The "51 Things" art. was interesting. Once you got past "Ethanol" and "Pay The Carbon Tax" pointers...
(Ethanol releases carbon when the raw material is farmed, when it's shipped, when it's made into ethanol, when it's shipped again, and when it's burned in an engine; aside from producing less energy than it takes to make it...
I'd like to see a worldwide carbon tax that would be anything other than a morass as dark as pure coal and as deep as an oilwell. )
As Chovy pointed out, we can actually improve our quality of life by making this a priority. As an example, the models for cities that produce the lowest carbon emissions (ie places where people live close to their jobs, goods, and services) are also the ones that historically produce the strongest families and most responsive government in a democratic system.
When a person and his family live, work, and shop in a small area, he becomes more involved in his community. He sees his dollar circulating. He chats with people instead of driving past them. It becomes important to know who's running for mayor. The trails and sidewalks that make a good walking town become a point of pride. People learn how much it costs to run the city dump...
And so it goes.
I see the new energy/carbon paradigm as one of the best things that's come down the pike in a long time. At least as much fun as putting a man on the moon.
