Residents of Alaska are Once Again Eligible to Sign Up for Better World Club

We've always provided service in Alaska, but now we are proud to announce that residents of the great state of Alaska can sign up for Better World Club roadside assistance!

So, no matter if your name is Piper, Track, Tripp, Buzzsaw, or Debbie, you can be assured of being able to sign up for BWC roadside assistance in Alaska or any other state.

Alaskans (and residents of those other 49 states, we suppose) can click here to sign up now!

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You Had Us at "Set Public Hearings on California Emissions Standards"

A Love Letter to EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson

Dear Administrator Jackson,

Being with you is literally like a breath of fresh air. We spent far too long (2005-2008) in an unhealthy relationship with former EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. Stephen consistently didn't meet our needs (like protecting the environment), and he never listened. Public comments, lawsuits from state DAs, orders from the US Supreme Court, and even objections from his own scientists were routinely ignored.

In particular, Stephen was too self-absorbed to address our need for a waiver so California and 13 other states could set their own auto emissions standards. Was a tiny little waiver too much to ask for?

Lisa, that's one of the reasons why we're so excited to be with you now. We've only been together a short time, but you've already shown what an active listener you are (unlike Stephen L. Johnson, who would bore us to tears talking about the "good old days" in the chemical and animal testing industries). Why, just a few days ago, you announced both a public hearing and public comment period for the auto emissions waiver.

This relationship is off to a good start, but be warned: we've been hurt before, and we won't put up with any passive-aggressive anti-environmental behavior. We flooded our old administrator with petitions and aren't afraid to do so again if necessary - but it won't be necessary, right?

So, how about a date? We're sure your ethics rules stop us from buying you dinner, but we'll drive. (It's a hybrid.)

Love,
Better World Club

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Once Again, AAA Doesn't Get That More Cars = More Congestion

AAA Blasted Security Plans for Obama Inauguration

Last month, AAA roundly criticized plans for President Obama's inauguration ceremony, specifically the closing of several Potomac bridges to individual auto traffic (but keeping them open for mass transit and pedestrians). Predictably, an AAA spokesperson was trotted out to rail against "security impinging on mobility". Apparently, they think mobility would have been improved if millions of people were all allowed to drive their individual cars into the city on inauguration day.

Remember all the post-event news articles about how event planners dropped the ball, and how traffic procedures were horribly mishandled? No? That's because it all went relatively smoothly. Sure, there were traffic snafus, and getting to the event was a pain. How could it not be, with over two million people attending, plus all of DC's regular commuters coming into the city to work?

How much worse would this have been if all of these people had been allowed to drive into the city? This comment (which is posted on greatergreaterwashington.org) sums it up nicely:

"Think of it this way: 1.3 million people commute to Manhattan daily, and most of them don't drive because, if they did, the traffic and parking would be insane. Now imagine almost twice that many people cramming into a space the size of Central Park. Still, AAA thinks that everyone should be able to drive their own car to downtown DC, if they wanted to."

Automobiles are an important part of our nation's transportation system, but they're not the only part. Blindly "advocating on behalf of the motorist" as AAA continues to do is not helping anyone (except AAA, the highway lobby, and the automobile industry). Complex transportation problems need complex solutions, which include a combined use automobiles, mass transit, and (gasp!) cycling and walking.

Click here to read more.

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Travelers Checks Are So 20th Century

New Debit Card Safer, Up-to-Date Exchange Rate - Just Better

No Interest! Can Be Instantly Shut Off with a Phone Call! Can't Be Overdrawn! No Need to Exchange Currency When Traveling! Will Unpack Your Bags for You When You Get Home!*

Rugs from Morocco. Decorative beer steins from Munich. Commemorative spoons from anywhere. These exciting items, along with more pedestrian needs like food, lodging, entertainment, and bribes, are all things that can be purchased with the new general purpose Visa Debit card offered by Better World Club, perfect for travel.

The traditional means of making transactions overseas has been Travelers Cheques. But this new card has significant advantages over travelers cheques - or conventional credit cards:

- This prepaid debit card account charges no interest and uses only money you put on the card.

- It is good at more than 32,000,000 locations worldwide, plus thousands of ATMs. Many retail outlets don't even accept travelers checks anymore.

- It is very secure - you can toggle the card on and off with a call from your cell phone.

- This card gets you cash from ATMs, can be loaded from your bank account or credit card, and is just as good at your local grocery store as it is anywhere else a Visa debit card is accepted across the globe.

- This cash-free form of payment means you don't have to worry about exchanging dollars for dinars (or whatever).

- Unlike checking account debit cards, it's nearly impossible to overdraw on a purchase - there are no bounced checks.

- It is a remarkably low-cost prepaid debit card, well below retail for Better World Club Members at $5.95 to acquire and $2.95 a month.

- Each card is backed by FDIC-insured University Bank of St. Paul, Minnesota. Behind each card is a demand account, like a checking account without checks.

- You can opt to receive a text message on your cell phone with every deposit or purchase, giving you your balance remaining in your account. This will help you detect fraud.

- You can load your card online from your checking account or from one of those "regular" credit cards, if you must.

YOUR YOUNGSTERS MAY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW DEBIT CARD AS WELL

(NOT THAT YOU WOULD EVER GIVE YOUR CHILD MONEY)

Better World Club also offers a general purpose subordinate card for your students (must be 16 years-old or older). The card has substantial advantages over a conventional credit card. Look at the features of this general purpose card, priced at $5.95 to acquire and $2.95 a month:

- You can toggle your son or daughter's card off at any time. And turn it back on when you are good and ready. Try doing that with a typical credit card.

- You can transfer money in real time from your own card to your student's card with a phone call. (You can also transfer it back to your account with a phone call.)

- You receive a text message on your cell phone with every transaction on your youth's card.

- You receive a free, online monthly statement you can go over with your student.

- Otherwise, it works just like your Visa prepaid debit card: good pretty much everywhere, convenient, and secure.

- You can use it to teach your young people about money management.

[*Okay, it won't actually unpack your bags for you, but you can use it to pay someone to unpack your bags for you.]

Card is issued by University Bank, pursuant to a license from Visa, USA, Inc.

- Click here to learn more about the card
- Click here to order the card

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