Tis The Poaching Season

[vrai_rennx]

Yeah... This was in my pre-hatred of Peta days. It's not the only reason I hate them, not like I was emotionally scarred or anything. I just think they'd make better progress if, instead of banning everyone who doesn't agree with them on every single little poin, they worked together towards what they did agree on, and maybe try to subtly convert me in the process. Not that it'd work, just that it'd prolly be better for their image.

[Undertoad]

Your roads are a lot better than mine man. One of the reasons I went truck this time was that I was dead tired of having my teeth rattled and getting bent rims from potholes.

Of course running low-profile tires and gas shocks/struts to feel more sporty was part of the problem. But what're ya gonna do?

[glatt]

SUVs and trucks are very popular, so you don't make many friends when you complain about them. Part of the problem is that most people get their egos all wrapped up in their cars. A car is a statement, so if I say I don't like your car, it's like saying I don't like you. Which is, of course, untrue. I probably also have my ego wrapped up in my car, but for different reasons.

I hadn't thought about potholes. I can see that as a reason to lean towards getting an SUV, since they have a higher clearance and beefier suspension. But I imagine the wheels of an SUV take the same beating that the wheels of a car take, all things being equal.

The bottom line is I wouldn't support taking SUVs away from people, or banning them. I just don't care for them. I wish there were fewer of them on the road.

[Undertoad]

Two two car solution is my dream G. Now that I have the truck I see how great it is to have one. But I also want something economical. The best answer, it seems to me, is to buy a smallish sedan and also a 10-year-old truck. Drive the car 2/3rds of the time, the truck when conditions are less than ideal and/or things need hauling.

[glatt]

The two car solution is my dream as well. Small car for 98% of our driving, and some sort of large passenger van that has removable seats for hauling stuff or lots of people.

You can only drive one at a time, so you aren't doing any more damage by having two.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

The two car solution is my dream G.

I've been trying to find a way around it but at this point, loading firewood in my Echo seems counter-productive.

[footfootfoot]

Am I too late?

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Am I too late?

You are funny!

[Pangloss62]

I saw that coming...

We pay for every quart of oil that we put into our trucks and SUVs... no one has ever suggested a subsidy to us.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

We pay for every quart of oil that we put into our trucks and SUVs... no one has ever suggested a subsidy to us.

I think it is corporate welfare. I seem to remember a few years back congress giving detroit auto makers about 3 grand for every SUV sold. This is off the top of my head and probably a viscous rumor. Youknow how they start, maybe someone who is more concerned than I may be able to verify this.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

I think it is corporate welfare. I seem to remember a few years back congress giving detroit auto makers about 3 grand for every SUV sold. This is off the top of my head and probably a viscous rumor. Youknow how they start, maybe someone who is more concerned than I may be able to verify this.

I think what you are referring to is a tax break for busnesses to buy trucks, that backfired because most SUVs are classified by the feds as trucks. Many small business owners took advantage to buy new toys and family transportation with a big tax break.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I think what you are referring to is a tax break for busnesses to buy trucks, that backfired because most SUVs are classified by the feds as trucks. Many small business owners took advantage to buy new toys and family transportation with a big tax break.

Yeah, that's the ticket. I did some research and found that out. Then I reminded myself of who told me the original "factoid"/ viscous rumor and realized that I was quoting a notoriously unreliable witness.

I'm gonna stpo reding nwo.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

No, I don't think your proposal is equitable or practical.

But glatt isn't suggesting any new taxes. He's saying that we're already paying for all this, we just don't connect it to the amount of oil that we use. Let's say you were given the option to get a 30% discount on your income taxes, and that money would be added to your gas price instead--so if you don't buy the gas, you pay 30% less taxes. If you do buy it, everything stays the same for you money-wise, but you mentally realize how much money you're paying because of your oil usage.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

But glatt isn't suggesting any new taxes. He's saying that we're already paying for all this, we just don't connect it to the amount of oil that we use. Let's say you were given the option to get a 30% discount on your income taxes, and that money would be added to your gas price instead--so if you don't buy the gas, you pay 30% less taxes. If you do buy it, everything stays the same for you money-wise, but you mentally realize how much money you're paying because of your oil usage.

Thank you. At least someone gets what I'm trying to say.

I realize none of this is ever going to happen, because the accounting is too difficult and it's political suicide for whoever tries to pass the legislation. It would just be nice if we could all make our choices and pay for our own stuff without subsidizing others. Alternative fuels, fuel efficient cars, energy efficient manufacturing processes, etc. could all compete on a level playing field. The market might actually work to help make positive changes.