Comments

• Bush, the global warming president mulp on 07/11/2008 at 2:12 AM

  Posts: 5 Avg Rating:

  Just think how Al Gore's call for a 50 cent carbon tax was universally denounced and rejected.  Bush has given us at least a $2.50 a gallon carbon tax, and did so with very strong conservative support, and conservatives are supporting Bush's efforts to raise the carbon tax to $3, $4, maybe $7 a gallon, with ratcheting up of threats of war with Iran. And war with Iran might increase the Bush carbon tax to $10 to $20 a gallon!  The action to address global warming would be dramatic. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• 	"At last, high prices have convinced people to drive less." tomaq on 07/11/2008 at 9:34 AM
  Posts: 2 Avg Rating:	Some people are driving less but for many, old habits die hard.  Maybe when drivers stop leaving the engine running while they run into dunkin donuts we'll have reached a tipping point... Rate this comment: (Reply)

• 	Bush the conservation president Infogleaner on 07/11/2008 at 3:17 PM
  Posts: 2 Avg Rating:	Interesting that Bush will go down in history for doing more to eliminate the internal combustion engine than (the real president) Gore ever did. It is further interesting that market forces are driving the change faster than laws being made to do the same thing. Rate this comment: (Reply)

  • 	Re: Bush the conservation president omegaman66 on 07/11/2008 at 9:06 PM
    Posts: 1 Avg Rating:	Wow I knew the President had a lot of power but I didn't realize that Bush had the ability to increase demand for Oil in India and China.  Bush couldn't even get closed areas in the USA open to drilling thanks to the Democrats yet he is getting the blame for world wide supply exceeding demand. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• Presidential Lightning Rod mkogrady on 07/14/2008 at 12:02 PM

  Posts: 106 Avg Rating:

  Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Carter - NONE OF THESE GUYS ARE AT FAULT. We are! To make matters worse, we voted them in too and never willingly wanted them to change anything on our behalf! These presidents allowed us to spend freely and never developed any real conservation laws to protect us and future genrations. Maybe this time we'll see real policy changes. BTW - most of us posting here have Internet Access - JUST TELECOMMUTE MORE, and tell your buddies and kids to do the same! Rate this comment: (Reply)

• Spend less on gas just by changing your habits. powdermilk on 07/14/2008 at 6:52 PM

  Posts: 2 Avg Rating:

  First, don't buy a new car just for the better gas mileage.   I've done a calculation to figure out how many miles I would have to drive at current gas prices before I saw a cost savings.   If I were to trade in my Volvo (20 mpg) and buy a Prius (50 mpg), assuming a total outlay of $24,000, with gas prices locally at about $4.70 a gallon, I'd have to drive about 166,000 miles before this would save money.  This doesn't even take into account the fuel and carbon cost to produce a new car.  Even if gas prices were to double in the next year, I'd still have to drive about 55,000 miles before seeing any savings. You could nearly halve your fuel costs by carpooling with only one person. This all but wipes out the year's gains in fuel costs.   I know, a lot of people don't have that option, but I bet most do. You could get 10-20% better gas efficiency by accelerating and driving more slowly.   I was getting less than 19 mpg and now I'm getting nearly 21.  For all but long road trips, speeding isn't going to save you more than a few minutes, if that.   Other drivers may be annoyed at me for doing 55-60 in a 65 zone, but my fuel cost equivalent is 40 cents a gallon less.  This is something everyone can do, even those who have to drive alone. Rate this comment: (Reply)

  • Re: Spend less on gas just by changing your habits. mkogrady on 07/15/2008 at 7:55 AM

    Posts: 106 Avg Rating:

    Rather than buying new, just convert that Volvo to a Flex fuel vehicle for about $700(convert2E85.com) and then use subsidized ethanol to reduce your driving costs a bit. The other $23300 you save over the Prius - use some to buy an E-bike or something for those short trips around the neighborhood. Remember, all the US has to be able to do is ride out the next few years till mass produced cheap cellulosic ethanol is available. Your Volvo will be ready to roll and you can reinvest those Prius dollars into some Ethanol stock and make a bundle! Rate this comment: (Reply)

    • Re: Spend less on gas just by changing your habits. GP on 07/15/2008 at 8:34 AM

      Posts: 2 Avg Rating:

      I don't believe there is ever going to be any cheap non-subsidized mass produced cellulose ethanol.  Did you ever try burning a bale of straw?  There is limited amount of energy in the bale and the reality is that no more energy can be extracted than is contained within.  The high volume low energy of cellulose will limit the economic ability to transport it to concentrating locations and thus force a number of smaller plants that will never achieve the dream of cheap energy. Rate this comment: (Reply)

      • 	Re: Spend less on gas just by changing your habits. Jerry Gwynne on 07/24/2008 at 12:27 AM
        Posts: 1	True, and why can't we have less powerfull vehicles for less money, none offered/ GM wants us too buy a Corvette that will do 200 mph for 300,000 $. They also try to kill any idea that will cut into their profits, with a take it or leave it attitude. Rate this comment: (Reply)