Re: Fuel Efficient Cars (was Oil Economics)

From: spike66 (spike66@attbi.com)
Date: Sun Feb 09 2003 - 17:14:20 MST

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    Rafal Smigrodzki wrote:
    >
    > ### No, you got it backwards - it is the punishment of polluters that
    > reduces pollution and saves lives. Punishing gas users is almost irrelevant
    > in this context - a 50 mpg car without catalytic exhaust harms more people
    > than a 15 mpg car with it, both by increased pollution and decreased safety.
    > By confusing the issue of gas use with the issue of pollution you are doing
    > a disservice to both of them.
    >
    > Data on survival in crashes shows that solidly-built cars do reduce
    > mortality rates. Rafal

    Oops I wrote a nearly identical comment a few minutes
    ago, before I read this. My comments are redundant.

    Regarding bigger cars saving lives in crashes, I would
    certainly take the word of Rafal, who if I recall is
    a doctor, and so would be in a position to see first
    hand the results of car crashes.

    Furthermore, big cars are more expensive up front
    and more costly to operate, so if people are motivated
    to drive them, they will work harder and longer at
    their jobs, which benefits everyone in the long
    run. Society benefits from their increased labors
    and the worker has increased motive to be all that
    she can be. spike



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