[greenyes] SUV Redux

["Peter Anderson" <anderson@no.address>]

At the risk of dragging out this rumination on SUVs one day too long, Mark 
Snyder opins:

  "However, I think history has shown that attempting to shame people into
  changing their behavior has not been a terribly effective strategy for
  the most part. And I think that's part of the point that Chris was
  trying to make."
Finally I get a chance to show the optimistic side of my psyche.

When I was a kid in NYC in the 50s -- this was when Humphrey Bogart, with 
his trademark cigarette, still reigned as the arbiter of cool -- I can still 
remember being at an off Broadway show when someone lit up next to us. An 
irate woman in the row in front opened her purse, took out some sort of 
aerosol bottle and squirted the smoker in his face.  My jaw dropped at her 
chutzpah because I had never seen such a thing before and could not even 
imagine how someone could stand up against the smokers' juggernaut.

But, less than 20 years later, when I leave public buildings here in 
Wisconsin, I see the presidents, vice-presidents, or mayors or other 
important personages huddled outside in Wisconsin's cold and brutal winters 
furtively grabbing their nicotine fix. Or look at what's happened in terms 
of societal attitudes towards women.

Things change. Shit happens. Worlds turn.

Oh, I am not disparaging Chris's practical wisdom...he has a valid point.

But, some things in one's life, and energy policies interconnections with 
Climate Disruption are one of them, just loom to large to descend into sweet 
but meaningless twaddle.

And, though, as Chris says, the odds are not high. They are NOT zero. And 
that battle has to be joined if we are to have even a remote chance of 
pulling through.

I have a 7 year old boy (as Chris with his three and every other parent on 
this list) who I would give my life for.  Well, the world we leave him and 
his generation is at risk (not that we know how rising CO2  levels will play 
themselves out other than the risks are extremely high of their being not 
good).

To me that says I need to reach high enough to have a chance of making a 
difference.  Just feeling good about window dressing does not cut my 
mustard.

                                                                        Peter
_________________________
Peter Anderson, President
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