Better World Club

Complete Streets Sample Letter

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 18:40:00 +0000

Dear Legislator,

Wherever we live, our roadways are central to our communities. They connect us to our schools and our jobs as well as to neighbors and local businesses. As such, the streets in our communities should be designed not just for motorists but for users of all kinds. Unfortunately, many roadway projects add capacity for automobiles and help increase vehicle speeds but do nothing to address the negative effects of those changes on other roadway users. As a result, communities across the country have built miles and miles of roads that are unsafe for or inaccessible to pedestrians, bicyclists, and riders of mass transit.

It’s time for a change. It’s time that all roadway projects that receive federal aid incorporate “complete streets” policies to ensure that they are designed and built with everyone in mind, regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation. In addition to improving safety and accessibility for all roadway users, a federal complete streets mandate would also make walking, bicycling, and riding public transportation more attractive transportation options, which in turn would help the United States in its efforts to green its energy economy and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

I urge you to support the Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011 (H.R. 1078/S. 1056) to ensure that all federal aid roadways incorporate complete streets policies in order to make them as safe and accessible for all users as possible and hope that you will do everything in your power to ensure that your colleagues in Congress will do the same.

Complete our streets!

Thank you,

There's No Place Like Homes

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Wed, 11 May 2011 01:06:00 +0000

Other People's, That Is

Book a Short Term House or Apartment Rental Through Crashpadder

Crashpadder.com allows hosts and guests to arrange lodging agreements in a way that's simple, secure, and mutually beneficial. Hosts can supplement their incomes by letting a room while their guests save an average of 83% as compared to equivalent hotels. And according to The Carbon Coach, Crashpadder stays have an 80% lower carbon footprint than the average hotel stay.

The Crashpadder site also lets guests create and share Trips that provide information to potential hosts on areas they'd like to visit, number of guests, and preferred dates. The site sends updates to hosts whenever specifications in a Trip jive with the facilities their trying to let. Everyone wins!

Add or book a room through Crashpadder now!

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

It's Almost Time for Swimsuit Weather

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Wed, 11 May 2011 01:02:00 +0000

Better Get Ready for the Car-pool! ...Eh? Eh?

So maybe you don't want to see your coworkers in their speedos and bikinis (or maybe even your spouse), but carpooling is one of the best ways to save gas and reduce emissions, especially on the trips you're taking all the time.

Carpools can also help reduce the monotony of a commute through lively conversation, which has the other added benefit of keeping the driver alert. And if all of that weren't enough, more carpools means fewer cars on the road, which in turn makes it easier for vehicles to maintain a consistent speed and save more gas. Everyone wins!

Don't like talking to your coworkers? Maybe you should find another job.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Does the New Nissan LEAF Live up to Its Name?

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Tue, 10 May 2011 20:50:00 +0000

Gimme an L! Gimme an E! Gimme an A! Gimme an F!

What's That Spell? Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family Car!

Nissan recently reopened limited online reservations for its all new LEAF, the current World Car of the Year, and if you live in any of its launch markets, you’ve probably seen the billboards. The LEAF is Nissan’s 100% electric and at 99 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent ranks as the most efficient EPA certified vehicle…for all fuels…ever. Talk about high mileage! What’s more, being all electric means the LEAF produces zero emissions at the point of operation.

The LEAF is certainly leading the way for the wider development and spread of environmentally friendly vehicles (the “L” and the “E” in its name). But is it affordable? The LEAF starts at $32,780 in the United States, where qualified buyers can take advantage of a $7,500 federal tax credit (the same credit that applies to the purchase of Chevrolet’s plug-in hybrid, the Volt, which starts at $40,280). You’ll also save at the pump – because you won’t ever need to fill up. On gas, that is. Nissan advertises that the LEAF can go 100 miles on a full charge, and the car can be fully charged from a 220 volt home outlet in eight hours. It can also be charged to 80% in 30 minutes with a quick charger at a public charging station.

Not bad, huh? Environmentally friendly, a tax break, no more expensive fill ups, and relatively convenient to charge. There is, however, one thing that potential buyers of the LEAF should consider before they purchase the car: buying a LEAF means buying its battery system, which will cause the car to depreciate more significantly than were Nissan to offer an option for batteries to be leased (and also means a higher purchase price). In addition, making frequent use of quick charges will cause a 10% greater gradual battery capacity loss over 10 years than from charging with a 220 volt outlet at home. Nissan’s warranty only covers the original battery in full for the first year.

Still, if the range of the LEAF suits your driving needs, it’s not a bad deal – particularly considering that its development as a widespread production vehicle means a huge step away from transportation’s petroleum dependency. Plus, drivers should expect to see more public charging stations in cities and on highways as cars like the LEAF proliferate. And shaking our collective oil addiction is a family value, right? Better World Club thinks so, anyway. Let’s hear it for the LEAF!

Things People Like About the 2011 LEAF:

- It’s electric! …no gas expenses
- Greenest production car ever built: 94% recycled or recyclable
- Sophisticated interior instruments help drivers get the most out of a charge

Things People Don’t Like About the 2011 LEAF:

- Computers are expensive to fix when they break (get the service contract)
- Unattractive design
- Short range

MSRP:

MSRP $32,780 - $33,720 depending on trim (SV reviewed here)

Fuel Economy Stats:

Estimated EPA MPG (electric): 106 (city), 92 (hwy), 99 (combined)
Estimated Energy Consumption (kw-Hrs/100 miles): 32 (city), 37 (hwy), 34 (combined)
Cost to Drive 25 Miles: $0.94
Annual Fuel Cost*: 561
Annual Petroleum Consumption (1 barrel=42 gallons): 0.4 barrels/year

[*Based on 45% highway, 55% city driving, 15000 annual miles and a fuel price of $0.11 per kilowatt-hour.]

Warranty:

Basic: 36,000 miles / 36 months
Powertrain: 60,000 miles / 60 months
(Powertrain Limited Warranty -- Vehicles equipped with a continuously variable transmission also have a 10-year, 120,000 mile CVT limited warranty extension.)
Rust: Unlimited miles / 60 months

Corrosion Coverage is for 60 months/unlimited miles to repair inside-out rust through corrosion on vehicle. Nissan also has a Lifetime Replacement Panel Corrosion Warranty which is to the original repairing vehicle owner who installs or has installed outer sheet metal panels that develop inside/out rust through corrosion.

Adjustments: 12,500 miles / 12 months

Original Battery: 36,000 miles / 36 months
Covers 100% for the first 24 months, then prorated as follows: 25-32 months, covered 75%; 33-50 months, covered 50%; 51-84 months, covered 25%. Labor covered 100% if serviced by a Nissan Dealer.

Towing: 36,000 miles / 36 months
Towing is available to nearest Nissan dealer for warranty covered breakdowns.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Frontal Crash, Side Crash, And Rollover Tests:

NHTSA rates crash-tested vehicles by assigning them one to five stars. A five-star rating indicates the most injury protection, while one star indicates the least protection.

Overall: Not rated
Frontal: Not rated
Side: Not rated
Rollover: Not rated

Recalls:

To date, there have been no recalls announced for the 2011 LEAF.

Standard Features:
- Power Door Locks Operated Via Card Key and Internal Switch With Automatic Locking
- Vehicle Anti-Theft Via Alarm and Engine Immobilizer
- Child Safety Door Locks Located On Rear Doors
- 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
- Regenerative Braking System
- Traction Control
- Electronic Brake Force Distribution
- Brake Assistance
- Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) Vehicle Stability Control System
- Front Power Vented Disc and Rear Power Solid Disc Brakes
- Front Power Outlet
- Drive-By-Wire Control For Shifting
- 24-kWh Laminated Lithium-Ion Battery Pack
- AC Synchronous Electric Motor; Front Mounted With Horsepower Of 107 and Torque Of 207
- ZLEV Emissions
- iPod(R) Auxiliary Audio Input Jack
- Front Auxiliary Audio Input Jack
- Wireless Communication Access For Bluetooth(R) Enabled Devices
- USB Port
- AM/FM Radio With 6 Speakers Total; CD Player; MP3/ WMA Player; XM(R) Satellite Radio (Subscription Required)
- GPS Navigation Aid With Screen
- Radio Antenna
- Carwings Telematics Include Remote HVAC Controls, Remote Battery Level and Remote Battery Changing Functions (Requires Web Enabled Phone, Includes 36 Months Of Service)
- LED High Intensity Discharge Headlights
- Underbody Aero Cladding
- Front Air Dam
- Front and Rear Body Color Bumpers
- Rear Spoiler
- Underbody Protection
- Automatic Climate Control
- Audible Warnings Include Seatbelts Unfastened
- Exterior Temperature Gauge
- Voice Activated Controls For Bluetooth(R) Wireless Enabled Devices
- Motor Start/Stop Button
- Battery Gauge
- Tire Pressure Monitor
- Cruise Control
- Trip Computer With Autonomy Range Remaining, Average Energy Consumption, Miles To Empty, Instantaneous Energy Consumption and Stop Watch
- Steering Wheel Mounted Controls For Audio, Cruise Control and Wireless Enabled Devices
- Carpet Located In Passenger Cabin and Cargo Area
- Intelligent Key(TM) Card Key
- Keyless Entry Operated Via Card Key
- Remote Fuel Door Release Located Inside Vehicle
- Remote Liftgate Release Located Inside Vehicle and On Multi-Function Remote
- Multi-Function Remote Operates Anti-Theft, Door Lock/Unlock, Power Windows and Liftgate
- Passenger Airbag With Dual-Stage Deployment
- Front and Rear Crumple Zones
- Side Guard Door Beams
- Rear 3-Point Center Seatbelt
- Front Pretensioners With Force Limiters
- Front Seatbelt Height Adjusters
- Front and Rear Side Head Curtain Airbags Located In Roof
- Driver Airbag With Dual-Stage Deployment
- Front Active Head Restraints
- L A T C H
- Passenger Airbag Cutoff Sensor Activated By Seatbelt Engagement and Weight
- Seat Mounted Front Side Airbags
- Front and Rear Automatic Locking Retractors
- Front and Rear 3-Point Seatbelts
- Cloth Seats
- Rear 60/40 Split Folding Bench Seat With Adjustable Headrests
- Front Dual Reclining Bucket Seats, Driver Side Manually Adjusts 6 Ways Total, Passenger Side Manually Adjusts 4 Ways Total With Driver Adjustable Seat Height and Adjustable Headrests
- Tilt Steering Column
- Electric Power Speed Sensing Rack and Pinion Variable Assisted Steering
- Front Dual Door Mounted Storage
- Front Passenger Seatback Storage Pocket
- 4 Front; 4 Cupholders Total
- Illuminated Glovebox
- Front Covered Lower Console Storage Located On Floor
- Rear Stabilizer Bar
- Front Stabilizer Bar
- Independent MacPherson Strut Front Suspension With Coil Springs and Shock Absorbers
- Semi-Independent Torsion Beam Rear Suspension With Springs and Shock Absorbers
- 1-Speed Automatic Transmission With Floor Mounted Shifter
- SBRP205/55R16 Bridgestone Ecopia All-Season Tires
- Alloy Wheels, 16-In.
- Inflatable Spare Tire Kit
- Dual Black Power Adjustable Exterior Rearview Mirrors
- Power Window Lockout/Override
- Power Windows With Driver One-Touch Up and One-Touch Down
- Rear Window Intermittent Wiper/Washer
- Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers
- Electrochromic Interior Rearview Mirror
- Front Dual Sunvisors
- Rear Window Defroster
Technical Specs:
Standard Engine: MOTOR
Standard Transmission: 1 Speed Automatic
Cylinders: N/A
Horsepower @ RPM: 107@NL
Fuel Economy Cty/Hwy: 106 / 92
Combined Fuel Economy: 99
EPA Class: Mid-Size
Number of Valves: N/A
Fuel Type: ELE / Not Applicable
Overdrive Transmission: No
Cargo Volume: 23 cu. ft.
Fuel Capacity: N/A
Brakes (Front): Disc
Brakes (Rear): Disc
Driveline: Front Wheel Drive
Steering: Rack & Pinion
Suspension (Front): Independent
Suspension (Rear): Semi-Independent
Tire Wheel Diameter: 16 in.
Seating: 5
Curb Weight: 3366
Height: 61.0
Length: 175.0
Wheelbase: 106.3
Width: 69.7
Doors: 4

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Lemon Information

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Tue, 10 May 2011 20:46:00 +0000

2010 Honda Pilot

Better World Club’s ''Lemon Information'' highlights consumer complaints against a different car model each month. We are not editorializing or claiming that these cars are necessarily lemons. Instead, we are merely providing information and ask readers to form their own opinions.

Component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Complaint: Brake pedals sometimes become soft, requiring application of significant pressure to slow the vehicle. One driver was unable to sufficiently slow herself in a residential cul de sac, resulting in her vehicle's collision with a deck. At the time, her vehicle had only been driven 490 miles.

Component: Visibility
Complaint: Side mirrors shake and significantly reduce visibility at speeds above 45 mph.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

April 2011 Recalls

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Mon, 09 May 2011 21:41:00 +0000

DRV is recalling certain model year 2011 Select, Mobile and Elite suite 5th wheel recreational vehicles equipped with ITC 2 wire dimmer switches. The dimmer circuit board overheats during use causing the circuit board and dimmer housing to melt and deform. As the dimmer switch fails, the lights may become inoperable or not work correctly and there may be a noticeable smoke or burning smell. The failure of the dimmer switch will cause the lights to stop dimming and/or working. An overheated switch can also lead to personal injury and/or fire. Dealers will replace the dimmer switches free of charge. The safety recall began on May 3, 2011. Owners may contact DRV at 1-574-457-6472.

Ducati is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Multistrada 1200, and model year 2011, Diavel motorcycles. The electronic steering lock may fail to disengage during the motorcycle "key-on" process. This has been linked directly to a certain revision of the hands free device software. It could result in a situation where the motorcycle's engine might start while the steering lock is still engaged. A rider could start the motorcycle and attempt to ride away while the steering is still locked. The rider could experience the inability to steer increasing the risk of low speed tip-over or collision, thus increasing the potential for injury to the rider. The dealer will update the software of the hands free control unit free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during May 2011. Owners may contact Ducati at 1-800-231-6696.

Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 E-150, E-250, E-350 and E-450 trucks for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 207, "Seating Systems." It may be possible that under unusually high loads, such as during a crash, the driver power seat track worm gear may fracture. In the event of a crash or other circumstances of severe loading, the worm gear could fracture and allow the seat to shift unrestrained forward or backward increasing the risk and/or severity of injuries to the driver. Dealers will inspect the driver's seat track assembly, and if necessary, replace it free of charge. The safety recall began on May 2, 2011. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 11C16.

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. During manufacturing the steering wheel could have been improperly fastened and may detach from the steering column. Should the steering wheel detach from the steering column while driving, the driver could lose the ability to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will inspect to ensure that the steering wheel is assembled properly. This service will be performed for you free of charge. The safety recall began on April 7, 2011. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com. GM's recall campaign number is 11094.

Honda is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 Honda Accord, and Civic 2-door and 4-door, model year 2002-2003 CR-V, model year 2002 Odyssey, model year 2003 Acura CL, and model year 2002-2003 Acura TL vehicles. This recall is related to a series of recalls on these vehicles in which Honda is replacing the inflators within the driver's side air bag to address a defective condition. This recall addresses approximately 2,430 air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts in the event, for one example, a covered vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the driver's air bag, and the replacement air bag installed was one that may have contained a defective inflator. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's air bag, the inflator could produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the inflator to rupture with metal fragments striking and injuring the driver or other occupants. Owners of all vehicles on which a replacement service air bag may have been installed will be notified. Dealers will inspect vehicles, and where a defective air bag inflator is identified, the inflator will be replaced, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about June 27, 2011. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. This safety recall campaign is related to recalls 08V-593, 09V-259, and 10V-041.

Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2010 Tucson vehicles manufactured from February 27, 2010, through April 17, 2010, for failing to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment," for the photometry requirements of the rear reflector assemblies installed in the rear bumpers. This could lead to reduced visibility of the rear of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the rear reflector assemblies, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during June 2011. Owners may contact Hyundai's Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-633-5151.

Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2010 Santa Fe 2WD vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions and 2.4L engines manufactured from October 15, 2009 through March 5, 2010. The intermediate shaft may suffer from noise and excessive wear due to a misalignment of the intermediate shaft with the right side output gear. Continuing to drive the vehicle in this condition leads to the development of a whirring/whining noise and can eventually cause damage to the automatic transmission. Damage to the transmission may cause loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the right side output gear and intermediate shaft free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during June 2011. Owners may contact Hyundai's Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-633-5151.

Jayco is recalling certain model year 2011 Eagle, Super Lite and Jay Flight G2 travel trailers manufactured from December 9, 2010, through February 11, 2011. These trailers may have cracked bolts attaching the leveling jacks to the trailer frame. If all of the bolts break, it could result in the jack coming loose from the frame. If the jack comes loose while the vehicle is in motion a crash, injury or death may result. Dealers will replace the fasteners attaching the leveling jacks to the frame with more robust fasteners. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during May 2011. Owners may contact Jayco at 1-800-283-8267.

Kentucky Trailer is recalling certain model year 2011 KY trailers that were built from October 26, 2010, through March 17, 2011, equipped with Gunite automatic slack adjusters manufactured from October 15, 2010, through January 31, 2011. Due to an incomplete "knitting" of the iron at the time of casting, inadequate structural integrity of the slack adjuster housing can occur, which could cause the housing to break at the handle under normal operating loads. If the slack adjuster housing were to break, the wheel brake to which the slack adjuster is attached would no longer function, causing the vehicle to have reduced braking capacity and, if mounted on the steer axle, the vehicle could pull to one side, possibly resulting in a crash. Kentucky Trailers will notify owners and dealers will replace any affected slack adjusters free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during May 2011. Owners may contact Kentucky Trailer at 1-888-598-7245.

Kia is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Spectra LD vehicles manufactured from November 7, 2003, through March 6, 2007, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. There is a possibility that corrosion of the fuel tank straps that hold the tank may occur as a result of prolonged exposure to road salt. As a result of the corrosion, one or both straps may separate allowing the fuel tank to contact the ground and possibly disrupt the integrity of the tank. The fuel tank can fall from the vehicle and strike the ground, which could cause a fuel leak. Leaking fuel can create a fire hazard. Dealers will replace the fuel tank straps and attaching hardware with new zinc coated parts. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during June 2011. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.

Kia is recalling certain model year 2011 Sorento 2WD vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions and 2.4L engines manufactured from the start of production through May 22, 2010. The intermediate shaft may suffer from noise and excessive wear due to a misalignment of the intermediate shaft with the right side output gear. Continuing to drive the vehicle in this condition leads to the development of a whirring/whining noise and can eventually cause damage to the automatic transmission. Damage to the transmission may cause loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the right side output gear and intermediate shaft free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during May 2011. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.

Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2011 E-class model W212 and S212 vehicles manufactured from July 8, 2010, through July 12, 2010. Insufficient adhesive between the vibration damper and its inner mass damper ring could cause a sudden separation of the inner mass damper ring from the vibration damper. While working in the engine compartment during engine operation, the damper ring could strike and injure the person repairing the vehicle or a bystander. Dealers will inspect and replace parts as necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on April 8, 2011. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

MV Agusta is recalling certain model year 2010 F4 motorcycles for the rear subframe. The upper fixture points may not be sufficiently robust, which may result in the subframe cracking and failing, local to the fixture points, during use. The stability of a rider and passenger could be compromised, thereby causing the risk of a crash. A reinforcement support kit for the rear subframe will be installed by dealers free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2011. Owners may contact MV Agusta at 1-215-830-3300.

Newmar is recalling certain recreational vehicles equipped with 1200 series Norcold refrigerators. The population of refrigerators being addressed contains either a sensing algorithm or thermal switch to shut off power to the refrigerator when high temperatures are detected in order to prevent a potential fire. The response times of the sensor algorithm and thermal switch devices to stop power are not sufficient. The sensing algorithm or thermal switch installed to shut off power to the refrigerator when high temperatures are detected due to a possible hydrogen gas leak may not shut off in sufficient time to prevent a fire. Newmar is working with Norcold to identify and notify any affected owners. Owners will be instructed to contact Norcold dealers to receive the remedy free of charge. Please see Norcold's defect report 10E-049 for additional information. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. Owners may contact Norcold at 1-800-767-9101.

Nissan is recalling certain model year 1996-2004 Pathfinder and Model Year 1997-2003 Infiniti QX4 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin. In areas of the country in which heavy concentrations of road salt are used, a mixture of snow/water and salt may enter an assembly location hole in the upper strut housing, causing water to collect at the mating surface of the strut housing panel and the inner hood ledge assembly. Over time, this snow/water and salt intrusion may result in corrosion of the strut tower housing in some subject vehicles. The strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly. This may lead to grinding noises, increased steering effort, and possibly the steering column to break, resulting in the loss of steering control, which could result in a crash. Nissan will inspect the strut housing and repair the vehicles as necessary free of charge. An interim notification letter to owners will be mailed on or before May 16, 2011. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Starcraft is recalling certain model year 2011 Autumn Ridge AR-One, Autumn Ridge, and Lexion S-Lite travel trailers manufactured between October 29, 2010, and January 27, 2011. These trailers may have cracked bolts attaching the leveling jacks to the trailer frame. If all of the bolts break, it could result in the jack coming loose from the frame. If the jack comes loose while the vehicle is in motion a crash, injury or death may result. Dealers will replace the fasteners attaching the leveling jacks to the frame with more robust fasteners. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during May 2011. Owners may contact Starcraft at 1-800-945-4787.

Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Outlaw and model year 2011 Avanti motor homes manufactured from August 2007, through November 2010. The stop lamps may be intermittent during light brake applications. The stop lamps may not properly indicate that the service brakes are applied which may lead to a crash without warning. TMC will notify owners and repairs will be performed by Daimler Trucks (DTNA) dealerships free of charge. (See DTNA's recall campaign 10V-178.) Notification to owners by DTNA is expected to begin during May 2011. Owners may contact DTNA at 1-800-547-0712.

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2011 Tundra vehicles equipped with a 3-Joint type propeller shaft. Due to improper casting of the slip yokes, there is a possibility that the slip yoke may break, causing the propeller shaft to separate at the joint and come into contact with the road surface. The driver could experience loss of motive power and vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Toyota will notify owners and inspect the propeller shaft and, if necessary, replace it free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during May 2011. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, and model year 2007-2008 RAV4. In the curtain shield airbag (CSA) system, there are two sensors in the airbag sensor assembly which are designed to detect vehicle roll angle. If one of these sensors malfunctions, the airbag warning light (malfunction indicator light: mil) will illuminate and the roll detection system will be suspended; however, the airbag CSA remains available in the event of a side crash. If both sensors fail nearly simultaneously after initial airbag system check, the CSA and the seat belt pretensioner could be inadvertently activated. Inadvertent activation of the CSA and/or the seat belt pretensioner can cause injury to a vehicle occupant. Toyota will replace the airbag sensor assembly with a new one containing improved roll rate sensors, free of charge. Toyota intends to send an interim owner notification to owners early to mid-May 2011 when sufficient parts and remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Vermeer is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 BC1200XL single axle brush chipper trailers manufactured from July 24, 2009, through February 14, 2011. During the assembly process the incorrect lug nuts were installed on wheels for the 285/75/R16 flotation tire option. These incorrect lug nuts may loosen, since the lug nuts do not match the countersink holes in the wheel disc. Loose lug nuts can damage the wheel disc and result in wheel separation from the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the lug nuts free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about June 1, 2011. Owners may contact Vermeer at 1-641-628-3141.

Webasto Product North America, Inc. (Webasto) is recalling certain Hollandia 700 and 600 series and Hollandia TVS 900 series sunroofs installed as original equipment by Erickson Auto Trim on various passenger vehicles. The adhesive bond between the glass and the metal frame can debond increasing the risk that the sunroof glass would separate from the vehicle. Complete glass-to-frame debonding can develop gradually and may be evidenced by metal corrosion around the sunroof frame, wind noise, vibration, visual bond separation and/or water leakage. In the event of a separation, the falling glass could create a road hazard or strike a trailing vehicle, and cause a crash. Webasto, the manufacturer of the sunroofs, will be performing the safety recall campaign. Owners who have been identified as having an affected sunroof installed in their vehicle will receive a safety recall notice from Webasto. The safety recall began on October 8, 2010. In order to determine if your vehicle is affected, please review the list of vehicles provided to us by Erickson Auto Trim by clicking on the hyperlink affected vehicle list or you may visit Webasto's website at http://www.sunroofcheck. You can also call Webasto toll-free at 1-888-749-8632.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Sample Letter to CA Assembly in Support of AB 361

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:25:00 +0000

Dear Assemblyperson [Assemblyman/woman and a name sounds a little better],

More and more entrepreneurs are starting companies that seek not only to profit in the traditional sense but also to create a material positive impact on society and the environment. As such, corporate leaders and investors need to be able to run their businesses in ways that consider the interests of a variety of stakeholders and that incorporate a broader mission than simply maximizing profit. Unfortunately, traditional corporate law defines the fiduciary duty of corporate officers and directors narrowly, making it difficult for businesses with a social mission to make the kinds of complicated decisions they face every day, even when those decisions maximize returns to shareholders.

It’s time that California law recognized the important potential of so called Benefit Corporations to provide market based incentives for investing in solutions to the many social and environmental problems currently facing our state and the world.

This would be good for California. Each state should attempt to become “the” state for 21st century incorporation. What Delaware became for conventional corporations, California could become for the modern corporation.

I encourage you to support AB 361, which would establish legal infrastructure for the creation and oversight of Benefit Corporations in California. I also ask that you do everything in your power to convince your colleagues in the Senate to pass the bill as well. With the passage of Benefit Corporation legislation, California has a chance to be a real leader in creating the legal infrastructure necessary to support sustainable businesses in America.

Sincerely,

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Does This Website Make Our Heads Look Big?

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 01:15:00 +0000

Send Us Your Feedback on the New betterworldclub.com!

And Search for a Chance to Win a Free Membership While You're at It

Better World Club has the services you want -- like 24/7 nationwide roadside assistance for your cars, motorcycles, RVs, AND bicycles; maps and trip routings; and insurance -- and we're constantly striving to ensure that the Better World Club experience reflects a picture of, well, a better world.

On January 18, we launched the newest version of www.betterworldclub.com, which includes not only a handsome new redesign (and you'd tell us the truth if you didn't think so, right?) but also a number of new features developed with the needs and convenience of our members in mind.

Our homepage now features links to news articles on energy, the environment, and progressive transportation (including, of course, links to select pieces from Kicking Asphalt). The new homepage also makes it easier for members to renew their memberships and to locate discount information for hotels and rental cars -- and for all of the other great discounts available to Better World Club members.

But enough about what we think. We want your opinions, too! So, what do you think of the new site? What questions or issues would you like to see featured in one of our surveys? (We'll be publishing results in Kicking Asphalt, by the way. Now if we could only get something similar going for our spouses we could save some money on all that counseling.) What do you like? Dislike? Does the new banner suit our complexion? Contact us!

Don't worry. There's something in it for you! Although we know that our members (and future members) are the kindest and most generous people out there, we thought we should do something just as kind and generous to thank everyone for praising the new site. We've posted a special code in BOLD RED at one of the pages that will stay active at the site until 10:30 a.m. PST on Friday, March 28. Email us with the code before that date and time and you'll be entered to win a free Premium membership in Better World Club. (Hint: it's not at the member site or in any archived newsletter article.) One winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entrants. Your opinions on the site won't affect your chances of winning, so go ahead and tell us what you really think.

Like what you see and can't wait to hear if you've won? Join now! Already a member? Visit our new homepage for easy access to updating your member profile, member discounts, and more!

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

New Discount on Budget and Penske Moving Trucks

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 01:13:00 +0000

Moving? Yeah, we figured it would only be a matter of time until you got run out of town. We can't help you back into the good graces of your neighbors after what happened, but we can get you a discount on your moving truck at not one, but TWO truck rental companies.

Better World Club members get a 15% discount at Budget Truck Rental. Log in to the member section of our website for discount code and reservation phone number information.

Better World Club members get a 10% discount at Penske Truck Rental. Log in to the member section of our website for discount code and reservation phone number information.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Get Out! Get Out Now!

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 01:05:00 +0000

Get Out in a Hurry with lastminute.com

Spring is right around the corner. But maybe you're just too fed up with the snow to wait for it and want to get somewhere warm before all the spring breakers show up. Or, maybe you're jealous of all the ski trip photos your friends up north and out east keep posting to the internet and want a piece of the action for yourself before the season's over. In either case, lastminute.com is a great resource for down to the wire deals on airfare, hotels, and car rentals.

Search a specific destination, or let the site recommend you a package. Searches also include informative and entertaining blurbs on history and attractions at your destination. Need to get out now? Try lastminute.com.

Have more than a minute? Try our spiffy multi-purpose booking engine.

''Trailblazers for Good''

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 01:02:00 +0000

Is Your Roadside Assistance Green?

by Michelle Martini, care2.com

National brands for roadside assistance promise to be quick and helpful, but a new one is also promising to be green. Better World Club offers bike and car roadside assistance in speedy fashion, plus they give 1% of revenue to environmental cleanup and advocacy.

Read the rest of the article here.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Spring Break! WOOOO!

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:58:00 +0000

Get Them There Safely With a Trip Routing From BWC...After That it's up to You

Congratulations. You finally got that last kid to college. And now it's time for that final hurdle before adult responsibility: spring break. You may not be able to chaperone everything that happens once everyone arrives at wherever it is they're going this year, but you can make sure that your child gets there quickly and safely with a custom trip routing.

Better World Club's trip planning service includes state by state driving directions with maps, narrative routing instructions, points of interest, and mileage guides for routes anywhere in the United States or Canada (if your kid's going abroad, it's all up to you). Members can order trip routings at the member section of our website. Heck, after this is over, you might need to take a trip of your own.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Recall Troubles Over for Toyota?

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:56:00 +0000

NHTSA Finds No Electronic Malfunction Responsible for Unintended Acceleration

Then Toyota Voluntarily Recalls 2 Million More Vehicles for Possible Acceleration Problem...Huh?

On February 8, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the results of its ten month study on possible electronic malfunctions that may have caused the unintended acceleration problems in Toyota vehicles, which resulted in the recall of millions of Toyotas worldwide since 2009. The study, conducted by NASA engineers, found no electronic defects that could have caused the acceleration incidents reported by Toyota customers.

On February 24, Toyota announced the recall of over 2 million more vehicles for an accelerator pedal design flaw that it has cited as the source of unintended acceleration problems since its initial recall. Department of Transportation regulators then stated that the recall announcement ended their investigation into the sufficiency of Toyota's response to the unintended acceleration problem.

So the NHTSA and Toyota are finally friends again. With this most recent recall, it seems like all parties involved might be willing to put the past behind them. But why has it taken so long: both for Toyota to announce its first recall after being notified of acceleration problems in its vehicles and for the Department of Transportation to investigate the source of problems about which it has been aware for at least as long?

Nearly a year ago we wondered if our vehicle regulatory system hadn't fallen into a rut and whether it needed a new Nader. Well, it would seem -- at least for the time being -- that Toyota's acceleration woes have been reason enough for the Department of Transportation to re-evaluate the relationship between automakers and its regulators.

The NHTSA didn't find any flaws in Toyota's electronic systems, but that it needed to enlist the support of NASA experts should have been an eye opener as regards the speed with which automotive technology has outpaced the ability of regulators to effectively monitor the industry and enforce appropriate regulations.

Thankfully, the NHTSA has now decided to propose rules that would require brake override systems and the installation of event data recorders in all passenger vehicles by the end of 2011. It will also broaden its research on the security of electronic control systems in general and will also research the placement and design of accelerator and brake pedals to reduce potential misapplication by drivers.

As NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said in his agency's announcement, ''The record number of voluntary recalls initiated by automakers last year is also very good news, and shows that we can work cooperatively with industry to protect consumers.'' Hopefully the lessons learned from the Toyota recall by both the government and the automotive industry will continue to shape the interaction of those two groups in an era of more and better technological innovations.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood can eat his cake, but he should keep some around to have for later as well.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

No News is Good News?

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:53:00 +0000

Not When You're Waiting on AAA's Public and Government Affairs Office

Massachusetts Trail Advocate Ignored after Requesting Meeting on Transportation Funding

Give Tom Michelman, President of the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, credit for patience. He didn't send one email to Lloyd Albert, Senior VP of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Southern New England (AAA SNE), but a long series of them between November 2010 and January of this year.

And what kind of response did he receive? Almost none.

Michelman never did receive a response to his request for a meeting to discuss AAA SNE's position on multi-modal transportation funding as it is currently provided for through the Highway Transportation Fund (HTF).

In our October 2010 edition of Kicking Asphalt, we reported on a proposal by the president and CEO of AAA Mid-Atlantic to eliminate funding for walking, bicycling, and mass transportation infrastructure from the HTF. In response to the AAA proposal, the DC based Rails to Trails Conservancy launched a petition drive to encourage AAA National to distance itself from Mid-Atlantic and support a transportation funding program that included funding for more than just roadways.

Michelman sent his initial request to meet with Albert of AAA SNE shortly after Rails to Trails had received an ambiguous response to a letter it sent to AAA National President Robert Darbelnet. As president of a large and active rail trail advocacy group, Michelman hoped to sit down with a representative from his local AAA region and clarify that organization's position on the HTF issue.

In his first -- and only -- response to Michelman, Lloyd Albert indicated only that, "AAA supports growing the overall transportation program, funded through user fees, to ensure we can meet the transportation challenges of the 21st Century," without commenting on Michelman's request for a meeting.

Michelman followed up, "asking that AAA SNE support keeping the Transportation Enhancement program in place as is," regardless of what the positions of AAA National or Mid-Atlantic might be. He also restated his desire to speak with a representative from AAA SNE either by phone or in person, acknowledging the possibility that AAA SNE's position might be more nuanced.

That message, sent at the end of November, met with no response, as did two other emails, the second of which questioned how a system of user fees would logically and effectively be structured to exact funds from walkers or cyclists. Michelman aptly observed that, "the public can’t choose some of the modes of a multi-modal system (bikeways and pedestrian bridges) without that infrastructure being funded," and that (in words we couldn't have chosen better ourselves), "the AAA stance is, unless [Albert] can argue logically otherwise, disingenuous."

It would seem that neither AAA Southern New England nor AAA National has any intention of openly supporting the continued funding of multi-modal transportation infrastructure from the Highway Transportation -- or of partnering with the rail trail movement and its many supporters. From here, the fight against the exclusion of all but automobiles from the HTF will continue in the Congress, and Better World Club welcomes the opportunity to partner with Rails to Trails and rail trail groups like the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in ensuring the funding of walking, bicycling, and public transportation infrastructure both now and into the future.

And in the meantime, if they're looking for roadside assistance without all of AAA's highway lobby baggage, we can probably recommend a reliable alternative.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Stop Unlimited Corporate Campaign Donations

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:37:00 +0000

Better World Club joins Ben & Jerry's, Seventh Generation, Calvert Investments, and other Companies to Speak Out Against Citizens United

US Supreme Court Says Money Is Speech, Congress Says Talk All You Want As Long As We Get the Money

BWC President Mitch Rofsky joined Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Wayne Silby of Calvert Investments, Jeff Holender, the founder of Seventh Generation, and a number of other corporate executives in Washington DC on the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Citizens United.

In Citizens United, the Court struck down traditional restrictions on corporate political contributions with a 5-4 vote. Subsequently, legislation requiring "disclosure" of corporate contributions passed the House of Representatives, but Senators in support of the bill fell short of ending a filibuster against it.

Ben and Jerry started the event by declaring: "I'm Ben Cohen and I'm a person." "I'm Jerry Greenfield and I'm a person." "Together, we're Ben & Jerry's, which is not a person." In so doing, they were confronting the Court's ruling that corporations have the same Constitutional rights as individuals.

Mitch referred to his testimony before the House Administration Committee on Campaign Finance Reform in 1979: He proposed that corporations recognize that corporate contributions involve more than "buying influence." "There are two sides to the same coin: there may be bribery, but let's not forget that pressure can run both ways -- which means that extortion can be involved as well." He was recently told that corporations are expected to pay $25,000 for meetings with Senators.

Mitch asked the press to encourage retired Congresspeople to disclose just how much time they spent raising money (purportedly as much as half their time as elections approach) and how they were pressured by businesses. Using former Aetna executive Wendell Potter as an example, he also encouraged the press to identify retired corporate executives that would speak on the role of business on political fundraising. Potter has become an effective advocate for health insurance reform, and Rofsky suggested that there are many retired executives who might be willing to disclose how their corporations used money to influence policy.

Better World Club encourages all business leaders to get involved on this issue. They can start by going to Business for Democracy(www.businessfordemocracy.com). If you are not a business executive, check out Public Citizen's "Don't Get Rolled" campaign.)

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Change of Climate in the 112th Congress

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:25:00 +0000

House Moves to Limit Regulatory Power of EPA

Urge Your Representative to Publicly Support the EPA and Its Regulations of Greenhouse Gases Under the Clean Air Act

Seemingly no sooner had the Constitution been read at the opening of the new legislative session in the House of Representatives than members of that chamber introduced bills intended to thwart the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, HR 97, the so called Free Industry Act, aims, "to amend the Clean Air Act to provide that greenhouse gases are not subject to the Act." Oh yeah, "and for other purposes," too. (We cringe at the thought of what those other purposes might be.) HR 153, the Ensuring Affordable Energy Act, would prohibit EPA funding from being used for implementation or enforcement of a cap and trade program for greenhouse gases.

With Congress having failed to pass a comprehensive climate and energy bill in its last session, the role of the EPA in regulating emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants is more important than ever. Taking its cue from an embattled White House, the EPA has already postponed the implementation of regulations to reduce smog and the pollution generated by industrial boilers. It is now imperative that Representatives make a strong stand in support of the EPA and its lawful regulatory power under the Clean Air Act. There should be no further delay in America's fight against climate change and our transition to a healthier and more vibrant clean energy economy.

We urge our readers to Drive Change by contacting their Representatives and insisting that they support the ability of the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. A sample letter is available here.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Sample Letter to Representatives on Regulatory Authority of EPA

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:18:00 +0000

Dear Representative,

With the failure of the Congress to pass a comprehensive climate and energy bill in 2010, the ability of the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act is more important than ever. Unfortunately, that ability is under attack by those who support a dirty and outdated energy system over America’s public health and long term economic viability.

It is imperative that the EPA be free to exercise its authority under the Clean Air Act to implement and enforce limits on greenhouse gas emissions. The choice to regulate greenhouse gases is also the choice to embrace the development of clean energy technologies – technologies that will create jobs and protect the health of the American people, two things that both Republicans and Democrats should support. America can no longer afford to delay in the fight against climate change and our transition to a healthier and more vibrant clean energy economy.

As challenges to the EPA and the Clean Air Act come up for debate, I strongly urge you to stand up to all reactionary attacks on the regulatory power of the EPA and to do everything in your power to encourage your colleagues in the House of Representatives to do so as well.

Sincerely,

Baby It's Cold Outside

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:49:00 +0000

So Be Careful When You Drive Out to Get Me That Hot Chocolate

For many of our members (hey, Northeast!), winter means snow and ice, which in turn mean difficult driving conditions. We can't, however, let that stop you from exchanging our Christmas presents.

Better World Club will be there as readily as possible to help you through your winter driving difficulties, but during blizzards and other especially hazardous conditions, we may not be able to dispatch service (and you're probably not the only one calling). Your best options for help in a blizzard are the police or other emergency responders.

For helpful tips on general winter driving, check out this list put together by our friends at Car Talk.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

100% of BWC Staff Surveyed Agree:

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:44:00 +0000

Take Our Membership Survey!

Sure, We Only Asked our President -- but Still, Numbers Don't Lie

We love hearing from our members. You know, thank you cards, thank you gifts, award nominations...any token of appreciation, really. We also understand that our members are exciting and busy people who can't always remember to visit the website to send us an email with their feedback. So, we've drawn up a survey to let you get it all out in one place.

In addition to providing our members with an easy opportunity to comment on their experiences with our services, our survey is designed to collect data on how our customers feel about the environmental and social responsibility issues that relate to the Club's operating mission. After all, open communication is essential to maintaining a healthy relationship. We hope you know that we're listening. Your needs are important. Once we have our results, we're excited to use them in planning and developing new membership services and online features.

The survey shouldn't take any more than 15 minutes to complete, and we know that all of our non-businesspeople members still resent not being able to respond to our last survey in November. So what's 15 minutes, right? Now's your chance to let us know what you think!

The current survey is, however, only to be completed by Better World Club members, present or past. If you're not a member and really can't wait to get in on the question answering fun, there's no better time to join! And do it soon, because we won't be collecting data after January 24th, 2011.

Thanks for your help! We're sure you'll like the future even better.

Take our membership survey now!

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Do We Need to Break Up California to Fix Democracy?

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:33:00 +0000

This article, by BWC President Mitch Rofsky, originally appeared in the Huffington Post

Many Democrats are recognizing that the federal government is broken and are lining up to "fix" the Senate filibuster. Some want to reduce the cloture requirement to 55 Senators. Others want to do away with the filibuster entirely.

There's only one problem: many Democratic Senators are reluctant to change the rule.

Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), for instance, favors the filibuster, which he used to protect Oregon's "Death With Dignity" law when it was under attack by a Republican Congress.

He is hardly alone. In 1995, 23 Democrats joined every Republican to defeat an effort (which was co-sponsored by Senator Joseph Lieberman) to scrap the filibuster. Will the Dems pick up at least 14 of those votes to eliminate the filibuster today? Very unlikely.

Unfortunately, this reflects an even bigger problem. The fact is the federal government isn't "broken" because of the filibuster rules. It's broken because of its two Senators per State structure, regardless of population, that is built into the U.S. Constitution.

The filibuster aggravates this problem, of course. But, the filibuster just highlights that the Senate that made sense in 1787 no longer does. After all, the impact of the Senate's structure is much different than was anticipated more than two centuries ago.

The Founders were dealing with States which were built on ethnic identities. Many States even had their own religions. Structuring the Senate and the Electoral College to protect State boundaries made some sense in a new, diverse country where tolerance would have to be developed and valued.

Furthermore, each state had essentially operated as a virtual country during the Articles of Confederation. But after the ratification of the Constitution -- and especially after the Civil War -- the independent power of states greatly diminished.

Then, in the 20th Century, emigration between states increased greatly.

Finally, communications technology -- first the movies, then radio and TV, and now the Internet -- encouraged a truly national culture. Times have changed.

And one of those changes is to virtually eliminate the distinctiveness of State populations. Are the people of, say, Pennsylvania, really different than the people of California, the people of Ohio from the people of Oregon? I've lived in all of those places and I can tell you: No! (A bigger cleavage is rural vs. urban within States.)

Today, State identity does little more than define which sports teams you root for. It makes little sense for land to have so much more power than people in the U.S. Senate.

There has been one more significant shift over the past 2+ centuries. In 1790, the most populous state was Virginia. Its population was 12x that of the smallest state, Delaware.

Today, California's population is 70x that of Wyoming.

The United States is the world's oldest democracy, yet we have no problem with each citizen of Wyoming having 70x the power of each Californian in the US Senate?

While the nation requires local administrative structures, i.e. States, the commitment to their original design and power makes little sense today.

Especially since this design has to distort our politics -- in both perception and reality.

Perception: the Senate's structure leads journalists to focus on the number of a political party's winners rather than its relative support. So the popularity of the Democratic Party is consistently understated because Democrats generate larger wins in larger states. The 2004 election was portrayed as a huge Republican victory because they won more Senate seats, but the Democrats won millions more votes.

Even if it doesn't matter legislatively -- it does matter politically. Karl Rove is a big believer in the "bandwagon effect" where the perception of impending political victory leads to political victory. Ignoring which party is actually winning most of the votes distorts this effect, political momentum, and, ultimately, the laws we live under.

Reality: the Senate's structure directly distorts results, as we just saw in the maneuvers the Democratic Senate leadership was forced to take to end the Republican medical insurance filibuster.

Let's be clear, a majority of Americans live in how many states? According to 2005 population figures, the number is "9." It would take only 18 Senators to represent a majority of Americans -- 12 Democrats and 6 Republicans.

If the Senate were based on population, it would require just 26 Democrats to represent a majority. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans represent just 37% of the population. (The Census counts non-citizens. Adjusting for the 10% of the population or so that are non-citizens would affect the power of the large states a bit, but not much politically as Texas and Arizona would nearly balance out California.)

This is how the government is really broken: not the gap between the number of Democratic and Republican Senators but the gulf between the 26 Democrats that represent a majority of Americans and the 74 Senators, mostly Republicans, who don't.

The current filibuster rules aggravate the situation, of course. At the time of the Senate health care debate, before Republican Scott Brown was elected in Massachusetts, we were letting just over 1/3 of Americans block the desires of 2/3.

Let's say that in the next election, the Democrats lose Harry Reid's Nevada seat as well as Byron Dorgan's seat in North Dakota. But, at the same time, they pick up the Republican seats in Florida and Ohio. The current party split would not change at all and the Democrats would have picked up no new support for their agenda. But now the Democrats would represent nearly 70% of the US population.

It's likely the Republicans will do better than this in 2010. But, as the Dems dominate the larger States, the next time they have momentum, they could be closing in on representing 75% of the population -- and still need to cripple their agenda in order to obtain the support of smaller state Senators to stop filibusters.

It is this figure that Democrats need to keep in mind as they consider a new cloture rule by shaping it to be the one feature of the Senate that recognizes what is currently missing: Democracy.

The Senate needs to alter the filibuster -- but it doesn't have to eliminate it. It could just say that cloture would be invoked unless Senators representing over 40% of the population voted to continue debate, figured with each of the two State Senators representing half the State's population. Besides shifting the calculation for cloture from States to population, this also shifts the burden to where it belongs: on the minority trying to stop the vote, not the majority that wants to hold it.

If this rule were in force today, it would take only 17 Democratic Senators to block debate. Of course, Republicans couldn't block cloture alone, but they could with just one more large state Democrat.

Unfair? No. More a reflection of how unfair the current rule is. If the Republicans don't like it, they should run candidates who can win in California, Illinois, and other large states.

Or, the rule could be adjusted so that it requires both 41 Senators and 40%+ of the population to block cloture. This would still be a major step toward Democracy from the current status quo.

In the case of the health care debate, the Democrats could have lost Senators Lieberman (Conn.), Nelson (Neb.), Landrieu (La.), and Lincoln (Ark.) and still invoked cloture. The need for the worst compromise/bribery would have been avoided. And the public option could have been retained.

If the Senate isn't interested in recognizing Democracy in even the most minor way, then we are headed for a crisis. And liberals need to make clear that they will call for more radical remedies that ultimately go to the very structure of the Senate. Most people don't realize that the most straightforward way of dealing with the problem -- adjusting the equal suffrage per state requirement in the Senate -- is barred by the US Constitution unless every state consents. It cannot even be the subject of a Constitutional amendment (Article V of the Constitution).

Then, what would more radical alternatives look like? What about adjusting State lines to equalize State population? Our 50 State boundaries could be redrawn into areas of some 6 million people each -- and then adjusted, maybe every 50 or 100 years. Radical? This is the way that State Senates are organized today (only with more frequent boundary adjustments).

Don't like that idea?

Perhaps the Senate should become more like the British House of Lords and be restricted to a limited jurisdiction, say, confirming appointments and ratifying treaties.

No?

Let's be "Originalist" and say that the Founders were correct and no state should be larger than 12x the smallest. So California should break itself into 9 States, Texas into 6, New York into 3, and down the line. There could be more than 20 new States and 40 new Senators. And guess what: Most of them are likely to be liberal. (Or maybe California gets carried away and breaks itself up into 70 Wyoming-sized States? If it works for Wyoming why shouldn't it work for California as well?)

The advantage here is that no Constitutional Amendment is required.

Many Americans consider the 2000 Presidential Election and the Senate consideration of health care to be scandals. The loser of the popular vote becomes President? Also caused by the Senate structure. (Drop the Senate votes built into the Electoral College and the odds of the loser of the popular vote taking the Presidency would be greatly reduced -- and Al Gore wins in 2000.) The only way that the Senate can pass health insurance reform is if it is gutted and then subjected to special interest deals?

What's next? As smaller and smaller States control the outcome of elections and Congressional action and as populations in coastal States continue to grow disproportionately, there is bound to be some kind of national political breakdown. The power of tiny minorities is also likely to become an international embarrassment for the world's model of Democracy.

So Democratic Senators need to assert that a cloture rule reflecting Democracy is the least they can accept to fix the Senate -- while respecting the true will of a responsible majority, just as our Founders would have wanted. After all, the Federalist Papers argued against supermajority votes: "Whenever justice or the general good might require new laws or active measures, a quorum of more than a majority would reverse the fundamental principle of free government. The majority would no longer rule. The power would be transferred to the minority."

Or there's always the alternative: Welcome to the State of San Diego!

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

CarShare Vermont

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:21:00 +0000

There are more than 230 million automobiles in the U.S., and at least 3 parking spaces for each of them...that's an area roughly the size of Connecticut devoted to parking!

CarShare Vermont’s mission is to provide an affordable, convenient, and reliable alternative to private car ownership that enhances the environmental, economic, and social well being of the region and planet.

CarShare Vermont gives you easy access to a network of vehicles that you can use whenever you want (it helps if you're in Vermont) for as long as you like. You pay based on how much you drive, which saves you money and helps the environment. Whether you have errands to run, need a car for work, or want to get out of town for the weekend, CarShare Vermont can get you there (and with the peace of mind of roadside assistance coverage from Better World Club). It’s really that simple!

Simple. Affordable. Fun. CarShare Vermont.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Weather Underground

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:18:00 +0000

You Don't Need Bill Ayers to Know Which Way the Wind Blows

But This Weather Underground Can Help You Prepare for Your Next Trip

All that rain in sunny California and then that huge blizzard in New York? We've been having some strange weather lately. And whether that's the result of global warming (weirding?) or not, it's nice to know what to expect from the weather at your destination before a trip.

Weather Underground is a comprehensive website that combines your run of the mill meteorology with blogs, photos and videos, trip planning, and activity recommendations. Plus, the Weather Underground's interactive, searchable WunderMap provides real time information from radar and weather stations across the world. Rain at your destination? Snowed in at the airport? You could spend your whole vacation playing with the map!

What's more, you can even register for access to select information -- just like in a real underground network! (But without the danger and hassle of all the bombings.) What's the current climate at the Pentagon? Haymarket Square? With the Weather Underground, talking weather isn't just idle chit chat.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

5 Great Ways to Find Roadside Assistance

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:14:00 +0000

by Constance Gustke, Foxbusiness.com

"Affinity clubs have a full menu of benefits...

Take the Better World Club. Its basic roadside assistance program costs $56, and includes towing up to five miles. But you also can add on assistance for bicycles, motorcycles and RVs. Members get extra perks like eco-travel services and discounts on hybrid car rentals, says Mitch Rofsky, president of Better World." Link to article at Foxbusiness.com.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

It's Not Always Sunny in California

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:12:00 +0000

Lapsed Members of AAA SoCal Can't Renew Extended Towing Coverage Without Probation

Like a number of other AAA regional clubs, the Automobile Club of Southern California requires that new members maintain a basic membership without usage for at least 12 months before they're allowed to upgrade to a membership with longer towing coverage.

It's not our policy, but we get it. Tows are expensive, and it's hard to keep membership rates reasonable if you're signing people up just to tow them for dozens of miles right away.

Once you'd done your time, however, we'd have thought that you would have won AAA's trust. Apparently not so: let your Plus membership in the SoCal Automobile Club lapse and you're back on probation, regardless of how long you've been a member.

Existing members can call AAA customer service during their probationary periods to find out how long they've kept their records clean, but as soon they're no longer members, the count starts all over again.

Maybe the Automobile Club of Southern California is just trying to keep its members renewing on time, but its probation policy doesn't seem like it would encourage lapsed members to renew -- especially members of 10 or 20 years that all of a sudden find their coverage downgraded.

Better World Club may not have that long of a history yet, but we'd love to have you with us when we get there, even if you let your membership lapse every once in a while.

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon

Keep the Supreme Court Out of Politics!

noreply@blogger.com (CMerkel) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:27:00 +0000

I think that was supposed to be, ''Keep Business Out of Politics!''

Same Difference...

In last year's State of the Union, President Barack Obama foresaw the danger of the Supreme Court's Citizen's United case, which opened the floodgates of corporate political spending. When Justice Samuel Alito mouthed that the President didn't know what he was talking about, it caused quite a stir.

Well...this fall's Congressional campaign won't do much to burnish the Court's image as a body of intellectuals. Spending is out of control -- and voters can't even get any information as to who's behind it.

Of course, this Supreme Court decision is just going to make it harder for America to get what it needs from responsible businesses.

That's because the money flooding the political system does not represent the views of companies in New Voice of Business or the American Sustainable Business Council, two business groups for which Better World Club President Mitch Rofsky sits on the board of directors. Instead, the money that floods the system will come from organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which alone will spend more than $200M this year. This group and other organizations like it represent companies that don't value what we value.

- They are more likely to defend the industries of the past than the industries that are inventing the future.
- They are committed to environmentally disastrous old energy sources rather than making America a leader in clean, renewable energy.
- They are intent on exhausting natural resources in search of the lowest cost, rather than operating sustainably.
- They are multinational giants rather than Main Street businesses that respond to local communities.
- They operate as if investors are the only stakeholders that matter, rather than acknowledge the diverse stakeholders that matter in our modern and interconnected economy.

Is that the kind of business thinking that we want to dominate our political discourse?

Ask yourself: Which type of business represents the future? Which type of business should speak most loudly in the political debate: extractive businesses or sustainable businesses? "Too Big to Fail" businesses or businesses of a more reasonable scale? Businesses that are defending a position of market dominance built generations ago or businesses that are innovating and disrupting the legacy industries of the past? We cannot build an economy of the future based on outmoded ideas and values.

A Solution

Sponsored in the Senate by Dick Durbin (D-IL) and in the House by John Larson (D-CT) and Walter Jones (R-NC), the Fair Elections Now Act would neutralize the corrupting influence of special interest donations and make it possible for legislators to focus on the people's business rather than on fundraising.

The bill has been carefully crafted to survive constitutional challenge by the Supreme Court. It does not bar private funding of campaigns, but it provides the option for candidates to run for Congress on a blend of small private donations and limited public funds, including a four-to-one federal match on donations of $100 or less. With theFair Elections Now Act, candidates could finance a viable campaign based solely on contributions from their local grassroots base of supporters. Candidates would not need to depend on special interests who expect to obtain influence in exchange for cash.

We will be asking for your support in the next edition of Driving Change.

For more on campaign finance, see BWC President Mitch Rofsky's "Quid Pro What? The Supreme Court Has to Recognize Bribery Before It Can Stop It."

Bookmark with:

Delicious | Digg | reddit | Facebook | StumbleUpon