Terrapass - you can have a Hummer with zero net environmental impact

[e1618978]

www.terrapass.com

You can buy pollution credits to offset the total lifetime pollution produced by your SUV...

Sweet!

[johnq]

Why not ban SUVs and ilk and finance projects that reduce industrial carbon dioxide emissions?

I'm a frigging commie when it comes to cars. Eliminate all private ownership of automobiles, I say. So much damn waste all for ego-gratification/fulfilment.

;) Flame on!

[tonton]

Can't you see through such a thin veil? The government prefers to work with "pollution credits" so they can get the user to pay for pollution control programs and reduce their own requirement to fund separate programs. The net impact is not zero.

Before the "terrapass" program:

1. Some people buy lower-polluting cars because of environmental concerns and the industrial vehicle premium.
2. Some people still buy high polluting SUVs because they have small dicks and want to look "macho".
3. Taxes fund anti-pollution programs.

After the "terrapass" program:

1. Fewer people buy lower-polluting cars because of environmental concerns and the industrial vehicle premium, because they have faith in things like "terrapass" to clean up after them.
2. More people buy high polluting SUVs because they have small dicks and want to look "macho" and now "terrapass" can clear their conscience about the fact that they are spewing poison into the environment unnecessarily.
3. Public funding of anti-pollution programs is cut dratically because the government can claim "terrapass" spending as spending toward the environment.

So the net environmental impact is not zero. It doesn't take a genius to see through the wool the "conservatives" are trying to pull over our eyes.

[e1618978]

Johnq -

Because banning automobiles would cause society to collapse.

Tonton -

1. We pay for all government programs via taxes, so we pay for it all regardless.

2. When you buy pollution credits, it means that industry pollutes less, compensating for the pollution produced by your car. You have not refuted this.

3. I don't think that you dick size comments, and your fears of government cutting programs are rational. The only government pollution programs are emissions testing and gas-guzzler tax.

Ending emissions testing is socially unacceptable, I don't want smoke billowing out of an old camero in front of me, and neither does anyone else. Taxes are rarely removed, gas guzzler taxes provide revenue - I think that you can trust the government to maintain its revenue stream, thank you very much.

[tonton]

Originally posted by e1618978
The only government pollution programs are emissions testing and gas-guzzler tax.

Wow. Just wow. How naive.

[e1618978]

Originally posted by tonton
Wow. Just wow. How naive.

For cars, I am talking about. What else do you think that they do?

You haven't produced a good point or piece of evidence yet.

[tonton]

Originally posted by e1618978
For cars, I am talking about. What else do you think that they do?

You haven't produced a good point or piece of evidence yet.

Huh? The terrapass program doesn't have any anti-pollution measures for cars, either. The terrapass program funds industrial pollution control. Just like our taxes do. When private sector funding (i.e. terrapass) for anti-industrial pollution increases, public sector funding and regulation will decrease, because the government has an excuse to do so, being able to claim that net funding has remained steady. Simple logic. No evidence needed.

Meanwhile, people's driving habits and polluting habits worsen because of a false sense of security.

[e1618978]

Originally posted by tonton
Huh? The terrapass program doesn't have any anti-pollution measures for cars, either. The terrapass program funds industrial pollution control. Just like our taxes do. When private sector funding (i.e. terrapass) for anti-industrial pollution increases, public sector funding and regulation will decrease, because the government has an excuse to do so, being able to claim that net funding has remained steady. Simple logic. No evidence needed.

Meanwhile, people's driving habits and polluting habits worsen because of a false sense of security.

Ah - now I see what you mean.

It is true that the terrapass thing relies on the pollution credit system remaining secure. Hopefully the government does not raise the number of licences in order to compensate for terrapass.

[johnq]

Originally posted by e1618978
Johnq -

Because banning automobiles would cause society to collapse.


Compared to what? :)

[pfflam]

Y'all are talking to a guy who actually believed that painting large areas of white with black would reduce global warming!!!

Not only is the above idea completely completely the opposite of what would happen with more dark areas . . . its also completely irrational and idiotic.

And really, nothing more needs to be said beyond Tonton's first post: it pretty much spells out the situation for any reasonable min capable of discerning what's going on.

[e1618978]

Originally posted by pfflam
Y'all are talking to a guy who actually believed that painting large areas of white with black would reduce global warming!!!

Not only is the above idea completely completely the opposite of what would happen with more dark areas . . . its also completely irrational and idiotic.

And really, nothing more needs to be said beyond Tonton's first post: it pretty much spells out the situation for any reasonable min capable of discerning what's going on.

First I didn't understand what Tonton was talking about, and now I don't understand you. Maybe I am just dumb or someting. 8)

[Aquatic]

I want them to come out with a hybrid Hummer, that still somehow has enough horsepower. It will happen, since there is a market. Maybe I'll buy one. You would undertsand if you saw my driveway in Vermont. It is ridiculous. Though I still say, if you can't bike it, then don't go on it, wimp. I mean bicycle.

[e1618978]

Originally posted by e1618978
Ah - now I see what you mean.

It is true that the terrapass thing relies on the pollution credit system remaining secure. Hopefully the government does not raise the number of licences in order to compensate for terrapass.

As long as TerraPass stays small enough, it won't be compensated for by the feds - so it is still possible to have a zero-imact hummer.