Voiture

Critic

Medical Nemesis

The dirt, the noise, and the ugliness my cars adds to the city; the harm caused by collisions and pollution; the degradation of the total environment by oxygen I burn and the poisons I scatter; the increasing costliness of the police department; and also the traffic-related discrimination against the poor: all are negative externalities associated with each passengermile. Some can easily be internalized in the purchase price, as for instance the damages done by collision, which are paid for by insurance.

Other externalities that do not now show up in the market price could be internalized in the same way : the cost of therapy for cancer caused by exhaust fumes could be added to each gallon of fuel, to be spent for cancer detection and surgery or for cancer prevention through antipollution devices and gas masks.

But most externalities cannot be quantified and internalized: if gasoline prices are raised to reduce depletion of oil stocks and of atmospheric oxygen, each passengermile becomes more costly, and more of a privilege; environmental damage is lessened but social injustice is increased. Beyond a certain level of intensity of industrial production, externalities cannot be reduced but only shifted around.

Alternative

Ecology lolz

Irony

Fun quotes

When we talk about the benefits of public transportation, let's not forget the experience of seeing adult strangers make faces at other adult stranger's babies

@Blue (pleroma)