I am very disappointed that we aren't making this a National Security Issue----OIL

[hammersley]

I Mean I think this administration should make dependency a Major Issue and begin finding alternatives NOW! Take this like the space race-----make a date and keep it! I mean let's be realistic - Move the time ahead say 500 YEARS - Will we still be using oil - probably not! So let's get with the program and hit the Arabs where it hurts most!

 

[SLezotte]

Ok, just some thoughts.



Why would you expect a President who is an "oil man" from Texas (Connecticut, really) "do something about high oil prices"?



I like GWB as a President, with the exception of two things:



1. His turning a blind eye to out insecure borders and



2. the way he spends money faster than Former DC mayor Marion Barry in a DC crackhouse. But these are discussions for TDR political forums.....



Geting back to oil.



People are mistaken if they think drilling Anwar will make a difference. To put this into perspective we must realize that Anwar oil is a miniscule amount when compared to the overall picture. Anwar oil, would "run the world" for less than three months, that's it.



Since we (the USA) do not have a "nationalized" oil system (all of our oil is sold on the open market)... ... . drilling anwar would have a very small, and very temporary effect on oil prices. This oil that would be extracted from US soil would not necessarily go to US consumers... .



Hydrogen Fuel cell "technology" is a joke. It costs money (and energy oil?, coal?, nuclear?) to produce hydrogen. H-fuell cells are essentially a "storage device"... like a fancy battery..... so that technology is going nowhere..... and is a "stop-gap" fix at best.



Ask yourself a few questions here:



Who owns 90% of the patents on Solar tech?



Who is the "leader" in developing solar technologies?



Answer: Oil companies.



So, you see? Solar is going nowhere any time soon.





We already subsidize farmers here in the US... so... we MIGHT as WELL give Ethanol a bigger shot at this game... . and see what happens. Perhaps we can slowly "grow" our way out of this oil dependency.



One thing for sure is that you are very likely to see oil prices stay high for the forseeable future. Google the words "Peak oil", I do not know how much of this is true... but it sure seems to be panning out.



This is simple supply and demand. This is capitialism at work. About the only thing GWB could do would to start a new "program"... . much like the Apollo program in the 60's... and have large cash rewards and tax incentive breaks to any company willing to invest into new breakthrough technologies.

There was an excellent article in Wired magazine about 2 months ago. Our former peanut farmer President really screwed us bigtime regarding nuclear power. You know?

We would not even have to worry (that much) about nuclear storage problems like Yucca Flats and such if we did not sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. This treaty bans us (the USA) from re-enriching... and there-by re-using our spend nuclear fuel !!!!!!! So you see? by law...

we can only use this stuff once... and then we have to store it !

If we were allowed to re-enrich this stuff... we would essentially have a limitless supply of nuclear fuel... . and we would alleviate 90% of our "spent fuel storage problems". there is no reason why the US can not provide for 50% MORE of our own energy requirements within 10 to 12 years. We ALREADY have the nuclear fuel needed.





anyway...



it's all about the money. Wait until you see the 2nd and 3rd quarter 2005 profits posted by the oil companies... . your head will be spinnin' !





Ciao.

 

[The patriot]

"I like GWB as a President, with the exception of two things:



1. His turning a blind eye to out insecure borders and



2. the way he spends money faster than Former DC mayor Marion Barry in a DC crackhouse. But these are discussions for TDR political forums..... "



I can whole heartidly agree with the above.

The three top items that should be on the list IMO are:

Oil, or working on a replacement...

Boarders, or this is all for nothing...

Getting Iraq self sufficient... (not neceaasrily in that order)

Then maybe social security.

We should be using more coal. We have enough to run the country something like the next 500 years at todays consumption rate.

jm. 02

Eric