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There are more choices than the extremes. But if those are the only choices offered, the citizenry may simply prefer more pollution over reductions in productiv
by AuthorizedCust 8y ago
There are more choices than the extremes. But if those are the only choices offered, the citizenry may simply prefer more pollution over reductions in productivity or convenience.
That's not an irrational choice, unless your prerogative is that there's no value in personal transportation, which is extreme. I see that a lot, and it's a first cousin of the "if it just saved one life" argument, which erroneously assumes there's no value in any other perspectives.
Nothing comes without cost. Even public transit has consequences, and at least in the USA, it's far less "clean" than commonly believed.
- wincent 8y agoThe plan as implemented in Madrid isn't very extreme though. There is a long list of exceptions for getting into the restricted zone, including going into a public parking lot. https://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/Movilidad-y-transportes/Madrid-Central-Zona-de-Bajas-Emisiones/Criterios-de-acceso/Criterios-de-Acceso-y-Autorizaciones/?vgnextfmt=default&vgnextoid=b22fda4581f64610VgnVCM2000001f4a900aRCRD&vgnextchannel=cdfd96d2742f6610VgnVCM1000001d4a900aRCRD https://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/Movilida...
- marcosdumay 8y agoSo, what I get from that is that they made sure it won't be a problem for anybody rich. I would be angry if my citie's government imposed a restriction with such a list of exceptions.
- Al-Khwarizmi 8y agoI still have to see a workable plan for emissions reduction that the rich cannot circumvent (except banning cars altogether, which would create outrage). Tax entering the city center? Not a problem for the rich, who can pay easily. Tax cars depending on emissions? The same. Allow electric cars only? The rich have money to buy a Tesla. Allow only even or odd license plates depending on the day? The rich can buy two cars, one with odd and another with even license plate. Allow entering only if you use a paid public parking lot? The rich can pay for that. Disallow non-residents? The rich can buy a flat in the center. Let's not fool ourselves, saving the planet and people's lungs mean that some things that are now widely reachable have to become scarce. And however we frame it, elites will always have better access to scarce resources. Still, I'd rather save the planet and my lungs than do nothing. And we can always tax the rich more to compensate.
- marcosdumay 8y agoA tax for entering the city center would be much more equitable. My expectation is that this one plan creates exactly such a tax in practice, but it's privately collected by the few people rich enough to own land there.
- impostir 8y agoThey didn't block all personal transport, only most no-local vehicles. I would be a lot more convinced by the pro car arguments if they debated the actual issues. No one is saying destroy all cars and roads, the argument is on the importance of the car in the general transit system.