soapbox

. . . . . . . .an awesome spoof of the recent 25 billion$ auto bailout hearings in washington,dc

Climate Impacts The transportation sector is the second-largest and fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Reducing these emissions is a critical part of combating global climate change. So far, reducing emissions from the transportation sector has focused mainly on lowering the carbon content fuels and making vehicles more efficient. However, if we do not reduce the amount of driving that we do, these benefits could be negated. In order to substantially reduce transportation emissions, we must stop building the infrastructure that encourages more driving. More Highways Lead to More Global Warming . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . Highway construction causes greenhouse gas emissions, not only during construction and maintenance, but well after the highway has been built. In order to assess the global warming impact of a highway, the full “life-cycle” emissions must be taken into account, including emissions from mining and transporting the materia

. . ..ON DEC 23,WHILE WE IN TORONTO CANADA WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A COLD,SNOWY WINDY WINTER STORM . .I MADE A PREDICTION THAT WE WILL HAVE WARM SPRINGLIKE WEATHER IN A FEW DAYS . . . .SADLY I WAS RIGHT AS THE WARM WEATHER IS NOW HERE . . . .50 DEGREES F . . . .I SAY SADLY BECAUSE THIS IS NOT NORMAL . . . . . MOST PEOPLE READING THIS BLOG PROBABLY HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED A NORMAL WINTER DUE TO THEIR AGE . . . BUT ASK ANY OLD SENIOR CITIZEN AND FIND OUT WHAT WEATHER USED TO BE LIKE . . . ONCE THE FIRST SNOW FELL IN EARLY DECEMBER,THE COLD AND WIND AND BLIZZARDS WOULD LOCK INTO PLACE WITH NO LET UP UNTIL MARCH 21 APPROXIMETLY . . . .THIS APPEARS TO BE THE NEW REALITY OF CLIMATE CHANGE. . . .COLD . . .WARM . . .COLD . . .WARM . .THROUGHOUT THE WINTER.

. . . . .A CHRISTMAS STORY WITH A MESSAGE ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING . . . .YES . . .I . . .KNOW . . .ITS...FRIGID COLD SOMEWHERE AND THE SNOW IS 6 FEET DEEP SOMEWHERE . . . .BUT WAIT A FEW DAYS IT'LL BE SPRINGTIME WEATHER . .IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY . . .AKA: CLIMATE CHANGE(MY PREDICTION)

. . . . .AND COUNTING . . . . THATS HOW MANY CARS THERE ARE .ON PLANET EARTH . . .AND THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY AND GULLABILITY . . . . OF PEOPLE IN GENERAL AND THE GOV'TS OF CANADA AND USA IN PARTICULAR . .. . . .THE CAR MAKERS WILL CONTINUE TO . . . MAKE MORE CARS . .. . .BILLIONS OF $ HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THESE COMPANIES TO KEEP THEM AFLOAT . . . .WE HAVE BEEN WARNED OF . . . . . DIRE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES . . . .1,000'S UNEMPLOYED IF . .THE BAILOUT WAS NOT GIVEN . . ..THESE WARNINGS COMPLETELY IGNORES . . . . .THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES PREDICTED TO THE EARTHS ENVIRONMENT IF WE CONTINUE SUPPORTING THESE PLANET DESTROYING INDUSTRIES. . . ."ROAD TO EXTINCTION"(PHOTO: RECENT RALLY CITY SQUARE TORONTO,CANADA)

. . . .IT SEEMS THE PRESENT LEADERS IN CANADA STILL BELIEVE IN DINOSAUR ECONOMICS . . .RECENT STATEMENTS BY THE FINANCE MINISTER CONFIRM THAT LOWER INTEREST RATES AND DEFICIT SPENDING IS THEIR WAY OF TACKLING THE FINANCIAL MELTDOWN . . ..THIS WORNOUT RECIPE COMPLETELY IGNORES THE GREEN ECONOMY. . . .ONE OF HIS RECENTLY APPOINTED ADVISORS IS A FORMER USED/NEW CAR SALESMAN. . ..GO FIGURE. . . . note:the above photo is from a recent city hall rally in toronto,canada.

. . . . . .IN ANY LANGUAGE . . .4 WHEEL DRIVE = MORE CARBON DIOXIDE.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Riot police clashed with rock-throwing demonstrators in central Athens on Thursday, sending Christmas shoppers and people in cafes running for cover. Frightened parents scooped up their children from a Christmas carousel in the city's main square and fled. The protesters broke away from a peaceful rally and hurled rocks and firebombs at police and buildings near parliament, overturned a car and set fire to trash bins. They also splashed police with red paint. . . .THURSDAY DECEMBER 18-2008

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Fed on Tuesday announced that it was reducing its target for the federal funds rate to between zero and 0.25 percent, down from 1 percent, a level that was already the lowest target rate in a half century. And the central bank pledged to use "all available tools" to fight the current downturn. It said it was likely that rates would be kept at "exceptionally low levels" for some time to come. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ."forever grow the economy with limited depleted resources" ..my quote ...the above statement by the federal reserve of USA to cut interest rate yet again so that people can buy more SUVS and big ticket appliances houses,etc shows how inept the present gov't in canada and USA is.Deficit spending and low interest rate for consumer loans is DINASOUR ECONOMICS . . . . .LOOK AT THE ABOVE PHOTO AT A RECENT RALLY AT CITY HALL SQUARE TORONTO,CANADA . . . . .THAT BIG SIGN SAYS IT ALL....."A RACE TO E

THERE SEEMS TO BE A MEDIA BLITZ GOING ON AT THE PRESENT TIME WARNING OF DIRE CONSEQUENCES IF ..AN AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED . . . .I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THAT NOTION . . . .IF ANY THING IT SHOULD BE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO CHART A NEW PATH FOR THE HUMAN RACE TO GET OFF THIS DINASAUR AUTO INDUSTRY BANDWAGON . . .AND START . .RIGHT AWAY ..FOR A NEW VISION THAT PROTECTS AND NOT . .DESTROY THE ENVIRONMENT .. . .I...PERSONALLY LAST WEEKEND MET A MAN WHO SPENT OVER 20 YEARS ON A THE REMOTE ARCTIC ISLAND(BAFFIN)..AND HE CONFIRMED THAT OVER HIS TIME THERE WAS DEFINITELY GLOBAL WARMING TAKING PLACE. . . . .WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE AUTO INDUSTRY ? . . . .EVERYTHING . . . .IT IS RESPONSIBLE ..FOR ..A HUGE AMOUNT OF HUMAN ACTIVITY THAT CAUSES CLIMATE CHANGE.

Legislators with investments in Big Three automakers By Ed Brayton 12/9/08 7:21 AM FoxBusiness looks at data from Open Secrets that reveals that many legislators working on an auto bailout package have investments, some of them for a significant amount of money, in one or more of the Big Three automakers. The largest investment by far: Rep. John Dingell of Michigan. Dingell reported on his most recent disclosure statements that his investment in General Motors has a value between $650,003 and $1,350,000 (legislators only have to report ranges, not specific amounts). His wife Debbie is the executive director for public affairs for GM. No one else in Congress comes close to being that heavily invested in any of the three major American auto companies. Twelve members of Congress have investments in GM, nine Republicans and three Democrats, but only Dingell holds more than $30,000 worth. Fifteen legislators have investments in Ford — eleven Republicans and four Democrats — but none report

. . . .RIOTS CONTINUE FOR THE THIRD DAY IN GREECE AFTER THE SHOOTING BY POLICE OF A 15 YEAR OLD BOY. . . .FUNERAL FOR THE BOY WILL BE ON TUESDAY.

Washington, D.C. – As Congress mulls whether or not to spend anywhere from $15 to $34 billion in taxpayer money to bailout Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, a new ATI-News/Zogby poll shows a clear majority of Americans, including union employees, oppose such a bailout. The poll, which was conducted Nov. 25 through Dec.1 and has a margin of error of plus-or-minus two percentage points, asked likely voters: “Congress is considering using tax dollars to give a total of $25 billion to the Big Three U.S. auto manufacturers, Ford, General Motors (GM) and Chrysler, in order to keep the companies solvent. Some believe they should go into bankruptcy so they can restructure to produce few models, have less dealers, allow them to close unnecessary manufacturing facilities, and have investors demand management changes and reduced benefits for all employees. Do you think Congress should approve or deny a bailout for the Big Three?” Surprisingly, 57.5 percent of self-declared union members think

.>>>.WHY NOT . . ? . . . THINK OF WHAT 25 BILLION DOLLARS COULD DO TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSTANT GRIDLOCK ON THE CITY HIGHWAYS . . . . .AND IT WILL BE CARBON FREE . . . .A BICYLE FACTORY IN OSHAWA OR WINDSOR . . . . WOULD BE ABLE TO HIRE THE LAID OFF AUTO WORKERS . . . SINCE OTTAWA AND QUEENS PARK ARE CONSIDERING BAILOUT BILLIONS FOR THE AUTO SECTOR . . . .THEY SHOULD ALSO THROW SOME MONEY AT ECO-FRIENDLY TRANSPORT. . . .MY OPINION. . . .ABOVE PHOTO LAST SUMMER TORONTO CANADA.(bicycle in front of limosine)

AUTO NEWS EUROPE DEC 4-2008 The UK is the latest European market to report a steep plunge in new-car sales in November. Car sales in the UK fell 36.8 percent to 100,333 units compared with a year earlier, the country's industry body said Thursday. The drop was bigger than expected and the biggest fall since June 1980, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. UK car sales in first 11 months are down 10.7 percent to 2,023,104. . . . . .EVEN THOUGH AUTO SALES ARE DOWN . . . . . .THE REMAINING 900,000,000 CARS . . . .ON PLANET EARTH CAN AND STILL DO A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT . . . . . . . . . HOW CAN YOU LIVE WITHOUT A CAR . .?? . . .EASY . . . .JUST DO IT . . .LIFE WILL BE MORE ENJOYABLE AND THE EARTH CAN BREATHE EASIER

Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, has arrived in New Delhi for talks on joint defence and civil nuclear projects. The two countries signed an agreement on Friday allowing Russia to build four nuclear reactors in southern India. Both are expected to approve other defence deals during the Russian leader's three-day visit. Before arriving in New Delhi, Medvedev said that Russia might also lease nuclear-powered submarines to India as part of a drive to deepen defence ties. The deal comes after India signed earlier this year a nuclear pact with the US, giving New Delhi access to civilian nuclear fuel and technology on the international market for the first time in three decades. Overturning a US ban on nuclear trade instituted after India first tested an atomic device in 1974, the US pact provides India with access to nuclear fuel, reactors and technology to generate power for its 1.1bn plus people. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I AM MYSTIFIED AND DISAPPOINTED BY RECENT ACTIONS BY

$1.6-billion in financial aid from the people of Canada to save 8,000 jobs . . . . That works out to $200,000 per job. INSANE !. . . . . .. . . . . THIS . . . . BAILOUT . . .IS . . . REQUESTED BY CHRYSLER OF CANADA . . . .A . .U.S. . . .PRIVATELY OWNED . . .COMPANY . . .WITH CANADIAN . . . . BRANCH PLANTS . . . .NOTE:OUT OF THE BIG THREE AUTO MAKERS . . .THIS IS THE SMALLER BAILOUT . . . .NEGOTIATIONS ARE STILL GOING IN . . .WASHINGTON . . .AND ALSO IN CANADA . . .REGARDING . . .IF . . .AND . .OR HOW MUCH . .THE FINAL BAILOUT . . .WILL BE . . . .ESTIMATES . . .SO . .FAR . .IN THE USA . .INDICATE THAT 34 BILLION $ WILL BE NECESSARY TO SAVE THE AUTO MAKERS.

No company deserves a safety net in a capitalistic system. If they are too fat to walk the tightrope, they need to quit the circus.

IN A NEWS ITEM ON RADIO THIS MORNING . . .. . . .NONE OTHER THAN BILL GATES FROM MICROSOFT . . . . . .IS ASKING THE SAME QUESTION AS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS . . . .WHY BAILOUT THE AUTO INDUSTRY ??? . . .HE ASKS THAT SINCE PRIVATE LENDERS . . . . .WILL NOT LEND TO THE "BIG THREE" FROM DETROIT . . . . . . . WHY SHOULD HARD EARNED TAXPAYERS DOLLARS BE SACRIFICED ? ?. . . .I AGREE . . .WHOLEHEARTEDLY. . . .WITH THE FOUNDER OF MICROSOFT.

A national poll suggests that six in 10 Americans oppose using taxpayer money to help the ailing major U.S. auto companies. Auto industry executives testify before Congress. Sixty-one percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey out Wednesday are dead set against the federal government providing billions of dollars in assistance for the automakers, with 36 percent favoring such a bailout. The poll, conducted Monday and Tuesday, also indicates that a majority of Americans, 53 percent, don't think government assistance for the automakers will help the U.S. economy. "Only 15 percent say that they would be immediately affected if the auto companies went bankrupt," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "Seven in 10 say that a bailout would be unfair to American taxpayers . . . . . . . . . . THIS JUST IN :DECEMBER 3-2008 . . . . . .USA OPINION POLL

BY FAR THE BEST ECONOMIC PLAN . . . . . .FOR THE REALITY OF THE PRESENT GLOBAL FININANCAL MESS . . . .IS A TAX . . . ON CARBON DIOXIDE . . .IN SIMPLE WORDS . . .A TAX ON WHAT YOU BURN . . .NOT WHAT YOU EARN AS WE DO NOW WITH INCOME . TAX. . . . .WHICH TAXES YOUR WAGES. . . . . .THE AUTO BAILOUT . . .IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF . . . . . . THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT OF WHICH WE ALL DEPEND . . .ITS NEGATIVE INFLUENCE . . . . . . . . ON AIR,LAND AND WATER IS WELL KNOWN. . . .THE INDUSTRY IS . . . .NOT SUSTAINABLE AND SHOULD NOT . .BE BAILED OUT BY TAXPAYERS . . . . . IN A ECONOMIC MELTDOWN. .. . . A CARBON TAX WOULD REPLACE THE INCOME TAX . . . . . .AND PROVIDE AN INCOME FOR GOV.T . ..SERVICES.

THE IDEA THAT A HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE IS ECO FRIENDLY IS . . . . .. NOT . .TRUE .. . . .THE HYBRIDS REQUIRE A VERY LARGE RECHARCHABLE BATTERY . . ..WHICH IS MADE UP OF TOXIC CHEMICALS , , ,HARD TO RECYCLE OR DISPOSE OF, . . .ALSO IT STILL NEEDS THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF ROADS AND EXPENSIVE BRIDGES . . . .THESE ROADS ARE MADE OF PAVEMENT . .WHICH NEEDS CRUDE OIL ..AS A MAIN INGREDIENT. . . .AND IT STILL NEEDS . .GASOLINE . . . . .SOME HAVE SUGGESTED ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLES AS ECO-FRIENDLY . . .. WRONG . . . .. .EACH . . ELECTRIC CAR HAS TO BE CHARGED OVERNIGHT . . .TO FUNCTION THE NEXT DAY . . .IMAGINE . .IF WE SWITCHED TO ELECTRIC AUTOS AND 100,000 CARS WERE PLUGGED INTO ELECTRIC SOCKETS THROUGH THE COUNTRY . . . . WHERE . . WOULD THE EXTRA ELECTRICITY COME FROM ?? . .IT WOULD COME FROM . . .DIRTY,VERY EXPENSIVE NUCLEAR . .OR . . DIRTY,DIRTY,EXPENSIVE COAL . . ..DO WE WANT THAT ?? . .. NO . .SO WE(CANADA/USA) . . SHOULD REJECT . . .THE . .BAILOUT . . OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY . . .