Comments on: stimulate me one more time

By: Doris Williams

Doris Williams — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:22:11 +0000

“overall government policies continue to encourage more driving at the expense of alternatives, leaving Americans poorer, stuck in worsening traffic, and emitting dangerous levels of global-warming pollution.”

It is this quote I’d like to comment on. In regards to sitting in traffic when I’m not taking a bike or public transportation, I help global warming issue by turning off my engine if I know I’m waiting for more than 10 seconds at a traffic intersection. I have been doing it for more than 5 years with my ’91 Honda Station Wagon and it hasn’t done anything to it! My mileage has actually gone up from the gas it saves. it also saves wear and tear on your car, contrary to popular belief. So I have been standing at left-hand turn lanes with a “STOP IDLING” sign and handing out literature and stickers. People have been pretty responsive, maybe 25% of them and had never thought of turning off engines at traffic lights. Oregon has published a pamphlet on this subject, and various cities in the U.S. and Canada are trying to legislate banning idling, at least for trucks and school buses. Doing this and urging other people to do so makes me feel a whole lot better about our environment. Rather than waiting for government to do something, we can all do our part! I also can’t afford a Prius!

Thank you for all you do to help public transportation!

Doris Williams
Palo Alto, CA

By: Capricious Commuter

Capricious Commuter — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:04:27 +0000

Reedman, the question voters will need to decide is whether high-speed rail is a reasonable long-term investment that pays regular dividends, as you suggest, savings bonds that will be worth something in a couple decades or mortgage-backed securities.

By: Reedman

Reedman — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:11:33 +0000

The difference between stimulus checks and HSR is the stimulus checks are a one-time government expense. HSR would be like Social Security, where a small amount of money is paid in, and a lot of money is paid out every year forever.

By: Capricious Commuter

Capricious Commuter — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:30:44 +0000

First, the wind-up, then the pitch…

Nicely done, Robert.

By: Robert Cruickshank

Robert Cruickshank — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:40:22 +0000

The stimulus checks were really a giveaway to oil companies and a stimulus to the banking industry – Congress knew the money would either go to pay for gas or to the banks in the form of credit card payments or savings (thereby helping shore up shaky bank reserve levels).

Real stimulus would involve something like, oh I don’t know, approving a high speed rail system that would begin construction by 2010 and employ a significant amount of people…