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Not the government's role. Maybe if we went to a more socialistic or communistic method of government the person's wealth can be redistributed to those in need and we could restrict their freedom from exercising the current right to buying the home they "want" (even if there is no "need" and its over the top).
When drivers of large SUVs like Range Rovers, Hummers, Escalades, Navigators, etc. can show me how their purchases of energy-inefficient vehicles have no indirect effect on increasing demand for foreign oil, then I'll eat crow. "
WE have two, large, SUV's that get easily mid-20mpg in town - I see no problem with this -
We have a 4-runner and a Tacoma, both of which get on average 20mpg also and they certainly weren't purchased for their "cool" factor, but rather their reliability and practicality.
My very old house is approximately 2000sf for three people, and unfortunately we do have an oil furnace. It is expensive, so we installed a digital thermostat which never gets set above 68. I don't need the government to tell me to conserve or to put restrictions on my consumption, as getting the bill has that affect.
If the govenment would tell us how large a home we could have, how will it be determined and who will determine it? If it's an existing house, does that mean you can't add on? What if you have a large family? What happens with existing homes? And even if a number of say 3000 square feet is decided on, will this be a hard and fast rule and apply to everyone? Do you really think that multi-billionaires will be satisfied with that or will there be a loophole in the law to allow for some exceptions?
Also, if this was to become law, what's next. Regulate how we eat, what we wear or how about our salary. Next, they will tell you were to live and perhaps what job to take. You won't have a choice since you are not qualified to make that decision.
This is a very slippery slope that has no end. The bottom line is that we are not a socialist/communist country and hope we never are.
Yes, we make decisions that indirectly effect other people and may increase energy costs for others, but I'm concerned as to who decides what is right and do you trust those people. You can not insulate everyone from decisions made by others. We don't live in a vacuum. Everyone interacts with everyone else. That's just the way it is. It is not for me to impose my standards of proper behavior on others, nor should they impose their's on me. These are not the principles that our country was founded on.
not only would a restriction affect the way people live, but it would also hold a whole sector of the housing market down in the hole as well. It would force wages for the ones that work on a per sqft. price within a home. I design homes, most of the larger homes with very wealthy people know how to spend their money. They are usually tight wads, they invest in materials that lower the utility costs of the home. They use materials that are of cheap price, but splurge in the areas they have hobby's in. IE home theater, kitchen, or living areas.
The government should not be deciding what you can and cannot have, the market should be the one doing this.
With larger lots, we have designated large cisterns for water collection for watering landscape at the owners request, called out solar panels at the owners request, and even used recycled decking materials at the request. Why? because of cost, they usually cost more up front, but save money long down the road. Even the decking material since they never need to be stained, whereas wooden decks need it yearly.
So before you start calling anyone that owns a large house a waster of non renewable recourses, get in the field and look at it, don't stand at the entrance to the stadium and call the sport idiotic. Get in there and do research.
by the way, American industry uses more oil than the housing and transportation industry's combines, maybe you should switch your anger from the well to do, by doing hard work to the industrial complex that produces much of what even you buy.
Gawd NO. You should be able to build as big a house as you can afford.
Conspicuous consumption gives everyone something to look up to.
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