Well, those are certainly helpful suggestions.

Perhaps you missed my point: CITIZENS tell elected officials how to proceed, not the other way around.

I wonder why my suggestions seem to have threatened you?

Funny how the average family got along OK without 7 m.p.g. houses-on-wheels for most of the twentieth century.

Let me guess: We got along without fire for a long time too, right?

I say we have the goverment take over the heating of our homes. There should be a central heating place and keep all homes at 60 degrees in the winter and no lower than 85 degrees in the summer. also, let's make every7one, no matter how big thier families, or thier needs, drive a sub compact. While we are at it, just have the goverment declare tempatures will no longer be allowed to go below 32 degrees or above 80 degrees.

These are all good initiatives, but they are not enough.

We need to look at the longer view and start urging our public officials to work harder to find greener solutions in EVERY purchase, be it material, service, or related to new development.

Around these parts, we tend to take what we want (so long as we have the cash) without thinking much about the consequences down the road.

This means we pressure builders to use green materials. Most are parallel in cost and many cost less. Some are revived antique methods that actually make a structure stronger and more sound.

We also pressure public AND private sector places where many work, live or visit to use recycling every day. It's so simple. Why is it still so rare?

I want to vote for more than one! We need to address ALL avenues for reducing our energy use.

They are all important and inspiring. Now if we could just get everyone else with the program....