A question about caring about the environment?

Question

Often times, if a question like this is asked...like "In what future year do you think american cars will be mostly independent of fossil fuel"

that some people will invariably answer with the "as soon as it is profitable for car makers to produce such cars" response.

Which at some level makes sense. But there is an aspect to that answer that is bothersome in the sense that it implies that all that is right and moral makes economic sense....and that the dollar is our soul.
Do you agree with those people?

What kind of people hold such a cold callous view of the world we live in?

So lillian agrees that earning the mighty dollar is the most important thing.

brandon seems more interested in smearing those who disagree with him as being part of one big plot against america.

Seems to me that the govt plays a role in influencing the direction of things when it wants to and plays the "let the markets decide" card when it suits its goals better. Lets take a look at how they are dealing witht the foreclosure crisis for example, or how years ago a decision was made to make it easy for american companies to outsource jobs overseas...etc.. These are decisions consciously made my our leaders way ahead of the game..essentially dictating a certain path that we as a nation will go down. So why cant govt decide to strongly encourage a rush to indepence from fossil fuel cars say in 20 years?
Why cant they say thats where we want to be as a nation and thats really will be a good thing?

Answer 1

Have you ever watched the corporation, it explains how the principle driving force of the american economy the corporation is sociapthic and self interested. In many ways they act like minature fascist states where employees work for the good of the corporation rather than the good of mankind, or in many cases(for most employees) rather than for their own good.
Since they have such power. morality and even the dangers posed to mankind are supplanted by the dangers posed to corporations and monopolies by such as shift in production.
People who say that it will happen when it becomes profitable are simple portraying a realistic situation in a world run like this.

Answer 2

This is an interesting question.
There has been a noticeable shift in what Americans deem as important.
When American began to wake up to environmental problems it was during the late 60s and thru the 1970s. These times were accompanied by some serious financial difficulties brought on by inflation. Environmental controls just added more expense to an already strapped middle class pocketbook.
I clearly recall my own financial situation at the time. It was bleak. I remember writing my senator at the time a scolding letter. He was more involved with the habitat of fish than the welfare of the people.
I think the government at the time had no clear idea on how to end inflation. So they concentrated on something they could solve, giving fish a better life.
I think a lot of us still hold on to the feelings from that time, which is financial well being must supersede environmental concerns. Considering the investment in the oil industry, converting to another energy would hurt a lot of pocketbooks.

Answer 3

We are lazy. If you don't fight for what you want, you'll never get it. Big corporations have a better ability of fighting for their profits so we have to all come together to change anything. If you build it they will come. Our government shouldn't inhibit our growth by protecting big business. It is hard to come together sometimes when you don't have leaders that support you. Try getting Ron Paul on the presidential ballot firs, then vote for him as president and make the individual American strong and independent again. We need good change in this country. We need to get back to the constitution! If we don't learn from the past, how can we ever make this country better. Love of money and or power is the root of all evil. Don't forget it.

Answer 4

When people say "it'll happen when it's profitable" they are not necessarily approving of the idea.

And I think Brandon is mistaken when he says that they would build a car that ran on water if they could. The american auto companies, anyway, have a bad track record when it comes to embracing new technologies. They're not the first; many industries when becoming obsolete have refused to see the writing on the wall and insisted on doing things the way that worked in the past. And when they've found themselves with their backs against the wall, appealed to the gov't for laws that would protect them.

Answer 5

It seems to me, as Oil continues it's upward climb, more Alternate Choices are becoming available. As callous as that may sound, now that people are again choosing compactness and fuel efficiency over 2 ton Tess and 7 MPG, more choices are indeed showing up. So, in answer to the question, If it is profitable ( Remember the gas crisis of the 70's? I do ) It will be made available. So bring on the AFFORDABLE electric car, and I'll show you electric station to " Refuel " said vehicle.

Answer 6

Unfortunately, some people consider the desire to run a car on something besides oil to be a Communist conspiracy. That's why they ignore the fact that there have been cars that could run on water, http://www.squidoo.com/Car-Run-On-Water, cars that run on hydrogen, http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-08/2006-08-11-voa34.cfm?CFID=238725143&CFTOKEN=40029835, and cars that run on electricity, http://geocities.com/shawn_kwek2002/e-cars.html, most of which are based on technology that has been around for more than a decade. But since the neocons give the corporate welfare and government subsidies only to the regular car makers, they have not yet been able to get into the price range most consumers can afford. If they had, we'd have been gasoline free long ago.

Answer 7

No those people are neolibs. If a car maker could build a car today that ran on water they would. The first manufacturer of such a car would become the largest corporation on earth in 3 years or less. The neolibs have to try to convince people that everything is a plot because they are totally devoid of any ideas that were not written in Das Kapitas.

Answer 8

Anyone in the modern world who operates a company that does not require profits, will not remain competative and will go out of business very shortly. Non profitable companies in the private sector do not create jobs, and therefore are useless.

Answer 9

Yes I do agree with those people. People need to work, people need to get to and from their jobs, shopping, events,, or whatever. We are a very large country and very rural. If people cannot drive, the economy will tank. If people cannot afford heating or cooling they will die. So yes, I agree whole heartily with them.

Answer 10

i deals and the real world are two different things .....i thought i would be driving a solar powed hover robot by now....but i am still driving an gas powed auto....when oil companies and corporate stock control the mind, this is what happens