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It sounds like you have a problem with EPA regulations and civic responsibilty. You aren't alone in the woods you know, what you do affects other people. As far as retuning the engine with lower backpressure goes, sure the change in emissions is slight, but depending on how much the change in the system is, it could end up failing SMOG. If it passes SMOG then great. I put on 2 1/4" exhaust on my B230F with a K&N to get out what little more power I could, and still passed Ca SMOG with flying colors. I didn't swap to the high flow cat though because of the increase in emissions and the possibility of not passing SMOG. Do what you want to your system, and if it still passes SMOG, then great don't worry about the environment becuase you are only one of hundreds of billions in the US alone and it can't be that bad because it does pass SMOG. One person messing with their car and increasing their emissions slightly doesn't have a large effect.
But when you have a beef with the EPA regulations being too stingent or the EPA having regulations at all, which ever it is you have a problem with, you have to realize that a slight increase in allowed emmisions muliplied by 300 billion people is not a small number. You would have to be a fool to think you should be able to do what ever you want regardless of how you affect your community or the world at large. Especially if your rational is because volcanoes do it too. We aren't in preschool anymore.
Try telling LA or Mexico city that air pollution is OK because car emissions are natural and come from the environment. By your logic we should also pour used oil down the drain along with antifreeze and whatever else we want. After all, "if we still lived in the forests, there would be plenty of natural reactions to recycle them." Do you really want to be exposed to more than you have to be?
Pb, As, and C6H6 are all natural but I still wouldn't want people do be able to put them where ever they want to, whether it be from ignorance or stupidity.
There is a reason why SMOG exists and I think it is a good one. Waste and emission regulation is what keeps people like you from destroying the environment in which we live. Please, do not try to rationalize your own irresponsibilty by pointing the finger to things we cannot control. There is a difference between environmental pollution by deliberate choice, ignorance, and acts of God. I want my family to be exposed as few carcinogens as possible, no matter how "natural" they are. If a volcano erupts, fine, but to watch my neighbor or the local industrial plant dispose of waste into our ground water due to recklessness is not OK.
If you look at everyone's tailpipes while you drive around here in California they are nice, new and shiny. Even on the worst 1970's jalopy. I could only imagine what it would be like without it; Mexico? The drawbacks are, I can't get my old wagon to go 0-60 in less than 20s without breaking the law, but I would rather have clean air to breathe. Besides, if I wanted to have better acceleration I should buy a different car and still not harm the environment.
It is interesting to note that I consider myself an environmentalist, but have never heard of a humanist until you stated it. I would consider myself to be resposible though. You should think of an environmentalist as one one makes an effort to minimize their destructive impact on the environment within reason. You have to realize that just by just existing in our society you will have an imact on everything around you including your community. So, you should do your best to be responsible and minimize the harm that you cause.
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