leejo

What panic? Mere Bush-bashing is how it strikes me. I haven't been to the grocery store after a heightened terror alert and seen the shelves cleaned out, nor have I seen traffic jams as people flee to the countryside. What panic?

SmokingTarpan

"Today we're raising the terror alert level to orange," is information to you? I agree with you, I've not once seen any type of panic behavior based on the terror alert system. I'm willing to bet that it's because, like myself, most people think the system is a joke. Do you change your behavior when the alert level rises? I know I don't.

As far as the oil crisis goes, I believe that we're already in the beginning stages of seeing wars for oil, albeit "cleverly" disguised here and there. I also don't see us developing a viable replacement for oil as a main power source until we give real incentives to do so, as well as cutting down the profits and price-gouging that the oil men make.

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leejo

I'm not sure that the system is designed to give "me" information as much as it is designed to alert the terrorists that we are listening - make them worry a bit more. In any case, so what? What's the complaint? Does anyone seriously suggest that the terror alerts contain enough specific information to satisfy its critics? "We have information that an attack is planned for the next 3 days in New York City." Gosh I can think of several reasons why that would be a disaster. How many can you think of? Nothing like a $250 B hit to the economy every time a terror cell decides to give us a pump-fake, never mind giving them plenty of information about exactly what info we're intercepting and considering seriously.

The system isn't perfect, but the complaints are way overblown, IMO.

Oil is a big problem. China and India are coming online. With any luck, we'll develop other energy means before long.

ChIck3nL3gz

I think we need to start tapping our own resources for oil. Such as Alaska. I had heard that there are also other potential "hot-spots" for oil within the US but can't confirm where.

I think a lot of it has to do with the special interest groups halting the government from pursuing oil within its own boarders. If the US government would take a stand and tell the special interest groups in Alaska to go pound salt we'd have our own oil and wouldn't have to rely heavily on disguising a war for oil on "Terrorism" or "Weapons of Mass Destruction".

I mean we've already got refineries, there are several in Colorado in the Denver area there are several in southern New Jersey and I'm sure Alaska has a few oil refineries as well as other states. There honestly is no reason to depend on other countries for oil when we know we have oil within our own boarders but are stopped because some tree hugging hippy is crying that it might disturb the Caribou's mating grounds.

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SmokingTarpan

If push ever came to shove, I suspect that we'd be drilling on those reserves under eminent domain. We have other places for supplies and profits for the time being, however.

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ChIck3nL3gz

Eminent domain, IMO in my eyes is wrong. It gives the government too much power and goes against what this country was founded upon. Eminent domain should be abolished completely.

If the government wants something then they need to do it legally and ask for it to be purchased from the owner.

Its wrong for the government to step in and say they are taking your house that you own off of your property that you own so they can build a new off/on ramp to the highway. Eventually the Eminent domain laws will inevitably lead to civil upheaval an dpossible civil war against the government. I live in a town that uses eminent domain to bully people. In fact the town has plans to take 5 miles worth of homes from people so they can expand the roadway leading into the town from one lane each way to 4 lanes each way. The town is not compensating the homeowners or land owners and has said, this is the date its happening, be prepared to move or have your home and possessions bulldozed for the new roadway.

Now, I understand that the area that the government wants to drill in Alaska for oil is government property and they have every right to drill it and take it away from the people who have chained themselves to Caribou.

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SmokingTarpan

Not to sidetrack the oil argument, but I'd look into getting lawyers about this. Part of eminent domain is that the government is required to pay "fair" compensation for property taken. Now, their idea and your idea of fair likely won't be anywhere near similar, but they're not allowed to just evict people, as I understand it.

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[squadl]
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ChIck3nL3gz

Those that are being forced to leave tried to get lawyers involved and were told to "pound salt" that there was nothing anyone could do about it.

It doesn't directly affect me because I live on the other side of town but the development I live in does something similar. They claim you don't own the land that your house is on but you own the house and they can at a moments notice evict us from our house to put their land to use in some other fashion. Of course they've never done it to anyone but its been tossed around a few times especially when the homeowners try to change something about thier yards.

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SmokingTarpan

Heh, I meant they should get real lawyers, and ones not in league with the city as well.

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AMosely

There's nothing positive about it. For a time, the oil industry insiders in the White House thought they could remedy things - I think their recent course reversal (ending America's additction to oil) indicicates what became of that notion.

Prices go up, up up. This is already happening - but not just a function of less supply, it's also a function of increased demand - and I'm not talking about SUV's - I'm talking about China.

Hell no. The only mass programs Americans are ready to give in to are television programs.

No and I don't think anyone believes this to be true.

I would argue that we're already seeing this. The war in Iraq isn't directly about oil, but oil is certainly a major factor in the world's desire for more stability (if not control) in that region. Also, what world market is most sensitive to terrorist threats - even changes in our wonderful terror alert system? The oil market. We are still seeing prices rise because there was almost a terrorist attack on the largest refinery in Saudi Arabia.

It's an ominious problem alright, and just like most other problems, one that we won't really face until it faces us. We'll survive, no question, but the energy landscape of the 21st century has only begun to change - there will be growing pains felt around the world.

El_Gringo_Grande

We have all the energy we need in this country.

Nuclear.

yea, not popular right now. But when the average houshold starts paying 500 dollars or more for non-auto energy bills all those green peacers will be drowned out by those freezing in winter.

Nuclear power really is good stuff. Some of the current designs couldn't be much safer. The danger of nuclear waste is politcal more than anything. And that goes away when oil is scarce.

And then there is always coal. Lots of it in North America. It may have a problem if people realize that global warming is real and at least in part cause by bio-fuel use. (This goes for the tar sands also.) That has alot to do with timing.

But for those of you that don't think there is anything to worry about think again. The end of the world won't come but our economy could be badly damaged if the bridge between "old energy" and "new energy" is not in place in time. Damaged to the point of significantly reducing our power in the world. (But maybe that isn't a bad thing?)

Either that or a big war is waged to secure the reserves needed to erect said bridge.

xTYBALTx

Nuclear power can power cars. Put a battery in a car, plug it into the wall socket, and you're good to go.

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ScratchMonkey

Just don't drive faster than 88 MPH.

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CingularDuality

Why do you say this?


I think the Peak Oil theory is sensational. And I mean that in the bad way. As has been said, the cost will simply rise as the costs to extract petroleum rise. This will force the development and implementation of new technologies, encourage the use of mass transit and recycling, and discourage the use of large vehicles in situations where more efficient vehicles would suffice (think soccer mom with one kid in a Ford Excursion...). We're a ways from seeing the cost rise significantly, but I think our government should increase the tax on gasoline right now and perhaps relax the tax if necessary for our economy at a later time...

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Steeler

Cing, I think the issue at hand is that the process you describe will not necessarily be neat and tidy. It will be messy. Oil is not a free market resource - governments are intricately involved in it's extraction, refinement, shipping, and distribution, either directly or indirectly. "New technologies" may or may not address the need for fuel, but nothing as of yet will replace petroleum for it's vast manufacturing potential. Add that to the other shortages that stem from rapid industrial development of the third world, such as water, and you have the recipe for a period of global social unrest.

Right now that unrest is largely between the small players vying for regional influence, but it could easily engulf the major powers. For example, China and the US bidding against each other for control over the Middle East and South American oil markets. We can see that starting. Predicting gloom and doom is an industry with a long and lustrous pedigree, I know, but there are unpleasant realities that we may have to consider.

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