The gasoline we burn is just a small part of the demend. You've heard of the stone age, the bronze age and the iron age? Well, we are in the petrolium age. Let me explain.
Almost all of the plastic we use, from parts in your car to just about everything made of plastic in your house, is petrolium based. The fertilizer industry is petrolium based. Much of the paint industry is petrolium based. Much of the solvent industry is petrolium based. We use petrolium based fuel to raise and harvest our food. We use petrolium based fuel to transport all of our goods. We use petrolium based fuel (natural gas) to heat our homes and factories and offices. And the list goes on & on & on......... In other words, stop driving and it gets a little better but the problem does not go away. The short term answer is coal - anyone want to re-consider having a nuclear power plant built in his or her backyard? Tom www.kegkits.com ----Original Message---- From: Zoltan Finks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: 11/09/07 02:15 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Subject: Re: [MBZ] Diesels Vs Hybrids -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ah another opportunity to float an opinion. You're right, Rich, it is informative and interesting to hear all of us sound off (and I've been doing it a lot lately I know). It is demoralizing to hear about what China and India and whoever else are doing - seems it would more than cancel out anything sensible we do over here. But I have a theory that if all Americans (extremely theoretical, I know) would just make one change, our energy problem would be solved. The one I was thinking of yesterday as I walked the pooch was this: If everyone would just start driving in a reasonable fashion rather than mashing the accelerator senslessly, I think the impact would be huge. I'm talking about behavior like accelerating fast even though there is a stop sign or a nice downhill in 50 ft. The amount of time gained by driving like mad is often negligible. People just fricking don't think when they drive. It's rush up on the car in front of you and tail them - even when you are not in any particular hurry. I wish folks would just take a second and ask themselves: Why am I raving like this? I think TV and movies have a lot to do with promoting this - especially in young people. It was an eye opener for me recently when I had the opportunity to get a ride from an about 19 year old boy. He told me that people drive so slow and it "pisses the f___ out of you. And you just have to tailgate them to let them know." Next time you see a young person drive, watch them - they are very rough on the car. And watch the "gangsta'" types drive. It is standard m.o. to pretty much floorboard the car everytime you take off, and yank the wheel when making turns. Unfortunately a lot of times these cars are mid 90's Chevy Caprices which probably are getting about 8 mpg around town under these driving conditions. Anyway, I know human nature will never change. But I do literally think that eliminating this problem alone could make an immense difference. Brian David wrote: The bottom line however, must remian in the way in which we use power. Do we really need a 4,000 sq. foot home? Can we not wait to go to Wal Mart until we need more than a bottle of ketchup in town? Would it hurt us in some way to walk to the local corner store for that candy bar we desire? _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com