Yes, we should do everything possible. But I happen to think that also incudes a comprehensive investment in rail and mass transit.
I completely Agree more and more i am thinking that the news of its scarcity are Artificially Inflated. . .. kind of like Diamonds Rocket River
The law of supply and demand suggests an inverse action. The more supply, the less demand (and hence lower prices). However, if you read my earlier post in this thread, I stipulated that oil produced in the United States should be sold in the United States as a condition of drilling. Also, again I say, increased drilling should be a patch to get us through to a time when we switch to electric cars and other forms of energy.
I agree with all you say talking about it being a patch to get us through, and that it should be sold in the U.S. I just don't see it affecting the prices of gas in any significant manner. Unless there is a way to make sure it will happen it isn't worth the risk.
The risk is that, if we don't drill to get more oil for the immediate future, the economy will collapse, thereby preventing alternative energy solutions. Preventing that calamity is not only worth the risk, it is an economic imperative.
There should be no new areas opened up for drilling until the oil companies use all of the oil laden places they already have access to -- let's not let them pull a land grab on the country. _______ On the issue of internal engines -- why is only one (relatively minor) auto manufacturer developing and using rotary engines in one of their cars ? Mazda is owned by Ford, but their is still very little R & D put in the Rotary engine technology. Why aren't more companies developing this engine -- rotaries make buttery smooth power -- the RX7 was an absolute blast to drive. The new Genesis engines have solved many of the old emission/ gas mileage problems -- if every auto manufacturer was using and developing the engine it would advance quickly. The Genesis engine is really small for the amount of power it can put out.
But this isn't like the 70's when there was a real oil crisis. We aren't in danger of not having enough for our immediate future. We don't need to ration it. It isn't as bad as it was then. I think if our supply was really in crisis the economy would collapse. But supply, or lack there of, doesn't seem to be the main cause of the high prices.
We have a competitive supply problem. There is another thread that explores this point deeper and better, but, once we give the okay to drill, the price will drop because speculators will be like the Duke brothers in "Trading Places" -- sell! sell! sell! -- with about the same result. BTW, KingCheetah, oil companies lease lands to explore because there seems to be the possibility -- not the certainty -- of oil. Much of those leased lands have proved to be dry.
That's what I thought too and I believe some of the posts in this thread state that as well. Florida, South Carolina, etc. don't want rigs off their coastline as they believe it will damage the tourism industries and natural beauty in those states.
high oil prices may be the best thing that could have happened to us. let's wise up and move on people. investment takes time, don't be fraidy cats.
This is precisely the type of thinking that will get McCain elected. Investment in alternate energy sources does take time -- regulated drilling will provide the means to get us by until that time arrives. However, Congress must act responsibly, and that in itself may be asking for the moon.
Alternative energy source research takes a lot longer when the extension of Alt. Energy tax credits is actively opposed by Congressional republicans and the white house.
The Democratic Party will get its chance soon enough, and I am all for seeing what they can do. Of course, Nancy Pelosi has done nothing to make good on any of her promises.
Rotary engines are not very efficient. You can get more HP from smaller engine, but it burns more gas than piston engine of same size.
The emprical data indicates that you are wrong - the current Congress has been far more active than its predecessor and passed a lot more legislation.
Is it true that there are like 32 or more million acres in the Gulf right now that are opened to drilling but aren't being used?
