ViaTalk Offers Free Gas Cards
VoIP provider ViaTalk is offering $20 in free gas to anyone who signs up for a two year term. The company is also contributing 5% of revenue for Hurricane Katrina relief.
The press release also mentions that CEO Brendon Brader drives a Hummer H2 licensed as ‘1 MPG’. Apparently Mr. Brader lives in an irony free zone… He could do more for the environment and hurricane relief by selling that gas guzzling obscenity, and donating the funds.
September 6th, 2005 at 4:45 pm
I’m reminded how, when I moved to the states, I got my credit
(Visa) card from the local supermarket, while buying (some of)
my groceries at the corner gas station. I reflected that if the
bank would give me coupons for gasoline, the circle would be
complete…
September 6th, 2005 at 4:55 pm
I suspect he gets a lot of publicity out of the Hummer. Not to mention fun. I think we should all do what we can for the environment and Katrina relief, but isn’t there a balance that includes living? I drive a 28′ motorhome. The price of gas and environmental concerns didn’t stop me from taking the kids to Marineland and camping this last weekend. And while I consumed more gas than most, I ran 20k+ ads for Red Cross Katrina relief. We can’t just stop living because of strict morals. Otherwise, where would babies come from?
September 6th, 2005 at 4:55 pm
“SUV” should stand for “Surprising Unintended consequence
Vehicle”. The SUV phenomenon is a textbook example of unintended
consequences caused by laws that try to control peoples’ economic
behaviour. It is the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency)
laws that mandate small cars. Is it really so surprising that
people will buy trucks once their personal safety in cars has
been mitigated by the federal government? Is the answer to pass
laws about owning trucks, then? What about the unintended
consequences of *that*? Pass some more laws? And then after
*that*?
Is the final answer iron-clad totalitarianism? How well do we see
*that* working in the world for protecting the well-being of
people and the environment (totalitarian countries have the worst
environmental records on Earth)?
September 6th, 2005 at 5:24 pm
James, I think if your argument is that being safe means driving a larger vehicle, there are plenty of lesser conveyances that will qualify. A Hummer isn’t an ordinary “truck”.
As for publicity and fun, well, global warming has been cited as one of the factors around this year’s nutso hurricane season. I see nothing wrong with driving a motorhome to go camping for the weekend, Randy. But I differ on a Hummer. Sure, it’s cool, and it’s fun… and it’s a disaster when ordinary people buy them to make trips to the grocery store.
September 7th, 2005 at 4:10 pm
Alec, OK you’ve convinced me. I’ll use the Saturn instead of the motorhome when making trips to the grocery store :)
September 7th, 2005 at 4:55 pm
Glad to see you doing your part for the environment… 8)