I never understand why people (other than independent garage owners) get
in such a lather about voluntary (and all proposals have been voluntary)
scrappage laws. No one is selling anything worthwhile to the government
for the $650 to $2000 being offered for the old cars.
The laws may be a burden on the poor but show me any regulations for
cars that aren't (insurance requirements, safety standards, gas taxes).
Yes energy is spent making cars but studies of energy have estimated
that ~15% of the life cycle energy of an automobile used in its
construction, distribution and disposal the remaining ~85% is in its
operation (eyeballing from a graph in Argonne Labs paper titled
"Development and Application of GREET 2.7 - The Transportation
Vehicle-Cycle Model")
Personally the only real way to lower energy use is to raise the gas
tax. As was seen last summer once prices reach around $4 per gallon
consumption is curtailed. Unpleasant but effective.
peter-thiel@sbcglobal.net wrote:
> Hi Folks,
> This is a situation that we should all be aware of, of things that are
> happening in the name of "greenness":
> http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2009/04/21/ .
>
> I don't think I'd replace my MG TD no matter how much money the government
> gave me. It's not about that. This kind of legislation is simple meddling with
> our freedom. They want to make us feel bad about using too much energy and
> polluting so much, driving collectible cars? How about the amount of energy
> that is put into manufacturing new cars? From the mining to the sheet metal,
> from the raw plastics to the dashboard and bumpers, all the energy, waste,
> pollution, and cost that goes into tooling up and manufacturing a new car is
> huge. Witness that it's tough to find a decent new car for less than $15,000.
> There'd be a tremendous cost (burden) to many a family if they were required
> by law to buy a newer car. The cost of living is reduced by driving an older
> vehicle.
>
> There is also a big difference between an old "clunker" and a collector
> car. I envision some pinheaded do-gooder sitting in his/her office in D.C. (or
> Sacramento, Albany, or _________ fill in the blank) wringing hands over people
> driving a 16 year old Chevy or Ford or a rusty old pickup truck with 200
> thousand miles on it, smoking away as they go about their lives, trying to
> make ends meet. On the other hand, those other terrible folks (us) are racing
> around pointlessly enjoying their useless hobby and polluting their little
> tiny world. (Forgive the acerbic flavor here.) As far as the people driving
> "clunkers", they probably would retire the car at the first opportunity if all
> the bills were paid and life was perfect.
>
> I love a sunny top-down day with the wind in my hair, taking in the
> scenery while toodling down a country road, getting smiles and thumbs-up all
> along the way.
>
> Pete Thiel
> '53 MG TD
> '91 Volvo 240
> '99 Taurus
> '00 Mazda 626
> and various old motorcycles
>
> P.S. Rebut or chime in as you wish, my intention is just as food for thought.
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