Re: Time to cut our dependence on and therefore our interest in the...

Jerry Okamura wrote:

"Alan Lichtenstein" <arl@xxxxxxx> wrote in message news:DN6dnWBjbpWCgpveRVn-jw@xxxxxxxxxx

Olly Mensch wrote:


Paul - surely you know the answer to your own question; it is not so
complex  or new- or different.  People -= all of us - some more, some
less - are driven by all kinds of motives to do what we do; not always
very sensible.  But we are free to do so,and industry is free to respond
to our foolishness,and pesent us with what they believe we want. Or even
vice versa.
It does not take an Einstein to figure that out - or to question it,
even though no one forces you to like it!.
Olly

Yes, Olly, we are all free to do what we want just so long as our pursuit of our freedom doesn't impinge on someone else's pursuit of their freedom. When we have a finite resource, such as oil, we cannot permit those who have money to waste the resource, because it impinges on the remainder of the population. Consequently, your argument fails that test, because if we allow people to purchase SUV's when they have no real need for the vehicles simply because they can, then their pursuit of freedom does impinge on everyone else's.


Nice sentiments, but just about impossible to achieve it seems to me, i.e. pursuing our freedom which does not impinge on someone else's pursuit of their freedom.

Hardly, Jerry. We have laws which restrict unabashed exercise of freedom due to the assertion. Have you not heard of laws preventing assault, robbery, harassment, etc., all of which prevent one from exercising his personal freedom to the detriment of others. And in that vein, let us not forget the recent Patriot Act. Obviously, you have heard the clichÈ that your right to exercise your freedom ends at my nose.

Now what do you think that means?

And have you not heard of rationing, so prevalent in WWII? If the wealthy want to purchase their SUV's because it is their freedom to do so, why let them. They just won't be able to fill up their tank whenever they want, because the common good will have oil available for all.

As for who we "allow" to utilize a limited resource such as
oil, it seems to me that includes all of us who use that oil, not only those who sell that oil.

Exactly, Jerry. Do you think that some should be allowed to waste that resource to the detriment of all simply because they can, crying freedom of choice?

For that matter, if there were not people who are
willing to buy that oil, then there would not be people who produce and sell the oil. As for the SUV argument, that also seems to me to apply to a whole bunch of things we use. For example, since all of us are retired on this newsgroup, do we all really need to have spent our earths valuable resources, using the very computer we are now using? Think about what raw materials that were used in the construction of this "toy"? How about the electericity that is consumed while we are using this "toy"? And this toy only lasts a couple of years before it is replaced, either because it does not work well anymore, or because we want something that is a little faster....wasting valuable resources perhaps? You should come to my house and take a look in my garage....quite an accumulation of old computers, displays and other computer stuff that no longer works. Do you travel? How much "limited" resources does that require? If no one travelled for pleasure, how much resources would we save?

Your example is ill placed because there is not the waste of finite resources. An SUV uses far more gasoline than standard vehicles, and if the owner has no use for the characteristics of the vehicle which require that use, then the owner is a wasteful inconsiderate.

			Alan

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Time to cut our dependence on and therefore our interest in the...
    ... > of our freedom doesn't impinge on someone else's pursuit of their freedom. ... oil, it seems to me that includes all of us who use that oil, not only those ... resources, using the very computer we are now using? ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Re: Time to cut our dependence on and therefore our interest in the...
    ... i.e. pursuing our freedom which does not impinge on someone else's pursuit of their freedom. ... They just won't be able to fill up their tank whenever they want, because the common good will have oil available for all. ... Wasting finite resources is a crime and should be treated as such. ... public transportation cannot support the lifestyle we have chosen for ourselves and is impractical to do so. ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Re: Time to cut our dependence on and therefore our interest in the...
    ... >> pursuit of their freedom. ... > Hardly, Jerry. ... > because the common good will have oil available for all. ... We waste all kinds of resources. ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Re: OT Gas Prices and the Blame Game
    ... Freedom is Good - Mandates are Bad. ... But, if you don't like Freedom, then pick a slave master. ... insults damage and deplete our collective natural resources, ... oil and gas rights, and water rights). ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: OT Gas Prices and the Blame Game
    ... Freedom is Good - Mandates are Bad. ... But, if you don't like Freedom, then pick a slave master. ... insults damage and deplete our collective natural resources, ... oil and gas rights, and water rights). ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
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