Article

2011-01-16 Economy

Great Recession Improving US Air Quality

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Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-01-16 05:49|| || Front Page|| [11128 views ] Top

#1 The US has long hence reached the point of diminishing returns with air quality.

In the 1960s, our air was terrible. The combination of using better quality crude oil, with much less sulfur; unleaded gasoline, because of better engines; and catalytic converters radically improved air quality.

This continued in the 1970s, with industries being forced to scrub their waste smoke, and the 1980s being forced to reduce toxic waste gases, mostly nitrous oxides that created the infamous "acid rain."

And that was 80-90% of the problem. But making our air cleaner than that, suddenly the cost and difficulty goes through the roof. The reason is that much of the remaining "pollutants", like 'particulates', are natural.

This didn't stop the EPA, a decade ago, from at least considering that Phoenix should reduce its dust particulates by "watering down the desert". While ludicrous, it points out where we are now in terms of diminishing returns.

The left, however, has concluded that the only way things can be improved further, is to stop all energy production in the United States.

Posted by Anonymoose 2011-01-16 08:51|| 2011-01-16 08:51|| Front Page Top

#2 The left, however, has concluded that the only way things can be improved further, is to stop all energy production in the United States.

and with CO2 declared a pollutant, quit exhaling

Posted by Frank G 2011-01-16 08:58|| 2011-01-16 08:58|| Front Page Top

#3 Even in the 60's our air was not 'terrible,' thought it HAS improved a lot, and I appreciate that. There were pockets of terrible air, especially during weather inversions, and to a lesser degree there still are. But for the most part we have exported our air pollution to China.

Posted by Glenmore 2011-01-16 09:51|| 2011-01-16 09:51|| Front Page Top

#4 Imagine how much less pollution we'd have without 15 million illegals.

Posted by Jack Salami 2011-01-16 10:26|| 2011-01-16 10:26|| Front Page Top

#5 But for the most part we have exported our air pollution to China.

Oh, goodie. Bring that up. Give them a rationalization for more taxes. It's not an 'unfair' trade tariff, it's a air quality surcharge.

Posted by Procopius2k 2011-01-16 10:42|| 2011-01-16 10:42|| Front Page Top

#6 Actually, that's part of the problem.

Make stuff here? Get taxed massively.

Import stuff from elsewhere? "Hey, don't you believe in free trade?"

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2011-01-16 12:46|| 2011-01-16 12:46|| Front Page Top

#7 Very soon they're going to end domestic food production via regulatory fiat. After we all starve the air will be pristine!

Posted by AzCat 2011-01-16 13:10|| 2011-01-16 13:10|| Front Page Top

#8 The purpose of a regulatory agency is to REGULATE. If people do not follow the regulations, they will be fined and/or jailed until they and everyone else obeys. If everyone follows the regulations, the only thing the regulatory agency can do is to come up with more regulations. And the great circle of life continues.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2011-01-16 15:57|| 2011-01-16 15:57|| Front Page Top

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