<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Drop in U.S. driving last eight months exceeds the 1970s’ total decline]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by amazingdrx http://www.grist.org/article/parking-up-driving-down/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:14:05 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/parking-up-driving-down/1 This proves that reduction targets

Would work to stabilize oil inflation.  This is all without the possible savings of heating oil from conversion to ground source heat pumps.  And solar cogeneration PV/heating.

Did long haul trucks cut their mielage too?  They could with trains hauling more of their longer loads.

And how about the shift to mass transit, car polling, bikes, economy cars, and other conservation measures?  Could these sort of reductions go on for a few years before even beginning widespread use of plugin hybrids?  

Yeah we could get a 15% reduction over 3 years this way, then plugin hybrids could hit mass production and wide availability and keep the roller coaster going downhill, 5% per year reduction year after year.  It's doable.

Would OPEC and big oil be on their knees begging for a break by the end of Obama's first term?  And the term neocon be a dim dark  memory? That would be a shame.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

]]> This proves that reduction targets

Would work to stabilize oil inflation.  This is all without the possible savings of heating oil from conversion to ground source heat pumps.  And solar cogeneration PV/heating.

Did long haul trucks cut their mielage too?  They could with trains hauling more of their longer loads.

And how about the shift to mass transit, car polling, bikes, economy cars, and other conservation measures?  Could these sort of reductions go on for a few years before even beginning widespread use of plugin hybrids?  

Yeah we could get a 15% reduction over 3 years this way, then plugin hybrids could hit mass production and wide availability and keep the roller coaster going downhill, 5% per year reduction year after year.  It's doable.

Would OPEC and big oil be on their knees begging for a break by the end of Obama's first term?  And the term neocon be a dim dark  memory? That would be a shame.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

]]> Comment #2 by greentiger http://www.grist.org/article/parking-up-driving-down/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:52:15 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/parking-up-driving-down/2 on a related note...

Anyone know if any data is available on fuel economy of all vehicles sold this year thus far?  I'd be shocked if it this (half) year's fleet average wasn't a bit higher than last year, but I wonder by how much.

]]> on a related note...

Anyone know if any data is available on fuel economy of all vehicles sold this year thus far?  I'd be shocked if it this (half) year's fleet average wasn't a bit higher than last year, but I wonder by how much.

]]> Comment #3 by wildleaf http://www.grist.org/article/parking-up-driving-down/ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:06:25 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/parking-up-driving-down/3 Forcing people out of their cars sucks

This decline is not a bunch of greenies deciding that for the sake of global warming I am going to drive less. These people were predominantly poor people. At least a million more people are unemployed now then last year. They are stuck in their homes in suburbia unable to leave because fuel costs, no mass transit and no bikes. The poor are being screwed and will continue to be screwed while the rich do alright.

So yes, It is cool that people are driving less by the numbers and I hope it continues, but it absolutely sucks that the people who are driving less are sliding into hopelessness. This is not something to celebrate. Hybrid plug ins are going to make rich Americans able to drive more cheapily, but the poor folk are still going to be screwed. I wonder how many poor people and communities who don't have infrastructure for mass transit or economies to buy fuel efficient vehicles will become ghettos full of crime?

The Black Car Project Killing cars before they kill us!

]]> Forcing people out of their cars sucks

This decline is not a bunch of greenies deciding that for the sake of global warming I am going to drive less. These people were predominantly poor people. At least a million more people are unemployed now then last year. They are stuck in their homes in suburbia unable to leave because fuel costs, no mass transit and no bikes. The poor are being screwed and will continue to be screwed while the rich do alright.

So yes, It is cool that people are driving less by the numbers and I hope it continues, but it absolutely sucks that the people who are driving less are sliding into hopelessness. This is not something to celebrate. Hybrid plug ins are going to make rich Americans able to drive more cheapily, but the poor folk are still going to be screwed. I wonder how many poor people and communities who don't have infrastructure for mass transit or economies to buy fuel efficient vehicles will become ghettos full of crime?

The Black Car Project Killing cars before they kill us!

]]> Comment #4 by amazingdrx http://www.grist.org/article/parking-up-driving-down/ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 05:41:33 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/parking-up-driving-down/4 Rationing

Rationing is fairer to the unemployed.  The really desperate can sell their ration to the rich for a hefty markup on the black market, hehey.

But voluntary reduction is better.  Rationing should be saved for war or storm emergency supply interuption.

But it is a sort of economic "stick"  (as in TR's prescription to "speak softly but carry a big stick") to keep on call in case of emergency.  OPEC has the supply levrage, so we need demand recution leverage.

Besides which, just the insurance mechanism of rationing, and gradual voluntary reduction, will stop oil inflation.  Srengthening the dolloar which further fights inflation.  With economic confidence restored that can take us out of recession and get those suffering from unemployment, back working again.  

Then the investment and employment boom spurred by renewable/ conservation energy and ag policy can take off.  

Or would it be better to whine and drill, drill, drill...  rather sell the rest of the oil leases into monopoly control and hope they lower oil prices.  I know it's fun to whine.  Ok vote for mcBush then.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

]]> Rationing

Rationing is fairer to the unemployed.  The really desperate can sell their ration to the rich for a hefty markup on the black market, hehey.

But voluntary reduction is better.  Rationing should be saved for war or storm emergency supply interuption.

But it is a sort of economic "stick"  (as in TR's prescription to "speak softly but carry a big stick") to keep on call in case of emergency.  OPEC has the supply levrage, so we need demand recution leverage.

Besides which, just the insurance mechanism of rationing, and gradual voluntary reduction, will stop oil inflation.  Srengthening the dolloar which further fights inflation.  With economic confidence restored that can take us out of recession and get those suffering from unemployment, back working again.  

Then the investment and employment boom spurred by renewable/ conservation energy and ag policy can take off.  

Or would it be better to whine and drill, drill, drill...  rather sell the rest of the oil leases into monopoly control and hope they lower oil prices.  I know it's fun to whine.  Ok vote for mcBush then.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

]]> Comment #5 by Wolverine http://www.grist.org/article/parking-up-driving-down/ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:01:11 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/parking-up-driving-down/5 Forcing People Out Of Cars

Wildleaf,

While I share your attitude that I'd much rather have the rich forced out of cars than the poor, and I'd rather have everyone forced out of them in the best case, the poor will always bear the brunt of whatever sacrifices a society makes and whatever problems it has, because they're the most powerless.  And it doesn't matter to the Earth who drives, just that less oil is being consumed and burned.

]]> Forcing People Out Of Cars

Wildleaf,

While I share your attitude that I'd much rather have the rich forced out of cars than the poor, and I'd rather have everyone forced out of them in the best case, the poor will always bear the brunt of whatever sacrifices a society makes and whatever problems it has, because they're the most powerless.  And it doesn't matter to the Earth who drives, just that less oil is being consumed and burned.

]]> Comment #6 by amazingdrx http://www.grist.org/article/parking-up-driving-down/ Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:56:43 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/parking-up-driving-down/6 Oil monopoly forcefull

That is the source of the force, the auto industry/oil industry lobby that fights every attempt to reduce oil consumption.

Forcing disaster on the climate, economy, and nations targeted for oil war.

The non-violent method to counter that force?  An oil demand reduction plan using conservation and a transition to renewable electric powered transportation and heating.

Zero oil use, gradually decreasing over 20 years is possible.  With job, manufacturing, and tax base rejuventating results.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

]]> Oil monopoly forcefull

That is the source of the force, the auto industry/oil industry lobby that fights every attempt to reduce oil consumption.

Forcing disaster on the climate, economy, and nations targeted for oil war.

The non-violent method to counter that force?  An oil demand reduction plan using conservation and a transition to renewable electric powered transportation and heating.

Zero oil use, gradually decreasing over 20 years is possible.  With job, manufacturing, and tax base rejuventating results.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

]]>