Re: Basic Choices and Constraints on Long-Term Energy Supplies

[Richard Tarara <rbtarara@SPRYNET.COM>]

Yes to David's comment, but other things as well.  For example, massive
car-pooling could cut our _total_ energy use by 5%.  How do you get people
to car pool?  Special lanes don't work--we always drive straight through
downtown Atlanta when travelling to Florida because we can use the commuter
lane and it is always empty!  However, elimination of parking and/or
oppressively high parking fees can do the job.  That works in places like
Chicago and certainly in the NY area to encourage use of mass transit.
[However, greatly increasing mass transit--other than busses--is an
extremely expensive undertaking, while car-pooling is infra-structure
free.]   Tax incentives can be used to encourage all kinds of
behavior--from having fewer (or more) children to driving more fuel
efficient cars, as long as the incentives are large enough.  But in the
end, I agree that using the media to encourage (glorify) certain behavior
is probably a key strategy.

Rick

> [Original Message]
> From: David T. Marx <dtmarx@ILSTU.EDU>
>
> I believe he was referring to the tried and true methods of propaganda -
media (including
> entertainment: movies and television) - that are already so effective in
our political process
> throughout Europe and the United States.
>
> > Richard Tarara wrote:
> >
> > > ... it will take a lot of social engineering
> > > to change the life-styles of those millions
> > > to consume less.
> >
> > Prof. Tarara, what kind of social engineering methods are you referring
to?
> > Rick Strickert

****************************
Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
rtarara@saintmarys.edu

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