The lack of economic incentives depressed the development of ozone-safe alternative solvents and cleaning systems. Gradual phase-outs of polluting processes is the only viable choice, and the sooner the politicians understand there are no choices the sooner they will get down to the difficult work at hand. Similarly, it makes no sense to drain the Colorado River to plant golf courses in the desert. At the risk of annoying many, many voters, its time the politicians stepped up to the plate. Economic incentives work.
Gasoline taxes can be an important part of the effort to improve air quality.
The best way to protect the environment are to find ways to make it part of the efficient and relentless energy of the free market. Complex regulations do not work. Complex regulations are a cure which is worse than the disease. Regulations are generally too rigid to adapt to changing circumstances, too full of loopholes and interpretation, and too far removed from the marketplace. The re-regulation of the cable TV industry is a recent example of misguided effort that went awry, and some aspects of the Endangered Species Act, the wetlands protection efforts and onerous VOC regulations are exhibiting similar trends.