SOV countdown

But I (and millions of freedom loving Americans) already have an investment in our vehicles. Many run just fine. And let's not forget that late model vehicles are far more energy efficient and far less polluting than those of decades past. Would you propose we send them all to the scrapyard and buy hybrids? How would you treat conventional cars that get over 30 MPG? Trash 'em all and buy hybrids (at 20%+ higher price)? Now that really makes sense! NOT!

Like I said, small changes, baby steps, at a measured pace, over time will be successful in making a real lasting positive impact. Did you know it takes the distance of 1.5 miles for an aircraft carrier to exeucte a 90% turn?

quote:

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Originally posted by raymond
[br] I'll go back to the PMPG arguments of previous posts and ask you to prove that even the ecological claims you make with a hybrid cannot be matched on a Passenger Miles Per Gallon basis with a frugal normal car driver.

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Speaking of which, does YOUR car get better miles per gallon at 40 mph or 60 mph?

So far so good, Einstein.

But it is not that I believe there is no one simple solution to our complex problems, this is a fact. You have provided examples of radical solutions and Webster defined it for us. Look it up under "radical," as in "radical social change," you'll find "carried to the farthest limit, extreme, sweeping," "revolutionary changes," or "One who advocates soicial revolution." Are you proposing social revolution? Here iti is used in a sentence, "Suicide is a radical and permenant solution to temporary problems." Our probelms are many, and complex. Your radical solution proposals take a narrow prespective and address an ego-centric view of what is best for society, namely what is best for you.

Anyone who knows anything about change management knows that in order for changes to be effective, they must take place in planned, predictable and measured steps. Mandating public transportation, forcing the commuting public to pay 10 - 20% or more for their vehicles, kicking carpoolers out of the back seat to make way for nearly empty hybrids, is not only poor change management, its absurd!

Carpooling solves many problems! That's self-explanatory but I'll elaborate; It takes vehicles off the road, it reduces fuel consumption, it reduces traffic congestion, it reduces pollution, it makes better use of existing investments in our chosen method of transportation, it is easy, it requires small changes in our habits, its voluntary, it promotes friendliness/sharing/positive relationships, it feels good. How many reasons do you need?

I will not accept your proposal that I can buy my way out of our society's problems. The net long-term benefits of hybrid technology are still unproven, its application as a solution to our many problems is still debatable, and the sources that advocate it are dubious. The only clear winner with hybrids are the manufacturers. Can you say that your vehicle ownership costs are less with a hybrid than with a comparable car? Can you say that your SOV hybrid contributes to reduced traffic congestion? I'll go back to the PMPG arguments of previous posts and ask you to prove that even the ecological claims you make with a hybrid cannot be matched on a Passenger Miles Per Gallon basis with a frugal normal car driver.

There are many qualitative reasons why commuting in cars is "better" than commuting via mass transit, not to mention the individual needs of many commuters who have transportation needs that do not fit a bus schedule. And I won't even attack the smog spewing half-full busses that clog up the HOV lanes. I'm usually HOV 4 commuting when I see that!

Got it?!

Great post, Raymond.

Couldn't have said it better myself