Friday, May 19, 2006

Carbon Dioxide

If you are looking for slick “Toxic sludge is good for you” type organizations, I’ve found the latest.

The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) is running a new campaign to counter claims about Global Warming where they tell the viewer about the “benefits” of CO2. What’s interesting is the way they spin the argument, calling CO2 “life.” Of course, CO2 is necessary to life on earth; however, they are making claims that depict it as some threatened species. The images used in the campaign are terrible. They show a girl blowing a dandelion, families getting into cars, and the lights in Times Square as if they are all under threat from environmental movements. What they don’t show is the scientific evidence about the perils of increased greenhouse gases. Now, of course, we would expect an advertisement like this to be partial to one side. The problem that I have is the possible effects of global warming on populations world wide.

Ask yourself: What would environmentalists have to gain by sounding the alarm about global warming? Do they profit from a healthy environment? Make lots of money?

Now, given the list of investing companies for an organization like the CEI (Amoco, ExxonMobil, Ford Motor Company, Philip Morris, Pfizer, Texaco, Dow Chemical, General Motors… according to wikipedia), what would this “non-profit public policy organization” have to gain from making arguments like this?


(BTW, the salary for the president of CEI is $175,000…non-profit, eh?)

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Gas Prices

I got gas today and paid $3.07 a gallon to fill up my Honda Civic. I’ve been noting the gas prices as they have risen in the last few weeks. I think many people are feeling the effects of the price increase, especially those who are on tight budgets.

It’s funny. I can remember thinking one day that high gas prices might make people reconsider the types of vehicle purchases that they make. That when I see people driving by in giant SUVs and Hummers while I ride my bike to campus, I can say to myself, “Have fun filling that tank up!!”

The problem is that the people who suffer the most when gas prices get this high are the poor. To people who drive these mammoth vehicles, the rise in gas prices is more of a nuisance than anything. Many people can’t afford to buy a car that gets better gas mileage in the first place and their current vehicle is too old. Not much you can do.

That makes the debate difficult for me. High gas prices mean people buy smaller cars. But inside that argument is the assumption that people can afford to buy cars in the first place. But then if prices are low, people who buy excessive SUVs feel justified…

I think I'll take the bus.