Posted by Bob Thompson on Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 9:45PM :
In Reply to: Norm, what is your evidence? posted by Eric B. on Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 9:09PM :
The reason we are just now getting more fuel efficient SUV's (More efficient than just setting fire to an oil well) Is that business hasn't figured out how to make a buck on it. Once they figure how to advertise it and make a handsome profit, we'll see 25mpg Pickups and 50mpg sedans as regular products. The American public needs a lot of time to accept the Idea of conservation. Lee Iacoca's career took a major hit a few decades ago . He suggested that a major automaker start a Re-Man program for autos. Presumably to preserve raw resources. It wasn't well received and he almost left the industry .
It's going to get worse before it gets better. The American public is going to have to adjust to the notion of driving the vehicle they need and not the one they want.
As long as consumerism drives our economy Big Oil and Madison avenue are in the drivers seat.
The country that develops a clean cheap energy source first will rule this century and shape the rest of this millennium. I hope it's somebody who likes us, because we don't appear to be looking very hard.
By the way, I don't have a viable alternative to a consumer based economy. It's just an observation.
Meanwhile I try not to litter or waste water or resources. And I resist the urge to throttle the pinhead in the H2 that so regularly cuts me off so that he/she can be one more car-length closer to wherever they are driving that behemoth.
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