Editor's note: In today's Red, Green and Blue, our political commentators Jimmy Hogan and Shirley Siluk Gregory take a look at the costs and benefits of public transportation.

Jimmy: Public transportation is a blessing to metropolitan areas where well designed mass transit systems help reduce traffic congestion and related pollution. It's also nice to sip a hot cup of coffee and read the paper while leaving the business of driving to someone else. Planning and management of these systems is the key though in having successful acceptance by a society of car drivers accustomed to the flexibility of operating on their own schedule.

The point that must be kept in mind is that public transportation is a medicine for a specific ailment and that trying to administer this remedy in areas that are more suburban than urban is often costly and unsuccessful; sometimes doing more harm than good. Policy makers must also distinguish between the goal of alleviating traffic(along with its associated ills) and social welfare in the form of subsidized transportation costs because these can sometimes be at odds.

Shirley: The time is fast coming when America will need to radically rethink its approach to transportation, both short- and long-distance. The forces converging to drive such change include rising fuel prices, the growing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a federal highway trust fund that's falling short of covering infrastructure construction, maintenance and repair needs, and an aging U.S. population in which a growing number of citizens will be unable or unwilling to continue driving in coming years.

Public transit ridership has been increasing in recent years and polls show many Americans want more public transportation options. That trend is only likely to grow as gas prices keep rising (and they will: analysts are already predicting $4 a gallon pump prices as this summer's travel season gets under way). Many cities today are exploring or implementing new programs such as light-rail systems, while some states struggling to make ends meet are considering privately maintained toll roads. As with efforts to curb global warming, it's clear that the federal government is lagging far behind what its citizens want in terms of transportation alternatives. Public transit won't solve all our transportation problems, but it needs to be offered in far more widespread and creative ways than it is at present.

Editor's note: We're proud to revive Red, Green and Blue, our weekly political feature. We've made some changes: first, our new writer Shirley Siluk Gregory will represent the progressive side; Jimmy Hogan will continue to take the conservative position in these debates. Second, we're trying out a new format — Shirley and Jimmy will each give "opening statements," and then debate each other in the comments of the post. You're welcome (and encouraged) to join the fray!

Topic: Major sacrifice by American citizens is necessary to meet the challenges posed by climate change and other environmental problems.

Shirley: Imagine, for a minute, that your doctor has called to deliver a "bad news, good news" diagnosis.

The bad news? Over the next 20 years, you're very likely to develop a serious, chronic disease with painful, debilitating and life-altering effects.

The good news? If you radically alter your habits now, you can save yourself from the worst, long-term symptoms of your disease. It won't be easy, but it can be done.

So the question is, would you do it? Would you sacrifice some of life's pleasures and make the hard choices necessary today to gain yourself a healthier, happier future in years to come?

By now, I'm sure, you've seen the analogy to global warming: a little pain now puts off a lot of pain later, according to the best of what science is telling us today. Unfortunately, even many green-minded types aren't yet talking about the real and drastic changes we would need to start making today to keep the impact of global warming from becoming catastrophic in years to come. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs, Toyota Priuses and carbon offsets alone won't cut it.

Jimmy: As much as we feel it is important to sacrifice for those things in which we truly believe, I'm convinced that sacrifice may have the unintended consequence of doing more harm than good; especially when that sacrifice is imposed on society at large. History teaches that common sense incentives combined with innovation and technology will solve the world's environmental problems faster and less painfully than any manner of sacrifice imposed or otherwise. America's market economy is the best friend the environment has and is the best hope of dealing with a growing world population and increasing world environmental concerns.

Let the fun begin!