Fake conservative caught riding on "collectivist" Amtrak

A commenter wonders about individualism and the private auto:

Diminished Individualism Watch - NYTimes.com: "How does a daily commute by car make one more of an individual? I like to drive, both for the thrill and the sights and I like to exercise my power to individuate myself, but a daily commute by car is neither enjoyable nor individuating. Get in line, watch my speed, watch my following distance; if I made my exit without being aware of it, I've done it right, properly following the bigger herd until my little herd is shunted off to my pod-cubicle in my double-speak infested capitalist wunderland.It's like a jobs program of pointless activity used to sell me a Morning Zoo, ever-burgeoning crush zones, and 300 horsepower to let me occasionally zip 6 places farther ahead to defend my individuality. I'm living the dream, I guess." (Andrew, Portland, OR)

What do we mean by "fake conservative?" True conservatives (not in the spotlight) honestly believe that government should not subsidize for-profit enterprise. Fake conservatives (in the news all the time) believe that corporate welfare is just fine, and social security needs to be "drowned in the bathtub."

A global energy war looms – Telegraph Blogs

A global energy war looms – Telegraph Blogs: "The most common cause of energy price shocks is supply disruption. It’s the fear of just such a disruption, with turmoil in the Middle East, which is driving the oil price right now. But in future it’s much more likely to be the pressure of demand on limited supply. Nevermind developments in North Africa and elsewhere in the region. That’s a mere bagatelle compared with what may be coming. These demand tensions could create much wider geo-political instability, with potentially catastrophic inter-continental consequences."

How much more can you take?

Streetsblog New York City » The Weekly Carnage: "The Weekly Carnage is a Friday round-up of motor vehicle violence across the five boroughs and beyond. For more on the origins and purpose of this column, please read About the Weekly Carnage."

Small but significant step forward in the war on cars

More departments join DM Car Free Day drive: "Dubai Municipality will observe its second Car Free Day on Wednesday and the initiative will see more government employees swapping cars for public transport this time.
Around 2,500 officials and employees from the Dubai Municipality headquarters and its neighbouring offices of Dubai Land Department, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and etisalat are expected to take part in the environmental initiative in cooperation with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)."

Speak Up For Pedestrian, Cycling, Transit Improvements in NYC! | Mobilizing the Region

Speak Up For Pedestrian, Cycling, Transit Improvements in NYC! | Mobilizing the Region: "Three-plus years of pedestrian, cycling, and transit improvements in New York City have come under fire from some local media and politicians in recent weeks.

The data repeatedly shows that the kinds of green transportation projects rolled out by NYCDOT have made the city safer. But as Streetsblog documents, the NY Post‘s editorial board and columnists have been attacking complete streets redesigns."

Mubarak - 30 years of brutality so Americans can waste cheap oil in traffic

Egyptian Protests Extend to Streets of New York - NYTimes.com: "“I was 14 years old when he took office,” said Khaled Dawoud, 43, a journalist from the Upper East Side. “We deserve better.”

Mr. Dawoud said that he was filled with nationalistic pride by the sight of people taking to the streets of Cairo and said the fact that large numbers of ordinary citizens were defying Mr. Mubarak’s curfew was a victory in itself.

“We defeated an oppressive police machine,” he said, identifying himself rhetorically with the protesters. “We were not afraid of the bullets.”"

NYC Coalition for Transit Justice – Page 1

NYC Coalition for Transit Justice – Page 1: "We are NYC mass transit riders and workers who believe that everyone has the right to safe, reliable, accessible, & affordable public transportation."

Full Speed Ahead on Deepwater Drilling - NYTimes.com

Full Speed Ahead on Deepwater Drilling - NYTimes.com: "The ink is barely dry on the White House commission’s investigative report into the Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf of Mexico pointing to industrywide deficiencies, but signs are emerging every day that deepwater drilling is expanding around the world."

Albany Automobile Ugliness

Photo from @leahgolby on twitter http://yfrog.com/h33jauj

Tired of automobile ugliness? Fight for free public transit.

Sensible Plan: Make public transit fare-free in New York City

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