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09/17/2005:

"Poll: 8 in 10 Want Drivers to Drop SUVs"

Eight in 10 people say it's important for Americans now driving sport utility vehicles to switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles to reduce the nation's dependence on oil, a poll found.

With gas prices hovering around $3 a gallon nationally and the price of natural gas rising sharply, six in 10 said they are not confident President Bush is taking the right approach to solving the nation's energy problems, according to the survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

Given several choices for dealing with energy problems, the public has some clear preferences:

-Almost seven in 10 want the government to establish price controls on gasoline and want more spending on subway, rail and bus systems.

-Just over seven in 10 want to give tax cuts to companies to develop wind, solar and hydrogen energy.

-Just over eight in 10 want higher fuel efficiency required for cars, trucks and SUVs.

-Slightly more than half, 52 percent, favor giving tax cuts to energy companies to explore for more oil.
commondrams.org

Out of steam: India's decrepit railways in line for overhaul
Everything about the Indian railways is epic, from the distances covered and the millions transported, to the endless hours spent waiting for a train. Until now the choice for passengers has been first class or "hard class". And neither offered a pleasant experience.

Its ageing trains and decaying stations are notorious for delays, overcrowding and surly employees. Bathrooms stink, security is poor, and rats and stray dogs roam many stations.

All that is supposed to change after the government gave the state railway one month to clean up its act. Rail authorities have been ordered to implement a "touch and feel" programme to transform its antique network into a modern customer-focused environment.

One of the more remarkable legacies of the colonial era, Indian Railways is among the world's largest employers, with a staff of 1.6 million. It has 40,000 miles of track with 7,000 stations, and more than 11,000 trains running every day. The network is a lifeline to the nation's poor, providing long-distance connections for as little as £1 and supports the livelihoods of some 80 million people.

While in the U.S. there is virtually no cheap long-distance transportation. What happens to the burbs when the oil runs out?