Good possibilities! The Iranian situation maybe more serious than most think. But it may work only under the assumption that the oil companies will pass the savings to the consumer. I hardly doubt it. It will only reduce their cost and make their access to political power greater. We are already getting access to about 6 trillion worth of oil in the Caspian trough the Afghanistan pipeline controlled finally by Unocal, and built by Hallibarton. But oil prices are still kept high. The prices are fixed as far as the final consumer is concerned. The cost savings lines up oil cartel pockets. In addition, we need instability and war in the area. Weapons sales overseas account for a huge portion of the war machine's profits. It's a great way to appropriate money domestically for the war industry, and bringing back in the dollars spent on oil. It's recycling of petrodollars. Great marketing/business plan. If we really wanted non oil dependance, we would have used much more efficient combustion engines, and even even look for alternative sources. Technologies of low pollution very high efficiency have been conceived for over 50 years, but have not been pursued funded etc, the oil cartel lobbies and the defense are very strong. Maybe eventually we'll get there, but it may take a good shock for the system to change. I hope it all works out ok. Good posts folks, keep them coming. Josh
Some recent and important developments: http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentS...y&c=StoryFT&cid=1039523493595&p=1012571727092
George Kennan, Cold War Planner for the USA in 1948: "We have 50% of the world's wealth, but only 6.3% of its population. In this situation, our real job in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which permit us to maintain this position of disparity. To do so, we have to dispense with all sentimentality...we should cease thinking about human rights, the raising of living standards and democratisation."