[Vision2020] Sustainable Growth

[Ted Moffett]

Tom:

I have supported, through attempts to contact legislators, an effort to 
dramatically increase the fuel efficiency requirements for the US fleet of 
automobiles and trucks.  The current political/business climate in the USA 
of course renders such an idea unpopular.  And of course the personal 
choices people make to buy gas guzzling polluting vehicles are hard to 
influence.

In terms of Moscow's growth, and the impact on traffic congestion and air 
quality, the sale of farmland and/or re-zoning of this land for development, 
should perhaps be evaluated more in terms of how the new residents of these 
outlying areas will add to traffic etc.  But I admit I have not been much of 
a local activist to directly influence the legal machinations of development 
in Moscow or Latah County.

These are questions of value judgments over which there is obviously much 
disagreement.  I am a walker, runner and bicyclist, when weather allows, 
sometimes even when it doesn't, so I often see cars and trucks and SUVs as a 
blight on the landscape, noisy and air polluting devices that people could 
often avoid using to the betterment of their health, and the enjoyment of 
the city, by riding a bike to work, class or to pick up some groceries, etc.

One spring and summer I commuted on my bike 20 miles a day to work and back 
home, for four months straight, putting in over 2000 miles.  At least for 
that summer, you had my solution.  The solution could start with each 
person's behavior libertarian style, rather than trying to legislate a 
solution, though sometimes laws are what is required.  That is why I am not 
totally a libertarian, though I like the political philosophy of 
libertarianism.

Ted


>From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen@moscow.com>
>Reply-To: <thansen@moscow.com>
>To: "Ted Moffett" <ted_moffett@hotmail.com>, <london@moscow.com>
>CC: <vision2020@moscow.com>
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Sustainable Growth
>Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 16:57:04 -0700
>
>And your solution, Mr. Moffett, is . . . ?
>
>Tom Hansen
>
> >

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