Ken In addition, it might be useful to ban auto traffic in high density areas. It
would be difficult, but worth a debate in our major cities. My local paper this
morning predicts 60 to 70 extra deaths this summer (in a city of about half a
million) due to air pollution. Properly handled this should at least generate some
public discussion.
Rod
Ken Hanly wrote:
> If there really is an emergency and people are convinced of that I don't see
> why rationing
> would not work. While I agree that public transportation should be supported,
> as long as the
> rich don't use it they will use their influence and power to sabotage attempts
> to subsidize a system they do not use. You are right of course about the growth
> of grey markets and black markets that still afford the well off superior
> treatment under rationing. THe same thing happens with our medicare system
> where doctors, and politicians jump queues or travel to the US but the system
> nevertheless works reasonably well--and would work much better if
> properly funded. If the rich are part of the rationing system then they have a
> stake in it and will be interested in seeing to it that it works. At least you
> show concern for the relative impact of policies on different income groups.
> Mark Jones apparently thinks this is fiddling while Rome burns.
>
> Jim Devine wrote:
>
> > At 09:41 PM 06/27/2000 -0500, you wrote:
> > > Although I appreciate Jim Devine's argument for higher gas prices
> > > there is a definite income bias involved. The relatively well off can
> > > continue to drive their SUV's etc. while the lower middle classes will be
> > > priced right out of the automobile market. This saves oil but in a
> > > totally unfair way. THe large group of drivers who now enjoy relatively
> > > cheap gas can hardly be blamed for opposing a more progressive energy
> > > pricing policy if it threatens to end or curtail their enjoyment of
> > > automobiles while those well off continue as before. Why not ration
> > > gasoline as was done in wartime? Rationing by the market is rationing for
> > > the rich.
> >
> > Rationing is only a defensive maneuver, one that eventually gets weak as
> > the rich use their political connections and their ability to afford high
> > illegal-market prices. Though it worked during WW 2 in the US, how long
> > could it have lasted?
> >
> > Instead, the government should deal with the problem by increasing the
> > amount and quality of public mass transit drastically, including getting
> > many more of these natural-gas-driven wheelchair-friendly busses. Much of
> > the expense can be covered by the gas tax. In general, the idea is to move
> > toward the best W. European model.
> >
> > Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] & http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/~JDevine
--
Rod Hay
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
The History of Economic Thought Archive
http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/~econ/ugcm/3ll3/index.html
Batoche Books
http://Batoche.co-ltd.net/
52 Eby Street South
Kitchener, Ontario
N2G 3L1
Canada
