in: chitownclark; chitownclark > 2008-05-26;
| # Posted 2008-05-27 19:44:02 | |
| mkaira: | Are you talking about high gas prices? We have here in Finland about $8.50 per gallon, and they are still going up. I'm happy to have a Prius. |
| # Posted 2008-05-28 16:56:46 | |
| chitownclark: | Yes, gas prices have been going up quite quickly here. The psychological $4/gallon barrier has been breached in many places, including Chicago. While that may be only half of your prices, it is the rate of increase that causes people to change behavior I believe. If prices level off at $4 for a year or so, all our bad habits will resume. Because even still, $4 is a very low price for gas.
When I was in the Netherlands last week, I was amazed that so many cars were on the road. Traffic jams everywhere. So many Europeans apparantly still consider $8.50/gallon gas to be a worthwhile expenditure. Isn't car ownership in Finland continuing to increase also? But we know everything is about to change. Big time. |
| # Posted 2008-05-28 19:30:41 | |
| fthfl stwrd rudy: | Its amazing to me that people will completely change their lives for $10/week. But not for their own health, health of their children and neighbors and friends, quality of life and survival of the planet! You could make the same general observation about becoming a vegetarian, giving up junk or fast food, and other things I suppose. |
| # Posted 2008-05-28 22:27:24 | |
| jtorranc: | I'm sure it's now a lot more than $10/week more than people had become accustomed to for many people but your point remains. Much depends on what one believes constitutes "quality of life". I don't think very many people at all are willing to give up more than token amounts of whatever they believe is crucial to their quality of life for no other reason than the greater good. |
| # Posted 2008-05-28 22:47:50 | |
| chitownclark: | ...But not for their own health, health of their children and neighbors and friends...
And furthermore, it seems that it is the most family-oriented people who are the least concerned about leaving their children and grandchildren a livable planet. What with all the SUV-driving, McDonald's-eating, McMansion-living, disposables-buying, TV-watching... that has come to be recognized as the ideal American lifestyle. But we know everything is about to change. Big time. |
| # Posted 2008-05-29 02:13:29 | |
| fthfl stwrd rudy: | Not neccesarily for the better though. Two bads don't make a good. |
| # Posted 2008-05-29 17:45:23 | |
| chitownclark: | Well if you have had any doubts that other countries are beating us at our own lifestyle, just look at this.... |
| # Posted 2008-05-29 19:36:34 | |
| fthfl stwrd rudy: | thats amazing - the US on steroids, as they say. Being a crane operator there would be interesting. DO they actually manage not to crash into each other? |
| # Posted 2008-05-29 20:27:05 | |
| jtorranc: | Amazing, yes. Beating the US at its own lifestyle, I'm not so sure about. They certainly appear to be building densely and my initial searches online seem to indicate they're spending a lot of money on mass transit projects as they do so. The end result may well be about as sustainable as a large city in an arid region can hope to be. |
| # Posted 2008-05-29 22:14:13 | |
| fthfl stwrd rudy: | as sustainable as a city w/ artificial ski slopes in the desert can hope to be???:) well, it is good to remember that city density is more efficient. maybe corbu had it right after all. |
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