I came here to say this. Why not encourage environmentally friendly behavior, instead of punishing for adhering to the status quo.
No no no -- it's all about perception. There are environmental *costs* that people need to understand and pay for in a literal sense. The status quo needs to change -- that is the whole point.
Supermarkets are a good example: They reduce your bill by 5c or so per bag not used during checkout -- saving 15c per trip is NOT an incentive for someone to change their behavior. But, being charged 5c per bag has a psychological impact -- bags aren't free to anyone, nor the consumer. Why spend 15c per trip, which will add up over the year, when you can buy a permanent bag to do the same -- then it clicks in their head.
Slashdot Mirror
Or posted it to Geocities in Hollywood, where it wouldn't be taken seriously by anyone.
I came here to say this. Why not encourage environmentally friendly behavior, instead of punishing for adhering to the status quo.
No no no -- it's all about perception. There are environmental *costs* that people need to understand and pay for in a literal sense. The status quo needs to change -- that is the whole point.
Supermarkets are a good example: They reduce your bill by 5c or so per bag not used during checkout -- saving 15c per trip is NOT an incentive for someone to change their behavior. But, being charged 5c per bag has a psychological impact -- bags aren't free to anyone, nor the consumer. Why spend 15c per trip, which will add up over the year, when you can buy a permanent bag to do the same -- then it clicks in their head.