> refusal to let private enterprise get on with making, doing, exporting, building Agreed. However, blatant consumerism is causing massive global environmental

> refusal to let private enterprise get on with making, doing, exporting, building Agreed. However, blatant consumerism is causing massive global environmental damage. Industry & private enterprise should produce things that help society & the world, not pillage and destroy it. Face it, the economy was on hyper-drive for too many years. We have for too long deferred paying our debts and missed making fundamental changes to our economy and society that would make our society (not just the environment) more sustainable. Joblessness and a down economy would have happened with or without California regulations. > The only way the energy problems are going to be solved is by letting free enterprise innovate and compete to a solution. Governments can't and shouldn't pick winners. Let any energy solution live and die on it's merits. Exactly, that would be wonderful. Unfortunately the government has & still gives enormous subsidies to many environmentally (both sociologically and environmentally) damaging industries. For example, why is food so cheap to mass produce in a centralized location and ship, so we can enjoy fattening and nutrient-starved meals at our local Micky D's? Government subsidies. Why is oil so prevalent as our only energy source. Government subsidies of the auto industry. Let them go out of business so manufacturers make cars that people actually want. Why is planned obsolescence such a mainstay in consumer goods, when more practical solutions exist? The all-mighty dollar has served as a Siren's song to the unchecked finance gambling machine. Why do we have to spend billions of hours commuting, away from our families, when we can focus on making industries more localized and developing telecommuting technologies? And how about the military as a vehicle of subsidization. Why are we fighting two wars based on false premises while pillaging social security? Why is there a war on drugs? Subsidies. I would rather have subsidies spent on encouraging more sustainable behavior, as the world population's resource usage is rapidly increasing. It just makes sense.