Model Legislation

Politically speaking, it makes me happy to see people – as individuals and communities – taking charge of their own responsibilities. We shouldn’t need a law that says you shouldn’t get into a car and drive when you can’t control it. Realistically, I know plenty of people do just that, and worse, I know people who would never drive drunk who regularly drive half-drunk with sleepiness or distracted while changing CDs or dialing their cell phones.

I also know that some of the big vehicle drivers on the road, gulping up our natural resources and belching millions of tons of emissions in to our air, don’t have a reason to have a truck or an SUV besides how it looks and makes them feel. Realistically, reasonably, many drivers today could downsize without making a significant impact on their lives. They’re also a danger, but how do we address it?

There is a sentiment growing that a special license or permit be established for drivers of these vehicles requiring some proof that a large, gas guzzling, air polluting vehicle is really necessary for you to live your life day-to-day. Similar, I suppose, to a handicap parking permit.

On one hand, I believe that the more power we give the government, the more power they’ll take, and that increasing legislation in itself is a risk. On the other, it’s clear that (at least here in the US) consumers are more concerned with ego and status than how their lifestyles affect our planet.

When push comes to shove, I’m putting my money on the human intellect. We WILL continue to support earth-happier transportation. Our choices WILL continue to grow. We WILL stop putting ourselves first and start seeing “world” as a whole. I wouldn’t support legislation like this at this time, but I am for the government offering incentives like tax credits for buyers of alternative autos, grants to cities to promote mass transit options, etc.

What kinds of laws would you support? More importantly, do YOU really need the car you’re driving? I’ll answer first!