cneal’s Recent Comments

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  T4America

  You guys should look into - and direct your readers to - the T4America coalition. They're an outgrowth of Smart Growth America with big foundation backing to make sure that the stimulus - and the subsequent Transportation Bill reauthorization - go in more progressive directions.

  Their website is also equipped with action alerts. It's important for legislators to hear from their constituents about these issues - a few letters, phone calls, or e-mails can make a big difference.

  http://t4america.org/

  vigorousnorth.blogspot.com A field guide to the wilderness areas of American inner cities.

  On Stimulus spending going to roads? posted 10 months, 1 week ago 19 Responses

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  BS

  The American auto industry is about as important to our economy today as the ice-harvesting industry was to the economy at the turn of the century. Big and important for the time being, sure, but it's CLEARLY not the future.

  The auto industry needs a shakeup, and to accomplish it, one of the Shrinking Three needs to shut down. This industry doesn't need a bailout. It needs pure capitalism's tough love. Bankruptcy for the most inefficient firms will do more to revive the industry than Congress ever could.

  vigorousnorth.blogspot.com A field guide to the wilderness areas of American inner cities.

  On Automotive industry provides $13 million jobs, generates $10 billion in tax revenue posted 12 months ago 5 Responses

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  Grist needs a "contact your leg" feature

  I wish that Grist had a "Contact your legislator" feature to go along with blog posts like this one. I'd presume that many Grist readers live in districts with Dem representatives; on a relatively obscure appointments issue like this one, a few phone calls from REAL CONSTITUENTS (not lobbyists) could tip the balance for a lawmaker.

  I'll be calling my newly-elected Rep. Chellie Pingree, but I'm only one voice, and Grist could leverage a lot of activism by providing a simple sample letter, a few talking points, and a "Send a letter to your Legislator" form at the bottom of posts like this one.

  Check out DemocracyInAction.org for some good web-based advocacy tools. I use Convio at the nonprofit where I work, which is a similar service, but more expensive and geared towards fund-raising.

  vigorousnorth.blogspot.com A field guide to the wilderness areas of American inner cities.

  On House Dems taking sides in Dingell/Waxman battle over posted 12 months ago 3 Responses

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  "pocketbook issues trump environment"?

  I'm a Portland constituent of both Collins and Allen. I am proud of Susan's record, but I'll probably vote for Allen, to do all that I can to break the Republican deadlock in the Senate.

  Still, I'm disappointed that Tom Allen still can't seem to understand the intimate connections between Mainers' pocketbook issues and our failures in energy and environmental policy. We're a state that's going bankrupt over addiction to oil - thanks to long commutes and long winters.

  Yet when I wrote to Allen earlier this year to ask for his co-sponsorship support for a transit investment bill, he declined, claiming that we lived in a rural state and transit can't help us.

  Maine's transit services are pathetic (largely thanks to conventional wisdom of this sort) but ridership is at all-time highs. People are desperate for solutions, not compartmentalized thinking. Get on the bus, Tom!

  vigorousnorth.blogspot.com A field guide to the wilderness areas of American inner cities.

  On Underdog Tom Allen attempts to unseat GOP incumbent Sen. Susan Collins posted 1 year, 1 month ago 3 Responses

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  Agreed.

  I had the same reaction as G.E. Flat rebates can preserve the right incentives.

  Even if the rebates aren't flat, the utilities themselves are still going to be paying over $5 a ton for credits, which will be a strong incentive to use low-carbon energy sources on the supply side.

  Electricity consumption is relatively price-inelastic - that is, prices (or rebates) generally won't affect consumption that much. But electricity production should be more responsive to changes in the carbon credit market - especially given the rising prices of fossil fuels and the broadening availability of renewables.

  vigorousnorth.blogspot.com A field guide to the wilderness areas of American inner cities.

  On Connecticut wants to hide carbon prices posted 1 year, 4 months ago 4 Responses