State Rep. Says Biking Is Not Earth Friendly Because Breathing Produces CO2 976
terbeaux writes "The fact that Rep Ed Orcutt (R — WA) wants to tax bicycle use is not extraordinary. The representative's irrational conviction is. SeattleBikeBlog has confirmed reports that Orcutt does not feel bicycling is environmentally friendly because the activity causes cyclists to have 'an increased heart rate and respiration.' When they contacted him he clarified that 'You would be giving off more CO2 if you are riding a bike than driving in a car...' Cascade blog has posted the full exchange between Rep Ed Orcutt and a citizen concerned about the new tax."
I sighed (Score:5, Funny)
I sighed while reading this, fatigued by the comments of the congressman. Sorry for the extra CO2 guys.
Next? People who have plants! (Score:5, Funny)
Plants emit CO2 at night, let's have a tax on people who have plants too!
Re:Not as strange as it sounds (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Next? People who have plants! (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe your plants do. My plants are powered by the sun, and only emit CO2 during construction and demolition.
Re:Cars produce more (Score:5, Funny)
...we'd die as a species
No more AGW, success!
Re:CO2 isn't the only biking benefit (Score:0, Funny)
I can tell you from my own experience that many people also act as retards when sitting on a bike.
Re:Cars produce more (Score:5, Funny)
In an ideal world, we would be able to eliminate CO2 from our atmosphere completely.
No need to wait! Make a difference and stop exhaling today!
Re:Cars produce more (Score:5, Funny)
In an ideal world, we would be able to eliminate CO2 from our atmosphere completely. ... The Congressman is just an ignorant jackass who has no understanding of how our biosphere works.
thank god we'll never fully eliminate irony from the planet.
He ended his speech by saying (Score:4, Funny)
Brought to you by Carl's Jr
Re:By his own reasoning... (Score:5, Funny)
By his own reasoning, Rep Ed Orcutt needs to lower his CO2 production by keeping his mouth shut. He would do both the planet and his colleagues a favor.
Perhaps by inserting his own head into his anus he would be prevented from expelling methane, CO2 and consuming oxygen, at the same time.
Re:Simple solution (Score:0, Funny)
Also would depend if the person in the smoke room had to watch a video of the bicyclist yelling "AsssHOLE!!!" and raise his middle finger as most of them seem to as they weave their way across busy city intersections.
Re:Cars produce more (Score:5, Funny)
I don't know why they don't just drag some trees from the back of aeroplanes. Or perhaps a small shrubbery on the roof. That'll get rid of the CO2 in the stratosphere, surely?
This is the thin end of the wedge (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Cars produce more (Score:5, Funny)
To paraphrase the NRA (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Simple solution (Score:5, Funny)
What is the difference between a driver and a cyclist? You can't hear the driver yelling "ASSHOLE!!!" every 10 seconds as he weaves his way across busy city intersections.
Clearly you've never been to Chicago.
Re:Cars produce more (Score:2, Funny)
When you think about the fact that the GP posted this on a "Geek" website, I am deeply saddened and worried by the lack of basic science education.
I too, am heavily ensaddened.
crazyjj is clearly the stupidiest scientition in the internet.
Re:Cars produce more (Score:5, Funny)
We have these other things that store carbon compounds in 100' tall columns!!! Imagine how much carbon per acre they could store... Everybody's gonna want on on this tech!!!
Re:Infinite human stupidity (Score:4, Funny)
Does the House GOP caucus have a minimum stupidity requirement?
They are trying to construct an Infinity Stupidity Drive. You need to cram 500lbs of bullshit in a 10lb bag then light it on fire while a 100 Congressmen dance on it singing God Bless America. It won't power a starship and is a complete waste of time but it makes as much sense as everything else they are doing lately!
Re:Cars produce more (Score:5, Funny)
Re:CO2 of Congress? (Score:5, Funny)
I thought bullshit gave off more methane than CO2.
Re:Cars produce more (Score:5, Funny)
In other news: Congressman tried biking in college, but didn't exhale.
Re:Cars produce more (Score:3, Funny)
If your going to be a pendant, at least be correct. This is quiet ironic.
Re:Not as strange as it sounds (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Not as strange as it sounds (Score:5, Funny)
I'd suggest that book it dated if it's giving advice like that. These days, asparagus can be grown in a single season. In yestayear, it would have taken two. I've grown some lovely spears myself and they take no more work than any other type of vegetable. Maybe slightly more space is needed, but not that much.
Even if it grew in one season, asparagus isn't very high in calories. The hypothetical man trying to consume 2000 calories of it would need something like 10 kg/day! And can you imagine the "asparagus pee" you'd get from that?
Anyway -- where did you find this single-season asparagus? I've never planted it just due to impatience (and need to move every so often). Is it a new variety, or is there a successful way of raising it to maturity in a greenhouse/nursery before transplanting to a garden?
Something I can support instead (Score:4, Funny)
I would support this tax only if Rep Orcutt and his ilk all stopped producing any CO2 themselves.