I was born and raised in the city of Los Angeles and I remember those days when the smog was so thick you could slice it with a knife. Of course, those were the days before catalytic converters. Catalytic converters function to oxidize carbon monoxide to the the less harmful carbon dioxide gas and to reduce nitrogen oxides to nitrogen gas. Also, that was when the switch to unleaded gas came into effect because the lead (tetramethyl or tetraethyl) additives to gasoline poisoned catalytic converters. Additionally, gasoline also contains small quantities of sulfur which when combusted, appears in the exhaust gas as sulfur dioxide. The catalytic converter oxidizes this gas to sulfur trioxide which when mixed with water, a by product of reducing nitrogen oxides, gets converted into the highly corrosive sulfuring acid.

The air is a lot cleaner today than it was in yesteryears but that does not imply that we should stop our efforts to to further reduce harmful emissions. Not so much for the carbon emissions but more so for the other molecular by-products of burning hydrocarbon fuels.

In all that scare about carbon emissions and global warming, the one thing that never gets mentioned is that it may be a problems for humans but plant life would love it and thrive. Carbon it not as deadly as it’s made out to be.

What’s more deadly to the environment is human waste and the other human by-products that is more problematic. Like the dumping of toxic metals into fresh water lakes & rivers and on the soil, deforestation, over fishing and the rise of genetically modified foods (aka, Franken-foods) for which the somatic and genetic effects are still unknown.

We can stop all carbon emissions but unless we address the problems I just cited above, we won’t have solved a thing. Clean air won’t mean a thing if the water is to toxic to drink, the soil is to poisoned for anything to grow and whatever food source that is left is to tainted to eat.

BobA, I don’t know much about this Cap and Trade program–don’t know yet how to judge whether or not it will be a disaster for Californian’s. You make the statement that the state could cut it’s carbon emission to zero tomorrow and it wouldn’t make a difference. I have to take issue with that thought, because I remember 40 years ago when there were days that we couldn’t even see the mountains to the north–and days when children playing in groups outside had to be herded indoors, so they didn’t breath all the smog. We went through a program at work, mandated by the air quality control district, that we car-pool, walk, or ride bikes to work. I both walked and rode a bike. Then the program was abruptly ended–I don’t remember if it ended because it made a difference, or because it didn’t. I do know that we can see those mountains now–I suspect most of it had to do with the required emission equipment on our autos.

There is one piece of equipment that I would like to see abolished forever–the gasoline-powered leaf blowers. The noise does not hurt me. When I was working, every Monday was blowing day. All that activity does is move the same dirt to a different place, including our indoor rooms, and swirl all kinds of carcinogens into the air, including all the pollens that would normally fall to the ground, instead of bothering people with allergies. Then, they wonder why so many children are growing up with asthma. My husband’s truck sits in our driveway, because there is no room for it in our garage. On Wednesdays, it gets a dirt bath from the gardeners next door. Yes, that is the most hated, carbon-spewing machine in my life–why hasn’t some air control district attacked it!

At the end of the day when all is said and done, Cap & Trade will have amounted to nothing more than collusion between the government and it’s big business cronies to drive small and medium businesses out of business while enriching themselves at the same time.

Ever wonder why the largest corporations are all on board with Cap & Trade? Ever wonder why the loudest mouths pushing Cap & Trade down our throats always seems to be the richest people in America? Ever wonder what’s in it for the politicians who’re pushing Cap & Trade? Ever wonder what’s in it for the so-called scientists who are pushing global warming? Does anyone naively, and foolishly, think they’re doing it for a noble cause? Perish the thought and follow the money.

Cap & Trade reeks of money and greed and corruption. The corporate oligarchs and their political partners will line their pockets at everyone else’s expense while furthering their stranglehold over the American economy and the American people. They, the American ruling class, will get a lot richer while we, the people of the United States of America, will become poorer.

For what it’s worth: California could cut it’s carbon emissions to zero tomorrow and it wouldn’t even amount to a tenth of a percent difference in the overall carbon emissions being dumped into the atmosphere not tomorrow not ever.

And Poodle, could you explain the logic you used for your 6 month long massive prop 30 fail? Bwahahahaha

well….or your pension rollback lawsuit fails? Oh my!

Any more predictions little buddy?

0 for 14 ™ !

Rexy the French Poodle– wrong since 1978 ™ !

I know what you mean. Saddleback is lousy with commies. Makes me want to lay some snake and nap down on the treeline.