Quote:
Originally Posted by CobraBall
Wonderboy, Who decides who gets A/C, two cars, big houses, etc.? 
Please tell me it isn't the same people who oversee ConRail, Amtrak or any number of quasi-government companies & the decisions aren't going to be made based on "feelings". 
"We need to live by a mandate to reduce consumption through intelligent choices." Let me guess.  Could it be the same FRANKly unqualified people who mandated the mortgage crisis or are overseeing GM & telling Bank CEO's "You are making too much money!"
What you are suggesting will result in lawyers making decisions that in the past was made by the "Invisible Hand" (see Adam Smith's 1776 book titled "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations"
...every individual necessarily labours to render the annual revenue of the society as great as he can. He generally, indeed, neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it. By preferring the support of domestic to that of foreign industry, he intends only his own security; and by directing that industry in such a manner as its produce may be of the greatest value, he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Nor is it always the worse for the society that it was no part of it. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good.
Adam Smith and the invisible hand
I just luv the thought of a Tennessee pettifogger living in a 30,000 sq. ft. house or a mid-western bureaucrat who owns a $1.65 million house telling me what I can purchase or own. Such arrogance and hypocrisy is disgusting! 
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Upon re-reading this. I whole-heartedly agree with this post. Do not allow lawyers and lawmakers to decide decisions that are best made by 'the invisible hand'.
My 'mandate' was not a government mandate, but a personal one, to reduce consumption. Put into the point of view of this point, i would say, I am driven to conserve because to conserve is to have more, and subsequently be able to consume more of other things.
If i spend less money on gas for instance, or electricity, I have more money to say, go out to the movies, or eat out at a restaurant, or buy ice cream.
-Steve