http://www.sunspot.net/cgi-bin/ultbb...;f=18;t=032592
Topic: The Hummer Solution
dchipkin
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Member # 22060
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4 - posted 08-23-2003 08:40 PM Profile for dchipkin Send New Private Message Edit/Delete Post Reply With Quote ELF is a bunch of wackos (and some criminals), but they have a point: Hummers and other big SUVs are causing some serious environmental damadge.
The big problem with Hummers is that their owners pay for only the auto and the fuel. They do NOT pay for the environmental consequences of their vehicle; everyone else does. We either pay financially (through taxes to clean up the air, or health bills because air quality is so bad) or otherwise (such as asthma attacks, leathery lungs caused by ozone).
So here's a solution: let's make anyone who buys a Hummer or some such related vehicle compensate the rest of us financially for the environmental damadge these vehicles cause. I.e., let's levy a pollution tax on these vehicles, and let the revenue go towards environmental research, cleanup efforts, medical costs related to pollution, etc...
Of course, there should be some legitimate exceptions to those who actually need to use such vehicles for their livlihood. So farmers who purchase such vehicles should be exempt from this fee. But suburbanites who buy Hummers (who account for most sales) would not be exempt.
This solution would still allow people to enjoy Hummers, but would also make them take responsibilty for the environmental consequences of their decisions, which all of us must bear.
What do you think?