Only obstinate diehards continue to debate the threat of climate change and global warming. I, too, understand the argument that our planet has historically moved through periods of cooling and warming, but only the blatantly unscientific continue to argue against the truth that the industrial emmissions of greenhouse gases have significantly—and frighteningly—accelerated the process in unprecedented ways.
The latest round of reports is citing emissions as a culprit that can be quickly turned around. More to the point, automobile emissions can be drastically reduced—today! Record high gasoline prices not that long ago started people to thinking about better miles per gallon from their vehicle, but that abated as soon as the prices started coming down. The virtue of hybrids is not only their exceptionally high m.p.g. but their ultra low emissions!
We Americans are such a litigious lot that the only solution we can think of sometimes is to make something—like gas-guzzling SUVs—illegal. Surely we’ve been at it long enough to realize that we cannot legislate morality, or even common sense. We are a greedy people, and it is time to effectively utilize that greed to the common good. Therefore, President Obama, I propose that instead of investing billions in auto companies like GM that weren’t smart enough to see the handwriting on the wall, those monies need to be redirected as subsidies for hybrid engines that already save gas and the atmosphere.
Initiate a program whereby the government picks up 50 – 75% of the tab for a new Prius, and watch just how quickly Americans will change their thinking about how stupid it is to drive an Escalade. There won’t be any more spent than is currently going to the bailout of GM and Chrysler (and Ford still needs to be held accountable), and we will reduce gasoline consumption and emissions all at the same time. Cash for clunkers? I think not! Let’s put our money where it’s going to do the most good for everyone! (See Prius Privleges 04/01/08)
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