From Umbra’s heartthrob, the Union of Concerned Scientists, a funny little interactive animated thingamajig making a point about the sway auto lobbyists hold over fuel-economy standards. It compares potential mpg, air pollution, and gas prices. And at the end there are hairy men in a hot tub. Does it get any better than that?
My two cents: I’m in the camp that high gas prices are a good thing, because then people presumably don’t drive as much, which is less wearing on the environment than even the most eco-friendly vehicle. Obviously. But I don’t currently have a car. If I did, I’m sure that concern for my pocketbook would bring me down off my high-and-mighty hill.
Side note: Isn’t “pocketbook” a bit outdated? Who has a pocketbook anymore?
![](https://grist.org/wp-content/uploads/2005/11/meth_trash1.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=200)