California bill targets SUV pollution

SAN JOSE, Calif. ? Call it the Robin Hood approach to global warming. California drivers who buy new Hummers, Ford Expeditions and other big vehicles that emit high levels of greenhouse gases would pay a fee of ... via The Columbus Dispatch

[SYLVIA CLARK]

Hooray! I have always thought that these pig-headed flag-waving Americans that buy big hummers and trucks and RV's to ride around in are just sucking up all of our gas and oil reserves. Snowbirders are going nowhere...they meet out in some desert and do nothing...some soccer moms pick up kids in their hummers to go to the park??? Why are we sending soldiers over to Iraq ...for this priviledge?

Think about it.

[SYLVIA CLARK]

I forgot to say that these same people probably have a 'support our troops' bumper sticker on their vehicles.

[Connected]

Let me just say, my wife and I just purchased a 2007 Suburban that seats eight. We are a family of six. Try fitting a family of six and a few of their friends in one of those little econo boxes. We still have the mini van but face it, we just can't the fit the amount of people we often need to. So, you think I should pay a fee for driving one vehicle instead of two?

FYI, the Suburban has the VTech engine. It gets better mileage on the highway than our mini van.

[Lie Detective]

1.This is stupid. A fee? of up to 2,500?

2.This guy is crazy.

3.No, I do not drive and SUV, nor do I think anyone should that does not need one. But, who defines whether it is needed or not? We live in America might I remind you and it is a free country. A fee is ridiculus idea. Also, someone who buys a hummer can fork over 2,500 no problem. The one who cannot afford the fee are most likely the ones who actually need an SUV.

4.SUV's do not need to be gas guzzlers, why not work on an hybrid SUV.

[Lie Detective]

The grammar errors are due to me typing really fast and not proofreading until I post.

[Norm]

I do not agree with people who flaunt there "status" with a Escalde, Bently,, or hummers.
But I am sick of this government penalizing people for habits they deem "UN-Healthy">
The U.S. is/has been a dictatorship.

BTW, most high end imports have a gas guzzler tax of 10 grand.

[left of Limbaugh]

The issue should not be handled with penalties but with emission and gas mileage standards.

I guarantee that wherever the standards are set that the japanese will meet them ahead of schedule and that Detroit will hire more lawyers and lobbyists instead of engineers and will end up even farther behind.

Wake up Detroit!

[Lie Detective]

Better emission standards are definitly a better way to go.

[Norm]

Lie Detective wrote:

Better emission standards are definitly a better way to go.

natural and alternative energies is a better way to go.

[left of Limbaugh]

Norm wrote:

<quoted text>
natural and alternative energies is a better way to go.

I agree but during the transition we must keep improving existing technologies.

[mememine69]

left of Limbaugh wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree but during the transition we must keep improving existing technologies.

I found in my research that around 1900, people wondered what we would do with all of the horses needed by the year 2000. Let's trust science to evolve if we trust them enough to convince us that the planet is melting after billions of years from the CO2 that comes from our lungs and soda cans.

[facts]

About the people driving these large SUV's, dont forget they are already paying an extra premium for driving these beast's.In the form of fuel,which contributes to goverment coffer's and they re-direct the money wherever they want.So people that think they should pay extra for their choice of transportation should realize they already are.Some folks actually need a larger vehicle due to what they do for a living.And lets not forget most comunities are built to acommadate the automobile,urban sprall ect.The region I live in makes a four wheel drive pick up almost a necessity,Ya we get snow here,and there is a lot of elavation changes. I still have to go out and get to work ect.In closing I just got to say look beyond your own existance and realize there are a lot of differences on this planet.

[mememine69]

facts wrote:

About the people driving these large SUV's, dont forget they are already paying an extra premium for driving these beast's.In the form of fuel,which contributes to goverment coffer's and they re-direct the money wherever they want.So people that think they should pay extra for their choice of transportation should realize they already are.Some folks actually need a larger vehicle due to what they do for a living.And lets not forget most comunities are built to acommadate the automobile,urban sprall ect.The region I live in makes a four wheel drive pick up almost a necessity,Ya we get snow here,and there is a lot of elavation changes. I still have to go out and get to work ect.In closing I just got to say look beyond your own existance and realize there are a lot of differences on this planet.

I have an SUV also and a lady with a seven passenger minivan gave me an earfull yesterday. Gees!

[Varuna]

left of Limbaugh wrote:

The issue should not be handled with penalties but with emission and gas mileage standards.
I guarantee that wherever the standards are set that the japanese will meet them ahead of schedule and that Detroit will hire more lawyers and lobbyists instead of engineers and will end up even farther behind.
Wake up Detroit!

That sounds about right. They should penalize pick up trucks more than any other type of vehicle. Stupid young testosterone zombies keep buying them in fear that if they were to drive a fuel efficient car, they would become gay or something. I hate SoCal.

[Hybrid SUV is a oxymoron]

mememine69 wrote:

<quoted text>
I found in my research that around 1900, people wondered what we would do with all of the horses needed by the year 2000. Let's trust science to evolve if we trust them enough to convince us that the planet is melting after billions of years from the CO2 that comes from our lungs and soda cans.

QFT

Why does everyone get all indignant over other peoples car choices? Did you ever think we want something a bit more fun than a hybrid. That pollutes just as much as any other car.

[geezer]

the warmies are doing the same over here in the UK. Tax on new "CO2 emitters" will go up to £400 a year, but the real Goreheads wanted £2000 a year. The main anger is against SUVs, even if it is farmer, or people who live in the hills and mountains.
I have a Rolls Royce , 6750 cc engine, but it runs on LPG as well as gasoline. As it is older I pay the old tax , nearly £200 a year . PLUS we have the highest gasoline tax in the world - it is nearly $10 for an Imperial gallon now. It is our right to drive what we like. Actually my Rolls on LPG pollutes far less than some little fart box.

[Hybrid SUV is a oxymoron]

Geezer, you guys have ultra efficient low sulfur diesels over there. They pollute as much or less then hybrids and return even better MPG.

It is a joke we get taxed for what we choose to drive. Especially if you get road pricing over there!

[Connected]

I just don't like new taxes for anything. What's next?

[GWK]

Varuna wrote:

<quoted text>
That sounds about right. They should penalize pick up trucks more than any other type of vehicle. Stupid young testosterone zombies keep buying them in fear that if they were to drive a fuel efficient car, they would become gay or something. I hate SoCal.

Why not penalize hybrid cars owners as well. They have 50% more of a negative impact on our environment that a full size H1 Hummer. How? The production of the batteries for one. Nothing grows within miles from these plants where they are produced and these hybrids, example, the prius get about the same gas milage as a scion or yaris, and we don't have to worry about the disposal toxic batteries. Not everyone feels safe driving a Yaris though. Do you want your child to be in a 6000 pound Yukon or a Yaris if you were to get into a accident? As far as living in SoCal, There are 1000 people coming into the state a month that would love to fill your spot. You only live once. Find a place that you like.:-)

[Butch]

Why not tax people with low IQ's like GWK? Does he/she really believe that hybrids have a more negative environmental impact than a hummer? How much extra pollution do you think is created by the extra 3100 pounds of unnecessary material in a Yukon "Denial" and the fuel that it consumes over a lifetime? Also the batteries are not "toxic" and they are recycled at the end of their useful life. If safety is an issue for you why don't you get a Volvo that doesn't create an additional danger for other drivers that choose to drive normal-sized cars?