Several Questions:

[wolven7]

1) Why would people rather express what is usually ignorant, impotent rage, to the effect of terrible results in what area about which they are "concerned", than be Reasonably Informed and Effectively Angry, to make a real difference in the world? Is it really just so much easier to not take responsibility while simultaneously yelling at others for "destroying the nation?"

The health care diatribes are really pissing me off, because they're based in nothing but lies. Seriously. They are Lies. Do some research, be informed, Read a Book!

I think I need to go back to school for psychology, because, while I understand why people do what they do, I rarely understand why they think it's OK to rest in those excuses.

2) If you could get 230 MPG in a car you didn't have to drive with your feet, without having to commit atrocities (unless you wanted to), why WOULDN'T you do it?

3) Why don't you tell more people about the awesome things they should know about? Not just on the internet, but, y'know, in conversation?

Off to work.

Comments

[sadistic-apollo.livejournal.com]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/maddow-on-the-average-americans-behind-anti-health-care-reform-movement.php

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Maddow is always an informative joy to watch. Thanks.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

I really want the AARP to step up and say something. Even if they don't Support the President's plan, they can at least squash some of these rumours.

[spiritualmonkey.livejournal.com]

2) Because engaging the personal automobile paradigm, no matter the mileage, makes people soft, weak, musculo-skeletally misaligned, and generally living in more chronic pain than is absolutely necessary.

Because back when I owned a car, I was a wreck physically. Now I climb trees, swing cannonballs, and walk several miles a day. And a major part of that is simply not having the car as an option.

And because just today I saw a 20 mph, 90° smack-up that would have crumpled my pedestrian ass had I been involved. Letting the kind of morons already on the road feel good about driving a rocket is not wisdom to this monkey.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

While it's true that people would generally be healthier walking, biking, etc., the fact is people are always going to have to travel longer distances, and not necessarily be able to afford planes or trains. Why not make the personal and public transit options more fuel efficient?

Check out the Tesla S, and then ask, if there must be cars on the road, why are we not asking for this same standard in All cars, regardless of make?

[spiritualmonkey.livejournal.com]

Two words: Peak Oil.

the fact is people are always going to have to travel longer distances, and not necessarily be able to afford planes or trains.

Americans are resistant to the idea of having to live locally and not travel great distances routinely and cheaply. This doesn't mean that circumstances have to accommodate those expectations. Just because we've gotten used to something and consider it essential doesn't mean it's going to be available to us.

Why not make the personal and public transit options more fuel efficient?

I'm all for efficient public transit. I just think that not only is the personal auto paradigm a bad one, it's got next to no future. We need to be thinking beyond personal cars and readjusting our lifestyles and expectations to that.

This will mean profound (possibly catastrophic) collapse for places like suburbia and urban sprawl zones like Atlanta, where the basic ability to function is predicated on owning and being able to operate a personal car. I hope you two get out before then.

I'm very grim-meathook-future on personal automobiles. But then, I read Scout at an impressionable age. And I read Jim Kunstler and listen to his podcast.