Reality Check

[pbca]

Just a few realities with regard to some of what the various candidates are talking about

1) Fuel prices aren't coming down, not ever: The only way to get lower oil prices would be to continue in Iraq and launch wars in other foreign countries in order to take their oil at less than market rates. Alternative fuels are possible, but they will be expensive and will require (in most cases) switching to different cars/fueling stations etc., and the resulting fuel would be more expensive than gas is now: This includes biodeisel and if you were going to make enough biodeisel to replace all of the fuel used in the US - every single square inch of the US (including the land where your house is) would have to be covered in crops. Any way you slice it, fuel will be going up more.

2) If NAFTA is ended, or renegotiated - at least from Canada's POV, prices will go up even more. Remember that most of what the US imports isn't finished goods, it's resources so ending NAFTA or renegoiating it in the current climate will mean higher prices on fuel, imported water, minerals, metals, wood and paper products, and agricultural (food) products - it may even mean not getting them at all as India and China are already bidding on every resource Canada has in surplus.

[Angela Shelley]

1. Reality check, I have to disagree on one point.

Continuing the occupation of Iraq and launch wars in other foreign countries in order to "TAKE" their oil WILL NOT lower the price of oil.

At some time, OPEC nations will refuse to sell oil to the USA, because they won´t be interested in taking a bounced check or a maxed out credit card.

The only alternative is "Peaceful ALTERNATIVE ENERGY"

[gateley]

2. Excellent, Angela Shelley!

I think you nailed it on the not wanting to take a bounced check.....

Yes. Alternative energy. :headbang:

[Angela Shelley]

4. Just imagine how the economy would BOOM

if a large number of people in the US would DEMAND alternative energy.

It´s the ONLY choice which the USA has, well, other than the destruction of the planet. :-)

[gateley]

5. This is what's baffled me for so long --

I always say "it's all about the money". You'd have thunk that the energy/oil companies would have seen the financial opportunity for this industry and jumped on it. Of course, it's not as though they're hurting from their association with oil, currently. Maybe they're waiting until the last drop...

I fear you may be a little more optimistic about the future of the planet than I am. I think we're goners, but I think we should treat her with love as we all perish together.

[Angela Shelley]

6. I´ll tell you where my optimism comes from.

I have lived in Germany for the past 18 years. I have spent thousands of hours talking to people who lived during WWII, and who survived the aftermath. Few of the stories are pleasant. But, I have learned that when an emergency situation arises, people develop enormous strength and creativity.

The energy companies are doing what they do best, trying to earn money with one, two, or three products. When the oil is gone, they will be gone too, because they have only concentrated on making easy money for the longest time.

It´s like the banks in the US. When the people in the US decide that they don´t want to be slaves any more, they will become creative and diligent, and extremely frugal, and pay off their debts. The banking system will fail, because the banks have been living off easy money for the longest time.

Living in Europe is exciting, there are new projects and developments in the alternative energy field in every weekly newspaper. The USA is not the center of the universe, the USA will have no choice other than to jump on the bandwagon. There are enough strong minds in the USA to make this decision.

We don´t have to wait until a POTUS says it´s the right thing to do. We can decide for ourselves.

[lapfog_1]

3. Better check your facts...

"if you were going to make enough biodiesel to replace all of the fuel used in the US - every single square inch of the US (including the land where your house is) would have to be covered in crops."

Care to prove that statement?

Start with this table:

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_yield.html

Now throw in algae from this research:

http://www.unh.edu/p2/biodiesel/article_alge.html

but take away half the yield, because it's only research so far...

Even if you don't believe algae AT ALL, then look at the yields for this plant:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jatropha

Now do the calculations again...

However, it will NOT lead to lower fuel costs. The rise in fuel is mostly due to the devaluation of the dollar in the world market.