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Originally Posted by abaya
Yep, I was just thinking that you could say the same about charities... there's always bad apples out there, but that doesn't mean you should stop giving to all of them as a result. I found EasyJet's page to be fairly transparent... more than I expected, at least. They were detailed enough that one could probably look up the green company itself, contact it, and do a background check... no harm in doing that, either.
Once again, you're under no obligation to do a carbon offset, so why the protest? Just curious.
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I have no protest. I think it silly that Mr. Gore touts the benefits of offsests but still doesn't downsize his life to fit into something more reasonable. I find that objectionable.
I don't find offsets themselves objectionable. Again, I find it odd that someone can just buy "indulgences" like they did to the church centuries ago. I don't agree that one should play a system in order to make themselves feel better or look better within the community.
As far as homeless and outreach programs are concerned, I do agree it is a matter of scale. But at the same time, giving your leftover doggy bag to some panhandler or making an extra sandwhich or handing a dollar directly to a homeless person is similar to cutting back on energy consumption directly. But to continue to waste food and not give anything directly to the homeless and just to outreach for the sake of getting Homeless Points seems kind of silly.
If you want to donate to green companies, I'm all for that. But to attention whore it with a score card system seems a bit more like not doing it for the need but more doing it to show someone else you care.
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
negative externalities
This is what needs to be factored into every purchase you make. Carbon offsets present an opportunity to factor these hidden costs into your purchases.
Perhaps the better way would be for governments to build them into a tax on industry. Any takers on higher taxes? Didn't think so.
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Yes, I'd rather pay higher taxes than so called FEES.
If it's a tax, call it that. Call a spade a spade. I'm fucking sick and tired of companies taking on fees and then saying that they aren't taxes. But I don't want to pay that extra fee that isn't part of the service.
I pay alot in taxes. I'd be happy to pay more if there was specific uses that weren't allowed to be touched unless for those specific uses. I know all too much they borrow from funds here and there all over the damned place.
An example of this is the E911 fee you pay for your cellular service. I've been paying it for over a decade. It is mandatory to pay this fee. Yet the service that E911 is supposed to provide is that they are supposed to pin point your location instantly. But somehow that money that's MILLIONS of dollars hasn't gotten used for that. People have died because the E911 service still isn't fully implemented in New York City.
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Last edited by Cynthetiq; 08-16-2007 at 07:10 PM..
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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