disdaniel

Leaving Green to the Free Market - Barron's

Here is the letter I wrote to Donlan in response to the Barron's article (quotes are taken directly from the article):

Who are earth's real friends?
Obviously not Barrons!

Banning DDT: "It has been a huge success at a minimal cost."

Lead-free gas: "Removal of lead from the atmosphere by banning it from gasoline is also a big success"

"at a significant but hidden cost"
"Nobody has ever told us how much more we pay for cars whose emissions are lead free"
"but Americans are probably glad to pay it for the improvement in public health"

How do you a) know it was significant if nobody ever told you how much? b) get off your lazy duff and do some research to find out! and c) if Americans are glad to pay it then maybe the cost wasn't as significant as you intimate/speculate--in... the cost may have been negative considering the public health benefit.

If the "free" market is so good at valuing wildlife and clean air, then why did it take government action to create these success?

and lastly WHY OH WHY are you grousing about a $3 billion NYC energy efficiency/building improvement investment that will save NYC building owners $750 million per year? Is mandating an investment with a 25% return so horrible?