Great Britain: Drive one of these? You're crass and irresponsible, says minister on warpath

The Times (U.K.) ^ | February 27, 2006 | Darren Webster

[Stoat]

I hate to stoop to the level of name-calling as that's the preferred modus operandi for Dems and Leftists when they don't have anything coherent to say (which is most of the time); but in this case it's hard to resist.  someone named "Mr. Ladyman" is telling me that I'm an evil and uncaring person if I drive a car that's bigger than his...it would be hilarious if it wasn't yet another nail in the coffin of freedom.

I'm wondering if "Mr. Ladyman's" opinion might be tempered somewhat if he were to ride along with firefighters and EMS crews for a few months....he would quickly notice that quite often the "winner" in an auto accident (the car and occupants receiving the least damage/injury) will be the bigger and heavier car.  Not always, of course, but often enough to suggest to most folks that the laws of physics do indeed apply.

There are a whole lot more reasons than a desire to go offroad which motivate people in their auto buying choices...among them is a desire to avoid serious injury and death as much as possible while on the highway.

[tet68]

he would quickly notice that quite often the "winner" in an auto accident (the car and occupants receiving the least damage/injury) will be the bigger and heavier car.

You do realize of course that the bigger heavier car is
going to be paying the larger premium?

[popdonnelly]

4X4's are causing the World's climate to change? That's a Honda CRV pictured, not exactly a gas guzzler.

[Stoat]

You do realize of course that the bigger heavier car is
going to be paying the larger premium?

Yes, that's a primary point of the article:.

"Owners of cars with high emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, face higher taxes. "

[Stoat]

4X4's are causing the World's climate to change? That's a Honda CRV pictured, not exactly a gas guzzler.

And you were expecting accuracy from a Leftist rag like the Times?  :-)

[ChessExpert]

The earth is below its optimal temperature. The best thing for the environment would be to introduce additional green house gasses. Carbon dioxide is highly beneficial. It stimulates the growth of trees; tree-huggers would approve if they were rational. CO2 benefits all plant life; it is very "green." With the stimulation of plant life, animal life would become more abundant. Endangered animal species would be saved. There would be increased speciation, more species, in both the plant and animal kingdoms. Human starvation would disappear. Do some good - drive an SUV. Too many idiots are buying hybrids and destroying the environment.

[Stoat]

The earth is below its optimal temperature. The best thing for the environment would be to introduce additional green house gasses. Carbon dioxide is highly beneficial. It stimulates the growth of trees; tree-huggers would approve if they were rational. CO2 benefits all plant life; it is very "green." With the stimulation of plant life, animal life would become more abundant. Endangered animal species would be saved. There would be increased speciation, more species, in both the plant and animal kingdoms. Human starvation would disappear. Do some good - drive an SUV. Too many idiots are buying hybrids and destroying the environment.

[mylife]

Oh those lovable MPs.
Sign onto Kyoto then punish the people because you didnt have a plan

[Americanexpat]

Again, it is all about moneys cant say the word politician without saying taxes too. It is in their blood.

[Stoat]

Oh those lovable MPs.
Sign onto Kyoto then punish the people because you didnt have a plan

There are a breathtaking number of utterly braindead Lefties here in the USA who passionately embrace Kyoto in it's full absurdity and are violently angry with President Bush for not signing on to it.  Among them are many Democrat representatives......we have our own loonies who would be saying and doing the exact same things if they were in power.

[mylife]

By the way just what kind of impact is 187,000 cars gonna make on the entire nations emmisions levels?

[mylife]

In ten years they will be whining about disposal of the hybrids batterys polluting land fills

[Stoat]

Again, it is all about moneys cant say the word politician without saying taxes too. It is in their blood.

Agreed....in this case they are saying "We know that you want a big, comfortable, roomy and safe car, so we will embrace bad science to justify our guilt-tax that we will impose upon you for not buying a car that is more likely to kill you in an accident."

[snoringbear]

Now you've done it! The lib's are now going to accuse those driving larger vehicles of having an "unfair advantage" in vehicle crashes and thereby owners of these larger vechicles must be penalized by being struck in the head with a sledge hammer by a trained government "Vehicle Injury Adjudicator" so to equalize the injuries for all parties involved....

[Stoat]

By the way just what kind of impact is 187,000 cars gonna make on the entire nations emmisions levels?

Stoats aren't known for their math skills, but my offhand guess would be "nearly zero".   :-)

[mylife]

lemme see....carry the one..

Yup nearly zero!

[Stoat]

In ten years they will be whining about disposal of the hybrids batterys polluting land fills

It may be even sooner than that....I recall an article projecting the lifespan of those batteries at less than five years, if my memory serves.  Replacing them was pegged at many thousands of dollars.

Although one may be able to make the car work with the original batteries for ten years, after a short time the battery's efficiency decreases....which means that a progressively greater amount of gas is used.

A lousy investment with no real-world benefit.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

England is doomed with leadership like this.

[mylife]

On top of all that Ive read the paramedics refuse to use the jaws of life on the hybrids because of fears that they will sever a 400? amp cable in the process.

[Stoat]

England is doomed with leadership like this.
 

My great hope is that the good, decent, hardworking Brits will soon rise up and take their country back from it's descent into the Socialist hellhole that it is sliding into.

They have been stalwart allies and dependable friends, and they deserve far better than this.