and other cars are all good and fine for urban purposes or freeway commuting. I dare you to take one out into a field and haul a ton of hay to a bunch of hungry cattle.<BR/><BR/>The "greenies", by and large live in sheltered urban areas, never far from a Starbucks and have no idea how people outside of their insular bubble actually live or what we need to get by. They want to cram their pet projects and "green" technology down our throats. Sounds good to them in SF.....not so good or practical from where I'm standing.Dust Bunny Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13341429444562280127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-61982274548585793212008-12-17T14:44:00.000-06:002008-12-17T14:44:00.000-06:00The "urge" for power is not a "fundamental evil" o...<I>The "urge" for power is not a "fundamental evil" of human nature as you write. It is the basis of human progress and culture. </I><BR/><BR/>It's both.John Althouse Cohenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11703450281424023177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-15076060352741232432008-12-17T14:34:00.000-06:002008-12-17T14:34:00.000-06:00DBQ:You have to let us know if they ever try and p...<I>DBQ:<BR/><BR/>You have to let us know if they ever try and put a GPS in your vehicles to assess you a new tax.<BR/><BR/>I think we would all like to watch the fireworks as the govt tries to do that. Heh.</I><BR/><BR/>Yes. Definitely a demand for video of any bureacratic sap who shows up at DBQ's house to forcibly install GPS.<BR/><BR/><I>Until there is some logic and rationality to the plan, it is all a freaking shell game that is geared, on purpose, to cripple the Western economies with the help of the useful idiots in the "green" movement.</I><BR/><BR/>I also concur. I don't know why anyone goes along with it.Freeman Hunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16202310075717963694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-58269284021401509632008-12-17T14:13:00.000-06:002008-12-17T14:13:00.000-06:00Until there is some logic and rationality to the p...<I>Until there is some logic and rationality to the plan, it is all a freaking shell game that is geared, on purpose, to cripple the Western economies with the help of the useful idiots in the "green" movement.</I><BR/><BR/>yup. It's no coincidence that the author used the term "all that is wrong with America." Whether he was using it for comic effect or not, that's how most greenies feel.<BR/><BR/>It's the hypocrisy of the "Green Products" industry which I find especially gross. If you are a greenie, go buy your stuff at the Goodwill. Guess what: absolutely NO resources are consumed, NO energy expended in production. But that's no fun! And not chic at all!<BR/><BR/>And I'd venture a guess that the purchase of a fuel-efficient used car would be just as easy on the environment as the purchase of a brand-new hybrid...knoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13231876226573540476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-19894152114803110822008-12-17T13:46:00.000-06:002008-12-17T13:46:00.000-06:00The financial fiascos make it critically important...The financial fiascos make it critically important that public schools, our government and the industries we choose to bailout are economically efficient and competitive. <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately it is way easier to focus our concern and anxiety on the delusion of global warming and just talking about making the country more energy efficient.I'm Full of Souphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00241724007440718575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-84823697442005535082008-12-17T13:39:00.000-06:002008-12-17T13:39:00.000-06:00Actually, I want it so the USA becomes more energy...<I>Actually, I want it so the USA becomes more energy efficient. I don't care what it does as far as AGW goes.</I><BR/><BR/>Actually, me too. As long as it isn't at the expense of the overall economic health of the world and of the people. So far, all the programs are either impractical, cost inefficient or actually damaging to the world's environment. Having people in one country (the US) cut back on their economy and pollution (and I do NOT include C02 as pollution) while doing nothing for other areas of the world in cutting back pollution (India, China, Africa) is foolish.<BR/><BR/>Until there is some logic and rationality to the plan, it is all a freaking shell game that is geared, on purpose, to cripple the Western economies with the help of the useful idiots in the "green" movement.Dust Bunny Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13341429444562280127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-49429115359547292752008-12-17T13:38:00.000-06:002008-12-17T13:38:00.000-06:00Why shouldn't people who consume more and pollute ...<I>Why shouldn't people who consume more and pollute more have to pay more? </I><BR/><BR/>Um, they do now? The more gas I consume, the more tax I pay. The more stuff I buy the more tax I pay. <BR/><BR/><I>Shouldn't actions have consequences?</I><BR/><BR/>But of course they do. See, as someone who drives a SUV, I end up paying more in taxes than you do with your weird looking gas stingey car. I also have a higher car payment than you do and I'm cool with that. <BR/><BR/>If liberals really believed in actions having consequences they'd shun welfare programs and other government programs which supplant personal responsibilty with the Nanny State.Hoosier Daddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12872965118921894534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-66374711238698868452008-12-17T13:35:00.000-06:002008-12-17T13:35:00.000-06:00DBQ:You have to let us know if they ever try and p...DBQ:<BR/><BR/>You have to let us know if they ever try and put a GPS in your vehicles to assess you a new tax.<BR/><BR/>I think we would all like to watch the fireworks as the govt tries to do that. Heh.I'm Full of Souphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00241724007440718575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-32039752118490717692008-12-17T13:33:00.000-06:002008-12-17T13:33:00.000-06:00You want us to pay more than others and subsidize ...<I>You want us to pay more than others and subsidize services that we will never ever use in the name of Global Warming</I><BR/><BR/>Actually, I want it so the USA becomes more energy efficient. I don't care what it does as far as AGW goes.MadisonManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01212179466758420208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-52359671087066702122008-12-17T13:21:00.000-06:002008-12-17T13:21:00.000-06:00A lot of the gas tax we're talking about, here, co...<I>A lot of the gas tax we're talking about, here, could be funneled into mass transit - trains and the like. For the most part, it seems that that would lessen the burden of the less fortunate. There's nothing that says it has to go back into roads.</I><BR/><BR/>Nice idea...except for those of us who drive many miles in the nasty old fly over country areas(and now to be taxed by the mile)where there is NO mass transit...NO public transportation. We are to pay taxes with no return. Seems like there was a revolution or something like that for a similar reason. <BR/><BR/>You want us to pay more than others and subsidize services that we will <B>never ever</B> use in the name of Global Warming, which is basically a political and economic scam.Dust Bunny Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13341429444562280127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-75555935000098303812008-12-17T13:18:00.001-06:002008-12-17T13:18:00.001-06:00A lot of the gas tax we're talking about, here, co...<I>A lot of the gas tax we're talking about, here, could be funneled into mass transit - trains and the like. For the most part, it seems that that would lessen the burden of the less fortunate. There's nothing that says it has to go back into roads.</I><BR/><BR/>Most cities in the US for whom mass transit is feasible already have it. Surburban sprawl precludes mass transit for the rest. If you live in, say, Virginia, it's worth it to drive to the bus stop or metro station, then catch the bus/train into DC. But in even a small-ish city, many people wouldn't put up with the hassle. Mass transit is not a solution for any but a few unique cases.knoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13231876226573540476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-20883349795118733702008-12-17T13:18:00.000-06:002008-12-17T13:18:00.000-06:00For upscale suburban environmentalists, one bonus ...For upscale suburban environmentalists, one bonus is that keeping the price of gas high and the less fortunate dependent up public transportation will also keep the wrong element out of their leafy, bobo enclaves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-2844242343447514462008-12-17T13:13:00.000-06:002008-12-17T13:13:00.000-06:00The logic that the earth warming in the 21st centu...The logic that the earth warming in the 21st century is bad escapes me. The earth has been warming since the Maunder Minimum. The net effect has been a boon for mankind.... Perhaps that's the point; what is good for man is bad for the earth.<BR/><BR/>Of course none of this is really about truth or reality; it's about making shit up to sell copy. And being apocalyptic sells more copy.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450897654318345683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-32789320414973345542008-12-17T13:11:00.000-06:002008-12-17T13:11:00.000-06:00"gas tax ... could go into mass transit to lessen ..."gas tax ... could go into mass transit to lessen the burden of the less fortunate".<BR/><BR/>We already do that to a very large extent. Here in Philly, for every $1 paid by a transit rider, the government pays $2. <BR/><BR/>Simplified using raw data, the SEPTA ass transit system reports it has about 300 million trips per year. The govt forks over about $2 per trip and the average rider reaches in his pocket and pays $1. <BR/><BR/>A buck for a bus ride seems like we have lessened the burden for the less fortnate quite a bit.I'm Full of Souphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00241724007440718575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-66125310145227376842008-12-17T12:58:00.000-06:002008-12-17T12:58:00.000-06:00That attitude allows environmentalists to maintain...<I>That attitude allows environmentalists to maintain their self-regard as humanitarians and champions of the oppressed as they simultaneously enact policies that further burden the plight of the less fortunate.</I><BR/><BR/>A lot of the gas tax we're talking about, here, could be funneled into mass transit - trains and the like. For the most part, it seems that that would lessen the burden of the less fortunate. There's nothing that says it has to go back into roads.kjbehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02205930548533839170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-35638212095570530032008-12-17T12:40:00.000-06:002008-12-17T12:40:00.000-06:00In fact the poles have had ice packs for only 10% ...<I>In fact the poles have had ice packs for only 10% of earth's history.</I><BR/><BR/>Total oversimplification.<BR/><BR/>A more correct statement, from the standpoint of climate forcing, would be: The poles have had landlocked oceans or landmasses that promote Glacier Growth for only 10% of Earth's history.<BR/><BR/>Unless you have a plan to magically move Antarctica, or to open up the Arctic Ocean to adjacent oceans, we're pretty much stuck with the climate forcing (discouting any man-made forcings) we have now.MadisonManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01212179466758420208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-57990325165213274972008-12-17T12:35:00.000-06:002008-12-17T12:35:00.000-06:00It is environmental sinners getting their just des...<I>It is environmental sinners getting their just desserts. </I><BR/><BR/>Why shouldn't people who consume more and pollute more have to pay more? Shouldn't actions have consequences?MadisonManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01212179466758420208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-29452904976357908002008-12-17T12:21:00.000-06:002008-12-17T12:21:00.000-06:00But over the long term ... you'd probably want to ...<I>But over the long term ... you'd probably want to err on the side of assuming that people won't change much. And it is human nature to like to be empowered.</I><BR/><BR/><I>I will suggest this to Obama.</I><BR/><BR/>I wish he would do that. Just leave out the car fantasy in between.Der Hahnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05967487071137862252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-80693903951817940382008-12-17T12:18:00.000-06:002008-12-17T12:18:00.000-06:00Enviros are so serious all the time. It's the new ...<I>Enviros are so serious all the time. It's the new Calvinism.</I><BR/><BR/>I call them the New Puritans. Others are <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Puritans_(movement)" REL="nofollow">using that term</A>. I think I came up with it on my own but I can't remember- I might have seen it somewhere. Don't you hate when that happens?<BR/><BR/>George Carlin had the best response to the "Save the Planet" nonsense. (I'm sure the video's online somewhere.) The planet is in no danger whatsoever and will be here long after we're gone no matter what happens. It's really "Save the People", if you believe we're in a crisis at all.<BR/><BR/>And I think we'd all be better off with a warmer environment, regardless of costs to coastal areas. One theory has it that the medieval warm period was a big factor in the Renaissance- along with the Black Death. In fact the poles have had ice packs for only 10% of earth's history. By that reckoning we're actually in an ice age right now. There's plenty of room higher up the temperature scale.Brian O'Connellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07644163471596001022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-67534953774644133472008-12-17T12:04:00.000-06:002008-12-17T12:04:00.000-06:00knox, you're missing the point. It's not wishing ...knox, you're missing the point. It's not wishing a hardship on other people. It is environmental sinners getting their just desserts. <BR/>That attitude allows environmentalists to maintain their self-regard as humanitarians and champions of the oppressed as they simultaneously enact policies that further burden the plight of the less fortunate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-44381159567532542702008-12-17T11:56:00.000-06:002008-12-17T11:56:00.000-06:00when someone pulls up next to me in my gas-stingy ...<I>when someone pulls up next to me in my gas-stingy weird-looking car, I just think: Thank you for paying more in gas taxes than I do, you idiot.</I><BR/><BR/>I know you meant this with humor--to some extent-- but a lot of people with big gas-guzzlers are either 1. poor 2. old, and committed to their Buicks 3. African-American or 4. some or all of the above.<BR/><BR/>I mean, I live in a part of Knoxville that has a large population of all 4 of these groups. There are more giant Buicks, Grand Marquis, Caddies and Chevy Caprices than you could shake a stick at. Certainly more than there are SUVs.<BR/><BR/>It's a bizarre notion for me, to actually <I>wish</I> for higher gas prices or taxes--I mean, for anyone other than a politician to do so. It's a commodity that we are totally dependent on--especially those who can't walk to work or afford a hybrid. It's like wishing hardship on other people. Yuck.knoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13231876226573540476noreply@blogger.com