Stickers would show new cars' pollution potential

I am so tired of our teachers and Unions using our students as political platforms. The young vote came out for Obama due to the teachers preaching Obama (Democrat) gospel in the ears of innocent youth.

If teachers truly cared about their students, they would allow the students to investigate both parties without interruption. Instead, most of them steer all conversations to the party that is going to line their wallets and help their Union.

Too bad, when these students graduate, they will not be able to find a good job due to the taxes on wealth and corporations. What justice are you serving your students? None...

I recall local Community College teachers threatening to not publish letters of reccomendation and to withhold grades if they did not get the raises they wanted. This was also during an election year. They ensued into a smear campaign against anything non-Democrat.

Why do you always seem to find a way to infect your students with your Union issues. GROSS......

What are you talking about? The article is about environmental impact disclosure on motor vehicles. Which is a great idea and should be implimented as soon as possible.

the scarlet number

really not sure what that comment had to do with the article.

American Worker, I think you should re-read the article. This has nothing to do with Union issues, teachers, students, or the election.

Thank you Jay Severin. Moron.

What the heck does pollution have to do with the teacher's union?

Is this a trick question? YES!

Um, American Worker, I think you posted your comment under the wrong article.

Is anyone sensing a "Nazi Germany" feel here, or is it just me? Next I will have to start wearing an armband for being obese...

The previous post is a non sequitur if ever there was one.

If they didn't pollute, they wouldn't need pollution stickers.

Oh, that's right. Eighteen-year-olds can't think for themselves and make their own decisions. They're spoon-fed partisan rhetoric from their teachers and they blindly do what others say, ESPECIALLY those in positions of power. I know SO many eighteen-year olds like that. How many do YOU know?

Give me a break.

Sour grapes big time!!!

To American Worker,

Oh, that's right. Eighteen-year-olds can't think for themselves and make their own decisions. They're spoon-fed partisan rhetoric from their teachers and they blindly do what others say, ESPECIALLY those in positions of power. I know SO many eighteen-year olds like that. How many do YOU know?

Give me a break.

Sour grapes big time!!!

Yes, a pollution number . . . on your butt.

If I'm going to consider a vehicle, I also want to consider the emission level as well. I see this step as 'truth in advertising' at work.

more consumer information is good. This summer i bought a 2009 corolla and the dealer showed me these ratings as is, although they were not displayed that predominantly on the car.

I think this would be a good idea. A lot of people don't know what impact their vehicle has on the environment.

Being an environmental consultant for over 28 years, it is high time that consumers have the information necessary to make an informed choice on buying a car, not just mileage numbers but pollution numbers. In order for the american automotive industry to dig out of the mess they have created themselves they have to concentrate on building new cars that have high mileage, low pollution, 100% recyclable parts and a low carbon footprint.

Overall, not a bad idea so people can make informed decisions, but like so many things, how polluting a car may or may not be is difficult to boil down to a single number.

Useless. I'm just going to buy the vehicle with the highest number possible. How much difference can there really be between a "7" and a "10"? If it meets minimum regulatory standards than that's all that should matter. If you really care that much then drive a go-cart, powered by your own sense of self-satisfaction.

No. Isn't that why we have an emmisions control test every year?

No. Isn't that why we have an emmisions control test every year?

There is no global warming. The Earth has actually been cooling over the past 5 years. Do some freaking research.

Wow, what a great idea! Yes, do it immediately. Shame on those people who insist on buying/driving big, ineffecient polluting cars. Let's see who the villans are right up front, then perhaps public humiliation will force people to be more environmentally-concious. If it's the only way to get people's attention, so be it. And yes, the conservatives are going to scream bloody murder, but you know what? Tough sh#t! Drastic problems demand drastic action. This is not overly-strict. It is good policy.

stupid idea just check out the rating when you are researching certain cars, dont make the auto industry have another thing to pay for

I just think that this is yet something else the consumer will have to pay for. (Now or later)

I think this would also be good for use in the HOV lane - even if you're only an individual person, but have a sticker with a 10, you should be able to use the HOV lane.

#1 is off-topic, but right on point.

Very well said.

I'm torn on the the idea. Part of me likes it, but wouldn't it make sense for it to be more encompassing, and include government crash test ratings, stopping distances, etc?

Of course, if you continue down this road, what they should have to disclose would be enormous. Perhaps this is better left to an independent company where you could buy fact sheets on the cars you are interested in for a few bucks, like Consumer Reports or something similar?

It's a slippery slope. And lets not forget that if we move to electic cars, or hydrogen, or anytjhing else we'll have all these blue laws that have a "0" in the emission portion of the sticker for 30 years until someone bothers to fix it...

Just me $.02

Maybe it is a good idea--but why does it have to be mandatory? If we all said we will only buy cars which display this sticker, it will force the automakers to create more air-quality-friendly vehicles. Let the market decide.

SLOW DOWN. Read the article. This is just for new cars on the lot. Its not something you keep on the car after you buy it. Stop jumping to paranoid conclusions, its just like the MPG window stickers.

This is a great idea. I've seen similiar stickers on on new appliances, helps you compare vehicles based on factors that people are now interested in (ie, pollution), why not.

The next step will be the slow mandating of people driving cars with a specific environmental performance rate. Again, the impetus back on the consumer and not the manufacturer. No, government should have no role in singling out who cannot afford to be a steward of the environment by buying a Prius. No one should. Each person leaves their own carbon footprint in many ways. Just because someone drives an older car doesn't mean they don't volunteer for trash pick-ups, or recycle like an insane person. And, if government has to get involved, then use the steadfast policy route of technology forcing that has worked for many years when actually applied.

This will help contribute the mind numbing stupidity surrounding vehicles and dangerious emissions. Your total pollution factor is a function not only of MPG and/or units of emissions of harmful gasses, but ALSO miles driven by the owner AND number of people in the car while those miles are driven. Yet we only choose to examine the first two components and ignore the last two. It makes no sense to heap praise on a Prius owner who drives himself solo to work and back 50 miles roundtrip every weekday and ostracize the SUV owner who walks 4 city blocks to the office while his car sits in a garage...

Type your comment here...

I really don't see the need to mandate it. I think that auto dealers are welcome to use it as a marketing tool though.

Thing is, we ALREADY have laws stating that autos should reach a particular level of emissions, and we ALREADY have a sticker (that we pay for every year) to prove we keep our cars in good enough repair to pass the inspection. Why bother with more stickers on new cars? I mean, it is a given that it will pass an emissions test, right?

Again, this is a nice marketing tool, and if I ran an auto lot, I might even try it. But government mandated ....advertising? Sounds like a waste of time to me. Seems like a plan that really means nothing.

AND C WOULD STAND FOR CATHOLIC, J FOR JEW. P FOR PROTESTANT, AND OF COURSE A FOR ATHEIST......................

Looks like a good idea to me. They have similar stickers for fuel mileage, and one of energy efficiency on appliances (along with Energy Star info). This sounds like the same sort of thing. I would also compel auto makers to be the "best" in the range.

NO! We have more than enough convoluted regulations already adding to the price of an automoble. This whole premise is junk science. I read an article the other day about the age of dinasaurs. It commented that it was much warmer on earth back then with lots of lush vegetation for these massive herbivores. It occured to me that perhaps these huge beast had no access to Beano and there excessive flatulence led to that global warming. Where's Al gor when you need him?

I'm for stickers. The more consumer information the better and perhaps when the auto manufacturers come to the realization that America knows they are still producing crap ... they will produce more energy efficient and cleaner cars. American car manufacturers are asking for bailouts because they, unlike the Japanese and Koreans, failed to introduce to the US market the uce smaller, fuel efficient vehicles they produce for the rest of the world and continued to push BIG engined cars and trucks.

Great idea. We already have stickers on appliances rating their efficiency, what's the difference? Given the gas guzzlers Americans clearly prefer along with the fact that we still find numerous nitwits denying global warming (evidence melting ice caps among countless other signs) it appears that we must do everything possible to educate people on the consequences of their lifestyle choices. Last time I checked, education never hurt anyone.

Pretty good idea. Would definitely assist me in buying a new car.
Wait....it's not something you have to drive around with permanently, is it?
As long as it can be removed after purchase, I'd be for it.

Considering we have to pass inspection every year (unlike other states that do every two) and in that inspection they test your level of pollution your car is putting out via the muffler. If it passes, you're within the legal standards, if not, you fail. So why the need for another sticker? So people can give a world of crap to someone who can't afford to upgrade their current automobile, truck, etc. to something that doesn't pollute as much?

This is just another way for the state to come up with some additional revenue every year.

What is the purpose of this sticker beyond the point of sale? As this is a free nation (currently, at least), persons should be able to procure the car of their choice so long as the EPA has qualified the vehicle pursuant to its promulgated emissions standards. To display the sticker in perpetuity serves no other purpose beyond the point of sale then to clutter the windshield along with the already mandated (and totally useless) "inspection sticker."
Is non-display of this emissions sticker going to qualify as a "moving" violations for the purpose of placing good drivers in the state's risk pool? Let'shope not.
BIG BROTHER AGAIN....

Sounds like the SCARLET LETTER TO ME, are you kidding, in this economy you want to police vehicles with a polluting value, for that matter my breathing, next we will all have to wear a sticker according to how often we breathe.

you make laws regarding car seats for children and expect families to abide by the laws! How do you fit a family in a car with all of the required car seats in a fuel efficient car! Some more liberal controls on all of our lives. And these controls always cost us all more money!

Can't wait for the glacier to come back and wipe New England off the map, again.

You all do know that New England was covered by a glacier? Global warming melted it. Funny that there were no SUV's then. If you want a fuel efficient, low emmisions car, do your homework (like you should be doing anyway buying a car) and buy the one you want. It's called having a choice.

These aren't controlling anyone's life. They're just alleviating a paucity of information about the pollution potential of cars. Those who dislike people knowing what they're buying, well, I suppose, they should oppose this law. It isn't cost-free, of course, but the fact is that everyone who doesn't drive a 2 mpg Humvee subsidizes those who do, such as with lower health due to poorer air quality, and less national security, due to foreign oil. I pay with my health so that soccer-moms can offroad...and so do you. Some Americans have paid with their blood, as well.

Rather than enact a sticker law, why not just enact individual responsibilty for the costs that polluters impose upon everyone else? An actuary could easily compute them. Let the polluters pay for their own environmental destruction instead of us subsidizing the theft of our lives and health.