From: mjvande@pbhye.PacBell.COM (Mike Vandeman)
Subject: Save the Planet and the Economy at the Same time!
Organization: Pacific * Bell
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 04:17:55 GMT
Followup-To: sci.environment

                                   December 20, 1992

President Bill Clinton
Vice President Al Gore
Transition Office
1120 Vermont Avenue, 11th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20270

Re: A Simple Way to Save the Economy, and the Planet, Too!

Gentlemen:

     Believe it or not, there is a simple way to save our economy,
restore social equity, and save the planet, with one act!

     The world is broke. We need a source of funds to pay off the
national debt, protect our citizens, and protect the environment.
It should be a sustainable source, not achieved by liquidating more
of our natural resources.

     The answer is staring us in the face: take it from the rich,
who have far too much already. It is obvious that much that is
wrong with our country is due to the unconscionable gap between the
rich and poor. But the key is How do we identify the "rich" and
               ________________________________________________
their "excess" wealth, in an equitable (nonarbitrary) way?
_________________________________________________________ 

     The answer is simple. We already know that the automobile and
its relatives and accoutrements (e.g. roads, CFC-containing air
conditioners, used tires, etc.) constitute the world's greatest
threat to our environment and quality of life. We also know that
the rich own and operate motor vehicles more than the poor. The
                                                            ___
answer is to apply appropriate taxes to the ownership, fuelling,
________________________________________________________________
and operation of automobiles and other motor vehicles,
______________________________________________________
approximately in proportion to the damage they do.
_________________________________________________ 

     This would have numerous beneficial effects: it would humanely
                                                  _________________
reduce the use of motor vehicles, conserving our natural resources
________________________________                                  
for more essential, environmentally sound uses (e.g. making
toothbrushes). It would not force anyone to stop driving; they
                            _____                             
could continue to do so, if they simply pay a fair charge to do it:
it preserves our individual rights and freedoms. At the same time,
it provides much-needed funds to shift emphasis from a wasteful,
destructive habit to more essential uses (reducing the national
debt, education, health and environmental research, habitat
preservation, pollution reduction, public transit. etc.).

     If too much money is provided (above that needed to repair the
destruction caused by motor vehicles), some of it can be used to
reduce the use of more regressive taxes, such as sales taxes and
income taxes, which cause the rich/poor gap to widen, while
providing little compensating benefit.

     I would be happy to help you work out these and similar
policies.

                                   Sincerely,


                                   Michael J. Vandeman, Ph.D.
Newsgroups: sci.environment