US Climate Czar: CO2 Regulation Ruling To Come Soon—"it represents a danger to the public"

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200902221138DOWJONESDJONLINE000312_FORTUNE5.htm

2nd UPDATE:US Climate Czar: CO2 Regulation Ruling To Come Soon

Dow Jones
February 22, 2009: 11:38 AM ET

(Updates with more details, comments and adds background)

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- President Barack Obama's climate czar said Sunday the Environmental Protection Agency will soon issue a rule on the regulation of carbon dioxide, finding that it represents a danger to the public.

The White House is pressing Congress to draft and pass legislation that would cut greenhouse gases by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050, threatening to use authority under the Clean Air Act if legislators don't move fast enough or create strong enough provisions.

Carol Browner, Obama's special advisor on climate change and energy, also said the administration is seeking to establish a national standard for auto emissions that could mean tougher efficiency mandates for auto makers. The new standard could be fashioned after strict proposals developed in California that would limit greenhouse gas emissions - initiatives that car makers have vigorously fought.

The comments - the first by the administration on the topic - could lead to another blow for beleaguered car companies such as General Motors (GM) and Ford (F) that are already tottering.

…

[pleah]

1. It has take to long for the government to FORCE auto makers to make

more fuel efficient cars and trucks. They, now, need to make them sell them at prices people can afford.


And, can they, please, stop using the term czar. This isn't Russia.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. Russia hasn't had a czar for a while, so the word's free for us to use!

We've been using for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsar#Metaphorical_uses">almost a century now, don't expect to see it end real soon.

[excess_3]

3. simple workaround --> carbon offsets

nobody needs to do anything

[tom_paine]

8. Exactly. The sad truth revealed. n/t

[kestrel91316]

4. It's about time.

[David Dunham]

5. Dumb idea in the current economic crisis. Congress should reverse it.

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. Good thinking, much better to kill the planet than hamper the economy

I trust Congress will let it stand.

[tom_paine]

7. Along these lines, I was thinking of burning down my house to get rid of the carpet stains.

I was thinking of cutting off my nose because it has a pimple.

I was thinking of getting my car crushed by a compactor because I can't stand the dirty streaks on the windshield.

:rofl:

Is there any end to the chimp-like shortsightedness of we human beings? Is there any way that such an ignorant, illogic-driven species such as ours, with it's vast historical reserviors of greed and cruelty and stupidity combined with our amazing chimp-talent for object modality and tool use, can survive 5,000 more years?

I wouldn't bet on it.

[OKIsItJustMe]

9. Actually, it's slightly worse than you suggest

After all, we know that burning down the house will take care of those carpet stains, once and for all. We know that if you cut off your nose, you will never again get a pimple on it. We know that if you crush your car, the dirty streaks will be crushed as well.

On the other hand, we don't know that not regulating CO₂ will be good for the economy in the short term. We do know however, that in the long run, it will be disastrous for the economy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics_of_global_warming