From: Steve Grammont (islander@midmaine.com)
Date: Mon Feb 18 2002 - 09:08:39 PST
Rick,
>The problem is that the general populace is being used as a an excuse to
>reach emissions reduction targets set by the government. Under government
>programs a corporation can purchase a bunch of hulks get them crushed and
>then use those credits to offset requirements to upgrade there plants and
>industries which are polluting worse then the cars they scapped.
Agreed. Money makes the world go round, and it also makes legislators
put in all sorts of counter productive exemptions and loopholes.
>Additionally they can trade those credits with other companies and if
>they do something for a developing country take those credits against
>stuff they have to do in the US.
Yup, more money well spent by Big Industry. Amazing what a slimy guy in
a $1000 suit can achieve over a glass of whisky on the rocks with our
elected officials.
>President Bush refused to implement the Kyoto protocol which called for
>major reductions in emissions to combat global warming. His excuse was
>the impact on the economy.
Which is the excuse always used by our elected officials. Around in my
area the big polluters of the environment were coddled and defended at
the expense of the health and quality of life of the people who live,
work, and visit here. Then, after all this coddling, the companies
packed up and moved to Puerto Rico, Mexico, China, and other Asian
nations. Leaving, of course, the local people and Federal Government to
pick up the tab for the mess. So bad, in fact, that an entire town's
center was removed in one of the biggest and most costliest Super Fund
cleanups since its inception.
>Unfortunatley the one problem we seem to be unable to solve is the issue
>of overpopulation. For all the lives we save due to all our good
>intentions we are running out of space for people.
Totally agree, but there is no solution to this except enforced
sterilization world wide. Ironically, apparently nature is trying to do
that as world wide male sperm counts are declining rapidly. Which
developing nations are fighting tooth and nail, of course.
Steve
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