"Returning to your examples, you mentioned a gallon of gas and a tee shirt. The price of a gallon of gas does not include the cost of the pollution associated with producing it, or using it. Those added costs are hard to quantify, but the are real."


Dragon this is what i believe should be accounted for in the cost of goods and services. When one takes a close look at the lifespan of something as simple as a Compact Disc or White Cotton T-shirt, it is scary.
The Shirt begins as the cotton plant which is an extremely intensive water using plant. Also growers of cotton have traditionally used the whole gamut of pesticide/herbicide/fungicide in a preemptive fashion. The chemicals DO leach into soil and waterways. Also the soil itself is being depleted and overused from the intensive applications. Now after the machinery or poverty labor is used to harvest, the cotton is then TRANSPORTED to a Mill. Mills known to be large polluters due to the fact they use lots of chemicals then go to town on the cotton to turn it to fabric. Softeners, bleach, more machinery and man made chemicals. Now time to transport the cotton fabric to where it will be turned into shirts, wrapped in plastic (which has its own long polluting lifespan....etc etc. Final result being Bright White T-Shirts on Walmart shelves. Selling for about the price of a bottle of water. Who is paying for the REAL Cost of producing these. We are, the public. Through destruction of the worlds resources, skies, and waterways.
D-rider you are right nobody wants to pay. Most folks are happy to get there deals at walmart pretending to be ignorant to the damage they are supporting, and the big business doing these things, well we know what Concern$ them. What to do?
I think business need to be forced to clean up after themselves. These sources of pollution are hardly quantifiable, but they need to be accounted for one way or another. Europe as you mentioned has taken the lead, and we would be intelligent to follow. They have been doing it for longer than GW has been our president.
From a personal standpoint be aware of what it is you purchase. Money is a vote. It supports or protests whether you use it or do not. Food...local. If it comes in a package, try harder to find something that doesnt.
Goods and services, BUY SUSTAINABLE. Hemp Rope is as strong as Nylon. Ever seen a Nylon plant before??? It has black smoke pouring out of it. Ever seen a Hemp plant before??? Oh yes you have!!
Reuse!! Forget about recycling its for the lazy...Reuse is about 20-50% more efficient. Single servings...hell NO! Family style. Grow your own, not just herbs...