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(Detroit Free Press)   The Department of Health and Human Services is expanding its charter to become the Department of Telling You What Kind of Car to Buy Unless You WANT to Rape the Planet   (freep.com) divider line
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    More: Stupid  
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490 clicks; posted to Politics » on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:40 PM (15 years ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



35 Comments     (+0 »)
 
quadropheniac
2007-09-19 6:14:42 PM  
Considering the impact that pollution emitted from cars with has on the health of humans, I think that this falls right within their charter. There's nothing wrong with promoting the purchase of cars with better mileage than the crap that Detroit's been putting out lately.
 
Lusiphur
2007-09-19 6:19:02 PM  
Funny. No one seems to be this upset whenever a city decides to ban smoking in bars, and automobile fumes are far more dangerous to your health and have far greater planetary repercussions. Do I smell a double standard? No, wait, thats my cigarette breath. Suck it, nanny-staters and smoking haters. Suck it hard and die of cancer.
 
Lusiphur
2007-09-19 6:20:32 PM  
Also, FTA: "The newsletter - which is intended to tell workers how they can save energy at home and on the job - not only claimed that every new sport utility vehicle sold pumps more harmful emissions into the atmosphere, it included a list of 12 cars rated tops by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy as being fuel efficient, along with the line: "When shopping for vehicles, consider these models."
Toyota, Nissan and Honda were represented. But not a single American automaker.

"It just blows my mind," said Rep. Joe Knollenberg, a Bloomfield Township Republican who signed today's letter. "Why would they do that?""

Ummm....could it be because Americans make shiatty cars?
 
AntiNorm
2007-09-19 7:54:53 PM  
Lusiphur: Funny. No one seems to be this upset whenever a city decides to ban smoking in bars, and automobile fumes are far more dangerous to your health and have far greater planetary repercussions. Do I smell a double standard? No, wait, thats my cigarette breath. Suck it, nanny-staters and smoking haters. Suck it hard and die of cancer.


You're comparing apples and oranges. Cigarette smoke in a confined space does not dissipate into the atmosphere; automobile exhaust does. Society is not dependent on you being able to light up; it IS dependent on vehicular transportation.
 
Boritom
2007-09-19 7:58:28 PM  
Ahh, the planet's just askin' for it. Look at the slutty way it just dangles its subcontinents out there for anybody to see.

/can't rape the willin'
 
miseducated
2007-09-19 8:03:41 PM  
Lusiphur: Funny. No one seems to be this upset whenever a city decides to ban smoking in bars, and automobile fumes are far more dangerous to your health and have far greater planetary repercussions.

You misunderstand the intent of anti-smoking bylaws.
 
Lusiphur
2007-09-19 8:23:25 PM  
AntiNorm: You're comparing apples and oranges. Cigarette smoke in a confined space does not dissipate into the atmosphere; automobile exhaust does.

More carcinogens are picked up per minute idling in traffic than smoking a cigarette.

Society is not dependent on you being able to light up; it IS dependent on vehicular transportation.

Right, and transportation is not the same thing as a Canyonero ("20ft long and two lanes wide, the only SUV advertised by a clown") in every drive-way. There are less harmful forms of transportation, and they're effective and commonly available.
 
cmunic8r99
2007-09-19 8:36:53 PM  
Lusiphur: ...not only claimed that every new sport utility vehicle sold pumps more harmful emissions into the atmosphere, it included a list of 12 cars...

for the record, so does every new car, pickup, 18-wheeler, RV, motorcycle, roadster...
 
Chameleon
2007-09-19 9:42:46 PM  
Lusiphur: Funny. No one seems to be this upset whenever a city decides to ban smoking in bars, and automobile fumes are far more dangerous to your health and have far greater planetary repercussions. Do I smell a double standard? No, wait, thats my cigarette breath. Suck it, nanny-staters and smoking haters. Suck it hard and die of cancer.

Wait, can I both be in favor of mandatory auto efficiency laws and against anti-smoking laws?
 
destitute college kid
2007-09-19 9:48:19 PM  

Society is not dependent on you being able to light up; it IS dependent on vehicular transportation.

Which is why, before we had cars, there simply was no society.
 
AntiNorm
2007-09-19 9:48:56 PM  
Lusiphur: Right, and transportation is not the same thing as a Canyonero ("20ft long and two lanes wide, the only SUV advertised by a clown") in every drive-way. There are less harmful forms of transportation, and they're effective and commonly available.

Even I will agree that 98% of people who own SUVs and other huge vehicles don't need them. They could get by just fine with a smaller, more efficient car. Still, society relies on road transportation.


Lusiphur: More carcinogens are picked up per minute idling in traffic than smoking a cigarette.

Even if this is true (I don't believe this, and won't until I see reliable sources), the former is an unavoidable part of living in modern society. The latter is completely avoidable, but it requires people to have the courtesy to step outside before they light up. Enough people lack this courtesy that society is growing intolerant of their behavior, which results in public smoking bans.
 
AntiNorm
2007-09-19 9:50:46 PM  
destitute college kid: Society is not dependent on you being able to light up; it IS dependent on vehicular transportation.

Which is why, before we had cars, there simply was no society.


Try living in modern society without using ANYTHING that was brought to you by any sort of vehicle. Hint: You can't.
 
tiiger [OhFark]
2007-09-19 9:55:48 PM  
Ever since women discovered that they like riding up high, SUV's have flooded the market, and screwed us car owners over. Now I can see over basically nothing in heavy traffic, and it becomes a game of 'watch the tailights'.

Mind you I can take a corner at high speed and not rollover...
 
Lusiphur
2007-09-19 10:03:14 PM  
AntiNorm: The latter is completely avoidable, but it requires people to have the courtesy to step outside before they light up not go to places where people smoke if they are offended by smoking.

FTFY
 
moothemagiccow
2007-09-19 10:04:45 PM  
I never understood the selling point of a suburban as a 'family car.' Children are small. The 2.5 kids fit comfortably into the back of a Corolla or a Taurus. It's obviously more of a 35-year-old woman's status symbol. Ironically, the more seats you need, the less likely you'll be able to afford them.
 
moothemagiccow
2007-09-19 10:06:23 PM  
Lusiphur: Funny. No one seems to be this upset whenever a city decides to ban smoking in bars, and automobile fumes are far more dangerous to your health and have far greater planetary repercussions. Do I smell a double standard? No, wait, thats my cigarette breath. Suck it, nanny-staters and smoking haters. Suck it hard and die of cancer.

The American Cancer Society decided the best way to spend the funds of the caring people who donated to them was to lobby big city governments into passing smoking bans, and making anti-smoking advertisements so the rabble would do the same.
 
IlGreven
2007-09-19 10:08:24 PM  
...waidaminnit...when did the Freep become the Freep?
 
IStateTheObvious
2007-09-19 10:16:32 PM  
BS to smitty...they arent trying to tell US anything. The letter was sent to HHR employees. And it's not their fault Detroit can't make a decent fuel efficient vehicle. Quit whining and compete for crying out loud. The Feds have propped up Detriot long enough.
 
proteus_b
2007-09-19 10:21:20 PM  
gee whiz, if gm hadn't killed their electric car, maybe they'd have an us company to recommend.
 
Captain_MeatShield
2007-09-19 10:29:11 PM  
i dont want to rape the planet, i just want to get it drunk and have sex with it.

Why are all of you fighting my dream?
 
wowzer97pooh
2007-09-19 10:34:32 PM  
"It just blows my mind," said Rep. Joe Knollenberg, a Bloomfield Township Republican who signed today's letter. "Why would they do that?"

It just blows my mind that

1. the American auto industry would build fleets of cars that aren't true hybrids when obviously millions of Americans prefer that type of vehicle

2. the federal government would give tax breaks to people who buy huge SUV's with terrible gas mileage and not give tax breaks to people who buy hybrid vehicles.


Also, I would bet that not one US government vehicle is a true hybrid vehicle. Maybe I am wrong but I doubt it.
 
brantgoose [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2007-09-19 10:47:01 PM  
Big Three: Never mind steering the consumer to particular makes and models. We'll take care of that!
 
schizolic
2007-09-19 10:47:08 PM  
"It just blows my mind," said Rep. Joe Knollenberg, a Bloomfield Township Republican who signed today's letter. "Why would they do that?"

It just blows my mind that

1. the American auto industry would build fleets of cars that aren't true hybrids when obviously millions of Americans prefer that type of vehicle

2. the federal government would give tax breaks to people who buy huge SUV's with terrible gas mileage and not give tax breaks to people who buy hybrid vehicles.


Also, I would bet that not one US government vehicle is a true hybrid vehicle. Maybe I am wrong but I doubt it.

1. shame millions of americans can't afford a lot of those hybrids, but wait, seems most of the environuts who are telling me to ride a bike or a hybrid are still rolling around in their limo's and escalades... guess its not that big of a deal after all.

2. you haven't filed your own taxes in a while, have you? if so, you would know that president bush, as part of his tax cuts, installed a special tax break for people who drive hybrids, and an even bigger one for people who drive all electric. in otherwords, know what you are talking about before you say it.
 
WFern
2007-09-19 11:09:07 PM  
AntiNorm: You're comparing apples and oranges. Cigarette smoke in a confined space does not dissipate into the atmosphere; automobile exhaust does.

interet-general.infoView Full Size

chitambo.comView Full Size


You were saying?
 
WFern
2007-09-19 11:16:22 PM  
schizolic: shame millions of americans can't afford a lot of those hybrids

They're an investment. The cost of the vehicle is a bit higher than other cars of similar size. However, the fuel efficiency means far less income spent on gasoline over the next several years. Money is ultimately saved.
 
schizolic
2007-09-19 11:21:44 PM  
but still requires a certain ammount of money up front, plus higher monthly payments that could quite possibly negate any money saved on gas. lets see, feed the kids, or drive a penis...er, i mean prius.....

anyways, a family that can barely afford a $15,000 car for 200 a month probably can't afford a $25,000 car for 400 a month. figure $20 bucks a week on gas for standard driving, and you end up still being $120 cheaper than that hybrid, and can live off more than ramen noodles.
 
torch
2007-09-19 11:28:34 PM  
Did they say anything about the toxic waste dump on wheels Prius?
 
IStateTheObvious
2007-09-20 12:00:12 AM  
Here's what I don't get. I own a Chevy Tracker, which is the exact same car (made by the same people) as the Suzuki Vitara (I think thats the model anyway). Anyhoo, I bought the chevy instead of the Suzuki so I would at least be giving some money to the US workers. What I didnt notice beforehand, is that the Suzuki got 27 mpg highway, whereas the Chevy gets 19. WTF is that anyway???

That's the last American branded car I will ever buy. Detroit can suck it. I'm sick of their crap.
 
Whatsleft
2007-09-20 12:49:41 AM  
AntiNorm: Try living in modern society without using ANYTHING that was brought to you by any sort of vehicle. Hint: You can't.

Wait till you try living in the 21st century, it may hurt a little.
 
StormWriter
2007-09-20 12:56:41 AM  
Personally, I'm tired of all cars powered with the internal combustion engine... Just how long do we have to beat this dead horse--we haven't come up with anything better? I swear to God that we'd all be flying around like the Jetsons™ if it weren't for the stupid oil companies.
 
AntiNorm
2007-09-20 1:02:29 AM  
Lusiphur: AntiNorm: The latter is completely avoidable, but it requires people to have the courtesy to step outside before they light up not go to places where people smoke if they are offended by smoking.

FTFY


Where I live, this would pretty much involve not going out at all. No thanks. You can take your precious little smokes outside.
 
wildcardjack
2007-09-20 1:08:48 AM  
My laugh is on all of you.

/About to be hired by Schlumberger
 
Tourney3p0
2007-09-20 2:02:20 AM  
IStateTheObvious: Here's what I don't get. I own a Chevy Tracker, which is the exact same car (made by the same people) as the Suzuki Vitara (I think thats the model anyway). Anyhoo, I bought the chevy instead of the Suzuki so I would at least be giving some money to the US workers. What I didnt notice beforehand, is that the Suzuki got 27 mpg highway, whereas the Chevy gets 19. WTF is that anyway???

That's the last American branded car I will ever buy. Detroit can suck it. I'm sick of their crap.

Chances are, you went into the situation as an uninformed consumer and never bothered to learn.

I don't know what year you have, but the specs for the 2001 list a 4-cylinder and a 6-cylinder. The 6-cylinder gets 20 mpg and the 4-cylinder gets 26. If you have the 4-cylinder and are still getting 19 mpg, I recommend taking it to the nearest mechanic.

Bottom line is you paid for an option that you apparently didn't want, and instead of reading what you were buying you took a car salesman's word for it.

I fail to see how it's GM's fault.
 
AtikuX
2007-09-20 4:18:24 AM  
let me get this straight:

HHS: "American made cars as not as good as foreign made one"
Politicians: "how dare you criticise Detroit"

/If we don't talk about a problem it will go away
 
Myrl_Redding
2007-09-20 7:38:14 AM  
No government agency should endorse a specific product of any sort to its employees or to its people... ever.
 
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