Download Small Group Discussion Set 4

IDS 210 W14 Small Group Discussion Set 4 (Friedman 8-12, Plan B 7,8)
Instructions: Answer six of the following questions (including the REQUIRED ones)
with a solid paragraph, at a minimum (more if you desire). Questions generally worth 7
pts. Typed, double spaced, and must include a works cited page to document where you
got your information (generally worth 8 pts). Cite your sources using MLA format
(Author, page #). Due in your specific discussion group session for the week, AND
WILL BE ACCEPTED AT NO OTHER TIME.
1. REQUIRED Find a relevant, informative news article or publication that meets one of
the below criteria, and summarize in one paragraph. If available online, provide the URL.
Either way, cite your source.
 Relevant to today’s discussion topics.
 Relevant to your research project.
 Relevant to sustainability or public policy and something you think the rest of the
group should know about.
2. Analyze the objectivity and thoroughness of the documentary Who Killed the Electric Car?
Did the film have an agenda? Was it biased?
3. REQUIRED. In the EV1, did GM have an economically viable, mass marketable (as in
hundreds of thousands per year) car that many people would buy? If you believe so, what is the
evidence or data that such a consumer market existed? In other words, why do you think the
demand would have been there had GM gone into production? Consider the EV1’s driving range
compared to comparable internal combustion engine cars, and the practicality of charging the EV1
while away from home. Did the CARB requirement for GM to sell zero emission cars consider
whether enough people would want to buy them? You might look at the Wikipedia page on this
documentary.
4. After viewing “Who Killed the Electric Car?”, consider the role of business in a
democratic/capitalist society. The complex interaction between business, government, and
consumers is presented as a case study in Who Killed the Electric Car?. After viewing the film,
clarify your own attitude toward the role of business, before any discussion, by using the prompts
that follow. Prioritize the entire list from 1, most important, to 10, least important, and then write
just a sentence or two that explains each ranking.
______ The role of business is to make a profit for the shareholders (owners) who invested in the
business.
______ The role of business is to make a good product.
______ The role of business is to serve the consumer.
______ The role of business is to support government.
______ The role of business is to educate government.
______ The role of business is to educate consumers.
______ The role of business is to improve life.
______ The role of business is to protect the environment.
______ The role of business is to provide consumers with choice.
______ The role of business is to invent solutions to society’s problems.
5. REQUIRED. Consider Friedman’s five part model of a clean energy system that tries to
optimize: clean electricity, energy efficiency, family planning services, an ethic of conservation,
and adaptation to coming climate change. Assess the model for political and economic
practicality.
6. Briefly mentioned in your Supply and Demand reading is the term “scarcity” of goods (more
details at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarcity ). Explain this concept in your own words and then
explain why (or why not) this a useful concept in understanding the use of energy in our (or any)
economy.
7. Mentioned in your Supply and Demand reading is the term “substitute” and the possibility of
substituting one good for another if they can be used in somewhat similar ways (more details at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substitute_good ). How do you thinks this concept might apply to
today’s energy market and consumer (recall business people are energy consumers as well)
choices on what kind of energy to use for various activities, commercial or otherwise.
8. REQUIRED Mentioned in your Supply and Demand reading are the terms “Supply” and
“Demand” (see 1 Graphical representation of supply and demand, and 2 Changes in market
equilibrium). What factors would cause the demand curve (how much of a good people want to
buy at a given price) to shift one way or the other. How about factors in shifts of the supply curve
(how much of a good producers want to make and sell at a given price)? Use real world examples
involving energy in your explanations.
9. Do the prices that producers/sellers charge for a good or service reflect the true “cost” of
providing the good or service to the buyer? (you might look at the term “opportunity cost” at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunity_cost ). Offer examples involving energy or the
environment in your answer.
10. Plan B points out that there are a lot more people now than 50 years ago, will likely be many
more still in another 50 years if nothing is changed, and that this population growth has much to
do with the problems outlined in Plan B so far (over use of resources, environmental damage,
global warming…). What was the population 50 or so years ago, what is it now, and what are
Plan B’s projections for 50 or so years in the future (40 years is OK as well)? Is population size a
problem? If so, briefly state Plan B’s solution and evaluate the practicality of Lester Brown’s plan
for this