Global Warming

[Paul Cherubini]

Patrick Foley wrote:

> But I will vote for
> higher energy taxes, family planning, international cooperation and
> environmental protection. Will you?

Not likely. I feel there is already too much waste and inefficiency
in government programs to justify even more taxes.  Take the issue
of food labeling. Countless millions of dollars have been spent by 
food companies over the years to meet the government requirement
to provide labels that provide standardized health and nutrition information.
But did this government requirement really benefit public health?  Not really, 
because the labels misled the public into thinking low fat diet 
foods were healthy when in reality they were loaded with trans fats that 
aggravated blood cholesterol levels the same or more than saturated animal
fat. And despite all  the money spent on labeling, people are fatter than ever.

Or take the issue of automotive air pollution.  Taxpayer dollars support
big government bureacracies like the California Air Resources Board
which has always focused its efforts on new car emission standards while
largely ignoring the real underlying cause of serious air pollution: improperly
tuned and maintained existing cars with about 75,000 miles or more.
The auto emission standards in place 28 years ago would be adequate to 
eliminate serious air pollution, because a properly tuned 1975 automobile 
with a fresh catalytic converter puts out near zero hydrocarbon and carbon 
monoxide emissions*. So instead of creating a bureacracy staffed with 
6 figure administrators, taxpayers dollars could have been more directly 
spent on air pollution solutions like a subsidy to car makers who could offer 
car owners free tune ups after the first 75,000 miles plus a new catalytic 
converter if needed to maintain near zero emissions.

Paul

*In case you don't believe this claim, here is a photo of a smog test
I had done on a 1976 Toyota pickup with 148,000 miles and 
a fairly new catalytic converter -
zero detectable HC and CO emissions in the 2500 rpm test!
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/20rsmog.jpg

 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl