Rod Speed
Because we had plenty of inexpensive oil to bail us out, and help us build a strong economy again.
Without an inexpensive, copious energy supply, I'm afraid we will have more in common with the third world.
It's not a lie, it's an "opinion." But I sure hope I am wrong and you are right. Nothing would make me happier than to say Rod Speed was right, in this case!
True.
How will we pay for development of those resources? Considering that every last one of us will already be feeling a big pinch because oil prices have risen (it's not just about gas in the tank, it's about the cost of food and any consumer good that travels great distances by truck to reach us). And the entire developed world will be in the same boat, so nobody to help bail us out.
The ideal, of course, would be to spend the $ now to get alternative energy development going now, while we have the $ to spend on it.
Sure. I agree that when crisis hits, humans learn to adapt. But what role do you think copious, inexpensive oil played in the eventual recoveries?
Gas: The good 'ol days 2235Larry Bud from the article, "Eating Fossil Fuels" which you can read here In the United States, 400 gallons of oil equivalents are expended annually to feed each American (as...
Hmm.. I wonder how many nuclear plants it would take?
Natural gas is expected to peak shortly after the oil does. Coal is a good option, but it is also nonrenewable. Not to mention the impact on global warming. You certainly don't want environmental degradation at a time when we'll need to shift off petroleum-based agriculture.
Ask yourself what role did inexpensive oil play in that quick recovery? I think it played a huge role.
Yeah, I am liking the idea of dismantling the nuke weapons and using them for energy instead. Bear in mind that it takes a minimum of 7 to 10 years to build a nuclear plant and get it running.
Robust because we guzzle oil like no tomorrow.
Gas: The good 'ol days 2234Nope, it had nothing to do with that at all. It was the war itself that built the immensely strong economy. And Japan got involved in that war...
Gas: The good 'ol days 2238Wow, this is the first time I've seen two people arguing with each other on usenet when they BOTH totally miss the...
The 70s was a bump on the road - it was fleeting, temporary, and not based on any true permanent shortage of oil. Once the cheap oil got flowing again, the economy turned quickly around.
And I hope you are right.
And I hope you are right.
What about the cost to transport food? What about the cost to transport goods?
Okay, try this analogy. Our country is like a person with bad financial management skills. You can get yourself into a real hole if you overspend, take on too much debt, and have zero in savings. Hit one minor bump like lose your job or have a major illness, and you're screwed because you have no resources to help bail you out.
The gov't will have to not only put in mbuttive $ towards alternative energy development, but also bail out the car companies, the airlines, the housing industry, the banks, the farming industry, fedex, retail, etc, etc, etc .......... all at once!
Because we had plenty of oil to get the economy going again.
Because we had plenty of oil to get the economy going again.
Since you mentioned the russians, you might be interested in reading this series of articles:
A world war is totally different - people pull together to face a common enemy. The Great Depression is a better comparison, IMO. But back then we had oil to fuel the economic recovery.
jen
