Laurence said:
You forgot the smiley face.
I drive a stick shift car to work that get's nearly the gas mileage your car does, and the gas money is primarily spent by DW taking my disabled daughter to therapy. If you read more than one post of mine, you'd know I've already minimized my energy consumption in a lot of ways. But hey, that's o.k. bring it on, show me what you got. Just make your shots across the bow less passive-aggresive.
Despite your sarcasm, a smiley was considered. I put it in. Took it out. Put it in. Took it out.
I've read many of your posts. From memory, you have a cute and proud picture of you and your new baby, you had a contest for your new baby's name (that was you, wasn't it?), you lived near the epicenter of the Northridge earthquake, you are in IT or an IT'ish field, you live in or near San Diego, you like or at least have cats, and you are a Bronco fan. Except for the baby, I remember these items because I can relate. I'm a Bronco fan, love cats, know about earthquakes (computer simulated the ground motions of the Northridge earthquake), etc.
I didn't know about your daughter with DS. I assume you mentioned this in an effort to make me feel bad (now that's passive-aggressive). Well, I did feel bad.
You brought up the subject. Even though I was familar with your recent posts, I went back and read or quickly scanned everything you wrote since August 1 (510 posts). While I could have missed a few, outside the current thread, you touched on personal energy conservation in only two posts ... you mentioned the gas mileage of your Volvo twice (28 mpg), and in one of those posts you said that your power bill went from $85 to $65 when you switched to florescents. You made reference to your daughter having downs syndrome in two or three posts. You never mentioned your DW taking your daughter to therapy. You mentioned alcohol or alcohol consumption in perhaps 30-40 posts (sorry for not counting, but my obsession goes only so far). Apparently, you put on 12.5 miles on your Volvo from December 2005 through August 2006. I do not fully understand this since you mentioned your commute was only 12 miles (maybe your DW drives the Volvo). But to address your claim, I have read 510 of your posts and I have not seen much discussion about how you have minimized your energy consumption. Perhaps this was discussed prior to August 1.
My response was not directed specifically at you. However, it does surprise me when some of the most vocal proponents of environmental and other so-called liberal causes are also the biggest consumers of energy. Some individuals spout the typical rhetoric in one sentence and then gleefully share the delights of their many cross-country RV trips in the next sentence. Travel is often associated with ER, but travel also means energy consumption and waste. I'm sorry. You can't have it both ways. This reminds me of individuals who have "Don't Pollute" bumper stickers on the back of their SUV's.
Do you really drive 3500 miles/month (the estimated mileage from energy efficient vehicles at $300/month)? If so, and if this is to benefit your daughter, do you feel at least the slightest bit of gratitude that you live in a gas-guzzling environmentally-polluting war-mongering country that allows you to do what you feel is best for your family? Do you know how much you would spend on gas if you lived in, say, Norway? It is very possible that you would not have the financial resources that allow your DW to drive your daughter to therapy.
While your Volvo gets respectable gas mileage, an environmentally conscious person would immediately exchange it for a Prius or other such vehicle. A guess is that the energy *saved* from this earth friendly act would be greater than the per capita energy consumption of many if not most people in the world. It boggles the mind that the average American, including you, including me, can save more energy through simple steps than what the average person around the world consumes. Or, you could become a real environmentalist and not drive. Use mass transit. Ride a bicycle. I know several people who commute 20-50 miles daily on a bike. Each way. Watch that weight drop. It would seem to be an easy solution for a person training to run a marathon. Think of the cross training benefits. Save up for that solar power system by skipping the booze. If you really care about the environment, let alone the hundred's of thousands of people killed in alcohol-related deaths, it's a sacrifice you'll be willing to make. Of course, as an average American, you are more likely to continue your energy consuming ways and still complain about what the administration and others are or are not doing. You say that America is the number one polluter. Well, who is up near the front of the pack?
As for me, my gas-electric bill is usually less than $15 dollars/month (it is higher when I use space heaters to care for ill cats). My low was $7.04. When I switched to florescents 5 years ago, my bill dropped by only $2 due to my already low usage. Except for my water heater and wall furnance, I have an all electric 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house. I do nothing special except to turn it off when it's not in use. Other than Khan, I may be the most energy efficient person on this forum. Yet I am not an environmentalist. I'm glad I have an automobile. I'm glad I can do all the things I get to do, even if it means wasting energy and polluting the earth. What I don't do is spout all the hypocritical rhetoric that comes from so many others. *I* am the problem. I am the cause of pollution and dwindling resources. I'm probably in the 90% percentile in the world-wide consumption of energy. What about you? You may be in the 95% percentile. Are you the problem, too? Is this even remotely possible?
Mind you, I'm not asking that you stop those 3500 miles. I'm not suggesting that you not have a high electric bill. I'm simply asking you to look in the mirror before telling others or the government what they should do.
Again, my comments are not directed specifically at you. I'm certainly not interested in an argument or anything else. You are obviously a great person with a lot of friends here. I'm a newbie. They will defend you, not me.
My time is limited. I've already spent way too much time on posts. If you respond, I may not see it. However, I will see it if you include it in a message.
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