W8MM

http://www.lttonline.co.uk/lttxtraarticle.php?uid=7064


Carbon rationing predicted to deliver collapse in travel demand


"Transport policy-makers should start preparing now for a dramatic reduction in motorised travel that will be brought about by carbon rationing, one of the country's leading environmental thinkers told LTT this week.

"Just start reading the runes because what's going to happen is the demand for road, rail and air travel is going to start falling away just as soon as we have rationing," says Mayer Hillman in an interview with the magazine.

Hillman, senior fellow emeritus at the Policy Studies Institute, says carbon rationing is the only way to ensure that the world avoids the worst effects of climate change. And he says that the problems caused by burning fossil fuels are so serious that governments might have to implement rationing against the will of the people.

"When the chips are down I think democracy is a less important goal than is the protection of the planet from the death of life, the end of life on it," he says. "This has got to be imposed on people whether they like it or not."

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Fellow travellers?

TEG

Again, you don't have to believe in global warming to find reasons why fossil fuel conservation has merits. We know there is a limited supply, and it is the best fuel for aircraft. So if we ration now it may provide more opportunity for our great grandchildren to be able to fly as well. Should we just use it all up as fast as we can?

tonybelding

Yeargh! What is it with these pseudo-intellectual socialists? They just won't give up, no matter how many times their philosophy has been discredited.

Now Global Warming is the excuse for their latest call for some kind of bureaucratic elite to take control and run everybody's lives.

W8MM

So, you don't really believe in markets?

There was once an impending whale oil shortage. What happened to it?

TEG

I don't know much about that, but there are frequently at least two sides to every story.

Sure, I suppose if we use all the fossil oil we could switch to making corn-ethanol based airplanes, or something like that. I still think that conserving now makes it easier on future generations.

The Other Martin

Well, Mr. Belding, you know how to pick a fight.

I'm in the camp of the "unconvinced about global warming and extremely skeptical of Al Gore and other wealthy, heavy-energy-consuming Hollywood types who want to dictate guilt and a low quality of life for me but not themselves." If that makes me a moron or an infidel, ...oh, well - that's life.

However, I'm 100% in favor of conservation, alternative energy sources of all types, and I'm eager for us to get away from spending gazillions of dollars in the middle east and other nasty places on the planet.

But I'm thoroughly impressed with the quality of people here and those responding to the teslamotors.com blogs. We might disagree about the politics of energy to varying degrees, but we're all hoping Tesla is a great success and that we can someday buy a Roadster or a WhiteStar or a TeslaMonster SUV (all electric, of course).

TEG - I'm with Tony on the global warming threat, but I agree with you that we shouldn't just do nothing. You're class act and one of my heroes. (Although if you're real global warming believer, you should turn off the natural gas and shiver through the winter. Or at least feel constant, unrelenting guilt whenever you turn on the heater...)

vfx - [**Personally I am brainstorming on dozens of schemes to have one of these in my driveway. Some none too pretty.] Don't do it. Crime never pays. Well, sometimes it pays very well, but that doesn't make it right. Don't do it.

I'm still missing The Original Martin, but hoping for the best in BEVs and enjoying the company here.

TEG

I do what I can (up to a point) to live towards my beliefs. I get yelled at all the time for turning off lights in the house when others have to turn them back on later. (The rest of my family would just as soon leave all the lights on all the time, but I can't bear to do that). We keep the thermostat down a couple degrees below optimal comfort level in the winter, and just wear outdoor clothes in the house. Luckily, the mild climate around here means little need for A/C in the summer. I have solar panels covering almost 100% of the electric bills. Even with all that I don't like to tell others what to do. I am more a believer in setting an example and making suggestions than forcing people to do things. It would be great if enough people volunteer to conserve so we don't end up having mandatory rationing in the future.

The Other Martin

That's why you're one of my heroes. I try to do the same.

The do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do elitists (especially those who attempt to demand it through legislation) don't inspire me at all.

vfx

T.O.M. wrote:

"vfx - [**Personally I am brainstorming on dozens of schemes to have one of these in my driveway. Some none too pretty.] Don't do it. Crime never pays. Well, sometimes it pays very well, but that doesn't make it right. Don't do it."

You mean I have to give up my "Super Battery Fund" Ponzi scheme?
:)

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The world loves to be deceived.

TEG

Hey vfx, I got a deal for you. Why invest in a regular "mutual fund". You can be a part owner of my "super fund". Yes a real estate investment that makes you part owner of a "super fund site". Super!

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By the way, our conspicuous consumption will eventually come back to haunt us.

Who will clean up this mess?