i'm actually not optimistic at all. i see nothing whatsoever being done in washington, nor do i hear anything from the pandering dolts who remain as our choices for president. instead we've got 2 gas tax holiday idiots (the inverse of what is needed), and they're the 2 best candidates! Obama will kill the economy if he gets enough votes in congress to go along with his socialist and anti business/success/free trade (basically, anti capitalism) agenda. he won't go for things that upset the left wing- so that rules out most of our ideas. no, i do not see us on a trajectory that will lead to a solution in an acceptable timeline, if ever. i see an endless stream of campaign type initiatives to look like they're doing something (like ethanol, tax holidays, etc)- anything that is a perceived short term solution (read: gimmick) without giving 2 fucks for actually addressing the problem, doing what is needed and standing up and telling the American people that this is what we're doing, there will be costs in the short term but the end result will be worth it. we need a gifted orator with the right idea- we need an energy independence version of MLK who can convince people that we need to take some bad tasting medicine for the next several years in return for a better tomorrow. put it in terms that people can relate to, like putting money aside for their kid's college or retirement at the sacrifice of doing without a few things now to meet future goals. unfortunately, we are a culture of people who love the easy route of bashing the ideas of others and never accomplishing anything. easier to protest against something and villainize things than to advocate for something- especially for something that isn't easy or without some cost.
again, agreed. But we have one good thing going for us.. The sooner we get to $200-$300 oil, the sooner the hand will be forced, and poorly thought out plans like ethanol mandates and subsidies will hopefully be relegated as failures. The market and elasticity of demand of crude will do the job that our inept society has been unable to do.
Heh, I see a multitude of forums with Americans whining about the cost of their 'gas' and the evil speculators and table cloth wearers benefiting from their misery of having to spend too much on their 70 mile commutes to and from work every day in their 2 tonne gigantic vehicles. Like nobody saw this coming? You're all blinded by the oil and (especially) motor industries, thinking that buying a Ford 350 will somehow miraculously save your rotten to the core auto industry. Sorry, when there's Chinese working for $5 a day and Indian motors being produced for $2500 retail unless you adapt you have no chance. There's several emotions that are displayed; the 'Oh it's just a blip', the 'it's ok we'll just drive a bit less' like world demand depends on you anymore, the 'well this is ridiculous, we should do something about it!!!!' (ha ha) and finally it will be the 'oh hang on, maybe gas will be more expensive?? how'd that happen?' what do we do now except what's been in our faces for a decade? which is more efficient vehicles and only driving when necessary and not when we can't be bothered walking to a local shop. Some of you now think I'm a jealous commie. If I was, would I be saying this or would I be saying 'get another credit card, it'll be alright in the end?' I'm not saying this is or isn't a bubble, just that with a billion Indians and Chinese acquiring wealth the oil is getting stretched thinner and thinner. Fucking wise up and realize it's not big or clever to be paying more every week for your fuel than your food. That's where things could end up. Just had to let that out. I'm also calling the 'top' in oil futures, that's how things seem to work.
all of the shit 5th world ungrateful countries seem to know our phone number when they get in trouble. next time call collect and see if we answer.
I've visited a few of the shit 5th world ungrateful countries, they do seem to benefit from western input. Almost all of the people I spoke to seemed happy speaking to me, although I don't think they were particularly grateful I was there.
All great posts above, and kudos to the OP for the topic. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that alternative technologies (transportation in particular) don't begin to compete with fossil fuels until prices reach the levels we're currently seeing. Even at $125/barrel, oil still competes with current electric/hybrid option costs when capital costs are included. Although huge (private) efforts are currently underway in energy storage, alternative fuels and production sources, a decline in hydrocarbon fuel prices will reduce R&D spending, and push implementation further into the future, just like '73. If we can weather the initial tsunami and tread water for a couple of years, good 'ol capitalism will leap to the rescue and produce products that are just as (or slightly more) cost effective than those currently available. Unless the speculative margin (i've seen as much as 60% quoted lately) in crude disappears; with it goes a bunch of funding.