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and for the troll^

Quote :

"Theis"

9/12/2008 4:03:17 PM

That's the best you got ... typing errors? ... spell check? ....

9/12/2008 4:12:08 PM

Bobo I see why you think that republicans support consumption by resisting efforts to regulate car MPG ratings. Personally, I dont think supporting consumption is just a republican effort though, the entire system is based on overconsumption. Some might even say that it is the beauty of Capitalism (I wouldnt say that).

My question to you is why do you think it is the government's responsibility to curb consumption? I agree that overconsumption is killing our country but how can you give authority to the government to tell you what you can and cannot have? Is the government smarter than you and can make better decisions than you can? Personally the last thing I want are some fascist congressmen telling me what to do (oh wait, its already happening)

9/12/2008 4:16:38 PM

I agree that if people can afford it, they government shouldn't dictate to them. The goverment's tools are typically tax incentives, and funding.

The government does a lot of things, especially in the name of national security. Some things, like farm subsidies, might even be outdated. They also have a lot of control over research on things like alternative technologies. They can make that one of their priorities, if they are serious.

I believe the profit interest overshadowed that of national security.

9/12/2008 4:40:38 PM

i just came in here to say

it's JON Stewart, ok

JON

9/12/2008 10:33:46 PM

Quote :

"I agree that overconsumption is killing our country but how can you give authority to the government to tell you what you can and cannot have?"

Are you saying that the government of the United States shouldn't have the authority to save the United States?

9/13/2008 12:45:37 AM

^Saving or not, he's saying it shouldn't have the authority to dictate the choices its citizens are allowed to make.

9/13/2008 1:18:24 AM

Quote :

"^Saving or not, he's saying it shouldn't have the authority to dictate the choices its citizens are allowed to make."

It has the moral obligation to protect individual liberty. In doing that, the government will restrict individual citizens from making choices that infringe upon the natural rights of others. In this sense, the government does have the authority to limit your choice if you choose to inflict harm upon others.

9/13/2008 12:35:11 PM

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"too bad obamas campaign and the LIBS are also tied up with advocating drilling for their OPEC oil buddies."

huh?? The Bush family are personal friends w/ the Saudi royalty. Never the less I 100% disagree w/ gov't regulating fuel mpg rating on vehicles. If I want to drive my gas guzzling SUV then it is my problem and my $200 gas bill per week. The "Gas Guzzler" tax on fuel inefficient cars has existed for over 20 years. I think it would be a fair measure to just go ahead and apply this to SUVs unless it is for business purposes only. As was the original purpose of SUVs; and not to load up the soccer team and impress your yuppie friends.

9/13/2008 12:46:51 PM

Quote :

"Saving or not, he's saying it shouldn't have the authority to dictate the choices its citizens are allowed to make."

As the socialized banking thread shows, you can't trust private entities with this power because it doesn't take a lot for them to screw it up.

9/13/2008 12:49:39 PM

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"I 100% disagree w/ gov't regulating fuel mpg rating on vehicles. If I want to drive my gas guzzling SUV then it is my problem and my $200 gas bill per week"

damn right ... even al gore drives a guzzler

9/13/2008 1:33:57 PM

Similarly, I like to set tires on fire in my back yard every night. I mean, they're my tires, right? It's all good.

9/13/2008 1:45:13 PM

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"the republican party panders to the willfully ignorant THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR that's why they're successful and why it's constantly an uphill battle for the democrats "

The GOP definitely does this, and it is indeed disgusting.

The Dems are every bit as guilty, though.

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"how can you follow a party which looks to that toad, Karl Rove, for political advice? he is a disgusting human being "

oh, he's a total shithead, but he's good at what he does, and what he does wins elections.

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"Once again, the Democrats and Republicans are energizing their lowest common denominator bases and making everything suck for people who don't see in black and white. I would shed a little tear of joy if both Obama and McCain got run over by a mack truck. "

I actually think that both Obama and McCain are pretty sharp guys who definitely see the nuanced approaches, but the system requires that they appeal to Average Joe and Jane to get elected, so that's what they both do.

9/13/2008 2:07:30 PM

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"Similarly, I like to set tires on fire in my back yard every night. I mean, they're my tires, right? It's all good."

If we actually had a fuel/carbon tax to capture negative externalities, this really wouldn't be such a problem, given that the more fuel/tires you burn, the more you pay for it. Which means somewhere, an incentive kicks in, should it be ratcheted up properly.

9/13/2008 2:14:34 PM

would the carbon tax apply to breathing?

Quote :

"As the socialized banking thread shows, you can't trust private entities with this power because it doesn't take a lot for them to screw it up."

Ummm, Fannie and Freddie are hardly a good example of "private entities." I mean, they are GOVERNMENT SPONSORED Entities, for crying out loud...

9/13/2008 3:15:40 PM

Look, everybody breathes. Not everybody drives a carbon-spewing car or consumes carbon-intensive products and resources. (Not to mention, of course, how negligible the biological carbon output of an individual person is).

Hell, you should be all over this. The very idea is that you make polluters pay for what they're polluting - something they just do for free right now.

9/13/2008 6:58:39 PM