lee wrote:
On Thursday 02 February 2006 8:08, Kaleb C. Striplin wrote:
If somebody wants to spend the money on that big SUV, spend the money
burning up all that fuel driving it, well that is there business. Its
not the governments right or job to dictate what you can drive. Its
called free market economy.
I have to disagree with you, Kaleb-
I think its called not just "their business" but also their
1). Fouling our air
2). Squandering natural resources, and
3). generally demonstrating that they lack the good sense not to crap where
they eat.
The basic problem is this particular market doesn't internalize some costs:
- The cost of fouling the "commons" (the atmosphere) with more pollution.
- The cost of using up an irreplacible resource.
- The cost of sending our military out to defend our access to that
resource.
- The cost of higher injury rates.
If those costs were included somehow in the price of owning an SUV, then
the market would function fine and the government wouldn't have to
intervene. But it's the very fact that those costs *aren't* included
that makes SUVs so attractive.
