I just wanted to add one caveat to my "yes, drill" vote. Any company that wants to drill in American-controlled areas must agree that the oil produced must be sold for use in U.S. domestic markets only. The sooner we stop depending on foreign oil the faster our dollar gains back some of its value. Now, just because we become oil independent doesn't mean we should slow our heightened development of nuclear, solar, wind, hydrogen and even geo-thermal energy sources. I applaud McCain for suggesting a big prize for creating a practical electric car power source. Now we have to work on Obama's energy plan other than conserving by driving transportation costs through the roof. This is where we need the "Fast Eddie" Obama personality.
I voted: "no". However, if given a comprehensive solution, I would vote "yes". It is very hard to trust the oil companies given their past conspiracies such as buying up the nation's trolley car lines etc. to maintain the status quo. I would trust Biden on this one. I don't think he is an extremist. A good link on electric cars and the one they had in california years ago from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Killed_the_Electric_Car?
Again... who can manufacture aerospace quality on a mass scale? Technology is marching in that direction but it isn't here yet. Car companies can't just "retool" and become Lockheed while making a profit. I mean look at all the engine manufactures out there competing for sales. International, Rotax, Cummins, Cosworth, Porsche (separate engineering division) AMG... the list goes on. Power and efficiency is their business, and they can't do it. So, who can?
This would be technically true for those who charge their electric cars in areas where nuclear power is the prime source of electricity. It gives new meaning for those who drive a Ford Fusion.
Speaking of the Ford Fusion.... what's with Ford's marketing team? The Fusion, the Edge, the Flex... Are we shaving with our cars now?
With auto makers trying so hard to shave costs, maybe it's a Freudian Slip. But, in doing so, Ford is on the right Trac II.
That would be a Ford Fission. It you could really charge it up with fusion energy, then you'd really have something.
Fusion and room temperature super conductors if these are created we would have solved the energy problem for centuries.
I'm just venting my unsatisfaction with the way American motor companies have been presenting the debate, as if they'd be bankrupt if more efficient fuel standards were adopted. Yet year after year, they're getting beaten senselessly on the car market by foreign companies geared towards more efficient vehicles. Ford and GM sell 45 mpg cars in Europe, and German motor companies have done some great things with direct-injection turbodiesel engines. What I had in mind was the 250 mpg prototype VW brought out. It's carbonfiber shell is tougher than steel and lightweight. http://jcwinnie.biz/wordpress/?p=2915 There was a annual decline in domestic oil consumption before the SUV's popularity in the mid 90s. Then gas became real cheap and Congress turned back the clock by removing the 55 mph speed limit. I can't really blame SUVs for our cultural preference over large power vehicles, but we dug this hole ourselves with the lobbying to fight fuel efficiency standards, exploiting its loopholes, and the mass advertising, even tax credits, to encourage Americans to buy SUVs. Would gas be cheaper than it is now? I don't know. Rising nations, the Iraq War, the lack of a national energy policy, devauled currency, horizontally integrated oil majors/nationalized oil companies and commodities speculation following equity busts all factor in the price of oil along with demand.
I don't know they seem to be doing ok with laptop computers and Blue Ray players and well tons of other space age tech... You just have to get the committment to do it.... DD
Off shore drilling won't help the price of gas. All it will do is give the oil companies more profits. We have seen that no matter how much they make, the savings isn't passed down to the consumer. It will also only delay the transformation to an alternative energy source.
You can't really blame the car companies for the lack of good diesel cars in the US. That blame is shared between the government and the oil companies. There was increased demand for diesel cars in the US until the new ultralow sulfur diesel standards. When the new diesel standards came out, instead of mandating that all diesel meet the new standards, the Federal government required that 90% of it (at the pump) meet the new standards. Oil companies only converted about 75% of their diesel production (already low) to ULSD. So now, approximately 15% of our diesel supply has to be exported to meet the ULSD standard. Further reducing supply of an already tight resource has added about $.70/gallon to the price of diesel.
pretty much screws the inventor though Generally it is about getting it to BIG BUSINESS faster and limiting competition of smaller businesses to build on their own ingenuity Basically .. it allows BIG BUSINESS to grab innovation without R&D and then suppress it or out spend the small businesses out of Business It also is a negative incentive for Big Business to do R&D Why spend millions on R&D when you can steal it from smaller businesses? Rocket River
Just imagine if the US actually has functional public transportation systems outside of New York. Think how much energy it would save...
i'm all about that. but it takes a while to build those systems. it takes a while to get people out of the cars they bought before you started building the bright new shiny rail systems. i don't see why offshore drilling isn't a good idea while we search for longer term solutions.
Let the American public pay $7.50 per gallon and see nobody affording to go to work or buy goods. Brilliant!
Please tell me what evidence there is that should oil companies get more oil they will drop prices? It just looks like more profits for them. So far they have seen record profits but we are still paying even more for gas. If there was some way to be sure that the extra oil would really save anyone a dime, then maybe I'd be willing to change my mind.
