The value of the US

[bb_wolfe]

As much as it's hurting everybody right now, I don't think these high oil prices are necessarily a bad thing in the long run. Renewable energy gets talked about a lot, but nobody actually gets off their ass and does anything about it until it hits them in the pocketbook. It seems like interest and innovation has sped up, and I'm happy with that trade-off.

If the government regulated and controlled oil import/distribution/refining, then you're 100% right. The more they raise prices, the greater the tax revenue, and the more money is pumped back into the republic.

Unfortunately, a bunch of sand-fucks in UAE, the 2 fucks in the white house, and a LOT of execs are Exxon, etc., are the ones who are benefiting, all the while saying "We're the white knights who will bring you alternative energies once oil is gone.".


Horseshit all of it.


I say federally regulate/operate the oil industry, set quarterly pricing structures based on actual costs, and earmark any 'profits' back into social programs, like college education, help for single moms, and decreasing the amount of minorities in prison, etc.

 

[HarveyJ]

Whether we have oil or not really shouldn't be the major concern.
We need to get off being dependent on oil simply so that when the next oil shock comes, as it inevitably will, we don't have this same problem again.

The Oil Shock in the 70s presented this opportunity. What happened? Not bloody much because the Arabs turned out to have more than they thought after all.

If we don't want to be living in economic cycles like this, we really need to pin transportation technologies down with something that doesn't have to be dug up, shipped, refined, shipped and then sold to the vehicle owner. Too many delays, too many middle men WAY too many stages along the pipeline where someone can hold it to ransom.

*coughIranandtheStraightofHormuzcough*

This is why I like the idea of rooftop solar panels (got a couple of them actually), and harvesting bio-gas from decomposing matter (it's big in S.E. Asia). YOU own the power generation facilities, and they're right there. Only thing stopping you getting the power would be some prankster cutting the lines.

wood is an unlimited resource, we can always go back to steam power

In a way, I hope that happens, just so we have a decent excuse to getup in Steampunk styles.
I'd love this laptop: Datamancer.net -- Datamancer's Steampunk Victorian Laptop :xomunch:

 

[erect]

Our country goes through these pseudo-crisis' every 30-60 years, be it via war, threat of war, etc.

WWI lead to population boom, which stressed the economy and lead to the stock market crash.

WWII lead to population boom, which stressed the economy and lead to economic warfare with communists, which almost lead to MAD scenarios.

Vietnam lead to political shakeup, which changed the economy and allowed S&L's to issue junk bonds, and many more bullshit situations, etc...

Iraq war lead to the shit we're facing currently. Period.


Get rid of Iraq, stick more money into education and small businesses, and you'll see things improve.

Logic: Who can argue with this?

But even if everything said about global warming is untrue, then I still think we're well on our way to destroying our planet. We're just consuming too much and that is not sustainable. Maybe for our generation, but not for the next ones and for most species.

Population Control: The end all solution to all our environmental "problems"

 

[_poto_]

i don't think that's true.
The oil price | Don’t blame the speculators | Economist.com

The economist isn't always right but this makes sense. Eventually the oil bought by speculators is thrown back into the market, nobodys hoarding millions of barrels of oil in a warehouse, speculation doesn't explain the continued price increase.

The US and other developed countries attributes this rise in oil prices to the fact that the global oil supply by producing nations has not been able to keep pace with ever increasing demand from consuming nations, more so the emerging countries like India and China. The counter argument to that theory is that rather than fundamentals, massive amount of speculative activities is mainly responsible for the recent hike in not only oil price but also commodity prices across the board. If the later is true, the bubble has to burst some day and we will live to see oil price come down to sane levels. A closer look at data suggests that this might just be the case.

Michael Masters, a US-based hedge fund manager, suggested a month back to the distinguished members of the US senate committee on homeland security and governmental affairs that speculative demand is behind much of the recent rise in commodity prices and the US lawmakers must curb speculators’ access to commodities if commodity inflation has to be brought under control.

The same view was again emphasized in the recently concluded Jeddah conference of oil producers and consumers. King Abdullah stated in no uncertain terms that the speculators are clearly behind the sharp rise in the oil price, which is estimated to have contributed to up to 60% of the increase. The rest of OPEC's members echoed his view...

source: Is the Global Economy Drowning in a Sea of Black Gold? - Seeking Alpha

I tend to agree with OPEC...

 

[joshmv]

I'd like to hear a good discussion on Hydrogen. To me it seems like it might actually be feasible in the near future and Honda just started producing a refueling station for your home to go along with their new hydrogen powered car. While they were at it they figured what the hell, it's going to be big anyways, why don't we just make it power the whole house as well. Sounded interesting to me anyways.

Also I do think solar panels and wind power are obviously awesome investments for your home.

 

[Bofu2U]

I'd like to hear a good discussion on Hydrogen. To me it seems like it might actually be feasible in the near future and Honda just started producing a refueling station for your home to go along with their new hydrogen powered car. While they were at it they figured what the hell, it's going to be big anyways, why don't we just make it power the whole house as well. Sounded interesting to me anyways.

Also I do think solar panels and wind power are obviously awesome investments for your home.

Goin' for solar myself.