[poconopundit]

Forbidding the use of natural gas for heating and cooking purposes. What is the rationale?

* * *

Good question. Here in Japan, the people take environmental concerns very seriously. Half of the cars on the road are hybrids. We separate our garbage into individual plastic bags, one for each type: cardboard, paper, combustible garbage, plastic containers, plastic wrapping, milk cartoon paper, bottles/cans.

The cost of apartment heating in the city is high. Single family homes are allowed to use kerosene heaters, which are the lowest cost source of heat, but apartments cannot use those due to the fire/earthquake hazard.

However every apartment building pipes natural gas to every kitchen and “ofuro”, the deep hot tub Japanese love to soak in at night. Using a separate electric/gas hot water storage tank is considered a luxury here.

Bottom line, even in a country where conservation and “do what’s best for the planet” consciousness is high, if you banned natural gas, the citizenry would bring pitchforks to the major’s office the next morning.

[V K Lee]

It's certainly doubtful that any of TPTB will see pitchforks
from those living in San Francisco. After all, who, exactly,
will be complaining that there is no hot water for baths/showers/shaving/laundry/dishes? Chances are a good many
of the population seldom meets with these banned substances.
After all, there are numerous signs right on the sidewalks,
few even have toilets or outhouses.
DJT is correct in stating USA is a third world country When
viewing the natural beauty of the country side, one consistently is drawn to the graffiti displayed, the trash
scattered along the highways/roads. It is a disgrace to find our fellow Americans think so little of the appearance.
View films of Spain, Great Britain,Switzerland, and others.
We fail in comparison.