Nigels last blog post..Goodbye undoGE forum

I think technology has to do two things. One, come up with more and more ways for recycling companies to profitably separate items out of the co-mingled recycling containers they collect. And two, make new products as recycling friendly right from the start.

Boy, people are sure trading in and buying smaller cars around here. I heard yesterday that some used car dealers will no longer take big SUV’s and Trucks in trade, even to make a sale on a smaller car. They are saying the smaller cars are selling without a trade in and that their lots are full of trucks and SUV’s they can’t sell at any price!

I’m glad you liked the happy songs. I had fun with it.

I thought a little more about this topic. In the United States, during World War I and World War II, there was rationing. Also, in the 70’s, there was rationing of gasoline. (Odd, even days.) The people responded to it, since the government was running the show. What choice did they have?

If the government does not tell us that being “green” is important, people will stick to their bad habits, unless they have to change. But, the government is working on it, to a degree. For example, where I live they would like us to recycle more. To that end, they are giving us roll carts and allow us to mix all recyclable materials (except glass and motor oil) together. With less work for us, there is a better chance that we will recycle more. I know that I will.

While gasoline is so high, people will probably buy cars that are more fuel efficient. But, if they get used to the price of gas, or the price of gas goes down again, they will probably go back to buying “fun” cars, like SUV’s or other cars that don’t get good gas mileage. However, the government could step in, and require the car companies to make better cars. 11 states are working to pass higher gas-mileage standards than the federal government has.

Maybe we are having a better chance of “green” sticking this time. I hope so.

chaosgones last blog post..Happy Songs

We need less buzzword jockeys and more real insights. Hip, trendy culture doesn’t have the attention span to make a significant contribution to the planet so let’s not cater to them. Let’s keep real thinking out of the trend machine, and maybe “green” won’t get chewed up, spit out and forgotten like last year’s fashion.

I remember back in the seventies when we were going to run out of oil and then as fast as the threat came it was gone, or so it seemed. People are weary of all the threats, like the little boy who cried wolf, we won’t take action when a real one comes along cause it’s just another false alarm.

Bobs last blog post..Aquarid Meteor Shower

For better, or for worse, I think that people will always seek the course of least resistance. As long as they can afford high gas prices they’ll pay them. As long as fast food exists, they’ll eat it. And as long as heating and air-conditioning bills are affordable, they’ll abuse them - hot in winter, and freezing in summer. It’s always been that way, and I think it will always be that way.

The only thing that seems to change people’s real behavior is the total lack of money. Take a guy who has recently been fired, or laid off, and you’ll see a true conservationist. But as soon as he finds another good job - bingo - he’s sittin’ at McD’s in his air conditioned Hummer ordering the biggest box of greasy fries, quarter pounder, and chocolate malt that he can get his hands on. It’s like nothing ever happened. And why does everyone from the less fortunate countries (no names, but Mexico!) come to America? It sure isn’t for our recycling programs. They want to indulge until they drop, or until every last natural resource is choked from the earth. That’s the real American dream. I don’t mean to sound so gloomy, but that’s my opinion.

Swubirds last blog post..IGNORANCE IS BLISS!

Thanks for the happy songs in your last post. That is quite the 1964 dress on Ms. Clark. She can sing, though.