Autoweek article of 54.5 mpg

[linklaw]

Pilot. If you are so fed up, why don't you move to a country where there are no taxes and the only function carried out by the government is maintaining the military? There are several countries that fit this description, where the free market rules, completely unfettered by government intervention. Somalia comes to mind. That's the great thing about the United States, nobody is forcing you to stay! Just think, you can probably even watch FOX news on the internet in Somalia and laugh at the rest of us still suffering here in the good old U S of A. You can be driving an armored Humvee that gets 4 miles to the gallon and the government won't force you into a vehicle that gets better gas mileage. When you decide to go, just let me know and I'll pitch in for your plane ticket.

[Pilot2519j]

Originally Posted by linklaw

Pilot. If you are so fed up, why don't you move to a country where there are no taxes and the only function carried out by the government is maintaining the military? There are several countries that fit this description, where the free market rules, completely unfettered by government intervention. Somalia comes to mind. That's the great thing about the United States, nobody is forcing you to stay! Just think, you can probably even watch FOX news on the internet in Somalia and laugh at the rest of us still suffering here in the good old U S of A. You can be driving an armored Humvee that gets 4 miles to the gallon and the government won't force you into a vehicle that gets better gas mileage. When you decide to go, just let me know and I'll pitch in for your plane ticket.

I once wrote an editorial on Newsday about a teacher who got involved in denouncing an illegal alien family. I received the same lame response from someone that did not have the cojones to write his name down. His little rant was that I protested too much. The point of my argument was the fact his job is to educate not to be the immigration services. I ended the article that maybe this teacher-INS agent in disguised would have done the same if it was an Irish family blonde with blue eyes? For your information I do watch Fox, read the NY Times, leftist rag whose mantra is all the news worth printing for our liberal viewpoint and if not will fabricate them, Wall Street Journal, and also listen to NPR to see what the left is spinning. I am also an engineer and had my own business. Im not going to insult you because I have much better manners and if you don't agree I suggest you do as educated people do rather than sending me to Somalia. Man you could have sent me to Europe where the cars still do 200 mph in the Autobahn or Monaco a tax sheltered so let me know if that offer is still open I want to see the Grand Prix of Monaco in July on your dime.

[pothole]

I'm not sure what I think about this idea, but I would certainly say you're living in a fantasy land if you think government regulation isn't necessary. Corporations generally operate with a view to short and at best medium term profitability.

It takes regulation to force them into longer term views and the behaviours that go along with that.

It's government regulation, for instance, that stops corporations from disposing of toxic waste into the sources of your drinking water or from buying the house next to yours and turning it into a noisy, dirty, smelly factory.

So let's be honest about this. It's not government interference per se that's the issue here. You just don't think having more efficient and cleaner cars is terribly desirable. If you did, you'd be all for it, just like you're all for the government regulations that stop prostitutes walking up and down near your home looking for customers.

[Pilot2519j]

Originally Posted by pothole

I'm not sure what I think about this idea, but I would certainly say you're living in a fantasy land if you think government regulation isn't necessary. Corporations generally operate with a view to short and at best medium term profitability.

It takes regulation to force them into longer term views and the behaviours that go along with that.

It's government regulation, for instance, that stops corporations from disposing of toxic waste into the sources of your drinking water or from buying the house next to yours and turning it into a noisy, dirty, smelly factory.

So let's be honest about this. It's not government interference per se that's the issue here. You just don't think having more efficient and cleaner cars is terribly desirable. If you did, you'd be all for it, just like you're all for the government regulations that stop prostitutes walking up and down near your home looking for customers.

I would add pothole repairs for another thing that government can do. Corporations create wealth and jobs government create programs and taxes. In what I am arguing against is that we have an agency EPA of unelected officials telling us what car we will all drive. So much for choice.I could do without the prostitute near my house and the toxic waste since you are making this personal.
The market forces will dictate the size and economy of cars. Plenty of Prius out there for those who want that vehicle. Last point I live in NY where we are taxed to the hilt and that is the reality. Your insinuation of living in fantasy is sophomoric and condescending also, I am not a racist as one looney called me. I am from Cuba and I have called many a times a spic by both whites and blacks. I have no problem with them their racist slurs are a disease from here.