Peak Oil...It's Not Just For Conspiracy Theorists Anymore

[kritaya]

So it appears that Peak Oil is not a theory any longer. It is now a looming reality that is going to have a very profound effect on the future of this country and the world. How do we know? Because Fox News, the foremost purveyors of conservative media bias, have reported (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,193624,00.html) on it. Everybody better break out their bicycles.

A lot of people have said that the war in Iraq is about oil. Others have said those claims denigrate the sacrifice of the American soldiers who have died there. But if we do reach Hubbert's Peak in the near future and gas prices start rising to four and five dollars a gallon, what if we go to war with an oil-producing country and the government doesn't even try to deny that's what it's for? Would you support a war that was waged specifically, with no patriotic pretense, to lower gas prices?

[Burkion]

...No. I'd kill all those god damned enviromentalists and open up the pipe line in Alaska.

[kritaya]

Opening the pipeline won't help much. Face it, our oil comes from the Middle East, and Russia and China are just as hungry for crude as we are. With China's GNP growing in the double digits, they'll suck the ground dry in fifty years, if not less.

[godzy]

And God said: "Let there be Hybrid cars!":hmmm:

[Burkion]

Like we aren't going to go to war with China in recent years anyways.

Face it, we're half way there as it is. And much like in World War Two, things will fix itself while/after it happens. That or we develop water powered cars.

[kritaya]

And God said: "Let there be Hybrid cars!":hmmm:

When the pumps run dry, you'll still be pushing your hybrid car along with everyone else.:p

[godofPH]

What happened to that big burning ball of hydrogen at the center of the solar system? ...I think they called it the "sun"

I read a statistic somewhere that the amount of sunlight that reaches the US annually is 600X more energy the nation's yearly demands. Why can't we put that to work...

[Goji Son]

This is what happens when you've had the technology to make alternate fuels and solar powered car and we did nothing with it because the oil companies are a major part of our economy. Actually, if you think about it, raising the prices would perhaps benefit us as this would promote alternate forms of transport such as trains and buses and riding bikes. In Europe, gas ranges from 5 to 6 dollars a gallon and their solution is to simply car pool or take a train, something we might like to adopt aswell.

[Goji Son]

Like we aren't going to go to war with China in recent years anyways.

Face it, we're half way there as it is. And much like in World War Two, things will fix itself while/after it happens. That or we develop water powered cars.

... What the hell are you talking about? War with China? I think you are confusing them with North Korea.

[Burkion]

... What the hell are you talking about? War with China? I think you are confusing them with North Korea.

Nah. If we went to war any time soon, it would most probally be with these countries: China, North Korea and Iran.

[kritaya]

Actually, if you think about it, raising the prices would perhaps benefit us as this would promote alternate forms of transport such as trains and buses and riding bikes.

I used to think that we had a fairly decent mass transit system in Cleveland. Until I went to Toronto and realized how broken ours actually was. I don't know about the rest of the country, but I'm going to guess that if you live in the exurbs and have to commute an hour or more to get to work, you're screwed if you don't have a car. The thing that has kept the research funding of alternate fuels to a minimum, the oil and car corporations and their lobbyists, has probably had the same stunting effect on mass transit.

[Cole Deschain]

...No. I'd kill all those god damned enviromentalists and open up the pipe line in Alaska.

We have a pipeline in my homeland, ese. And it hasn't been shut down for anything but repairs...

Or, to put it bluntly- What the hell are you jabbering about?

[Burkion]

Might be the wrong one. We have oil reserves somewhere in Alaska that we have yet to tap into.

[Cole Deschain]

Might be the wrong one. We have oil reserves somewhere in Alaska that we have yet to tap into.

Ah. You speak of ANWR.

Not quite the same thing... For one, nobody's really sure just how much oil is in there. And it'd have to be a pretty huge pile of oil to make much of a difference on a national level.

Also, if the go-ahead to drill was given tomorrow, we'd have to build an extension onto the existing pipeline. Good for my home state (plush jobs, long-term maintenance gigs), not necessarily so hot for the rest of you.

[godofPH]

You know; bikes, buses, and walking are fine and all...in some places. That solution can't work everywhere. Like here in the rural parts of the country, we're too spread out to be able to rely on that stuff. Such as ranchers that need their pickups to haul huge haybales out to their cattle or drive at least 20 miles to town to pick up supplies that they and their family need to live. They can't just hop on a bike you know.

Gah, I bet World War 3 will be started over oil. That'd be pretty embarassing IMO...

[Cole Deschain]

You know; bikes, buses, and walking are fine and all...in some places. That solution can't work everywhere. Like here in the rural parts of the country, we're too spread out to be able to rely on that stuff. Such as ranchers that need their pickups to haul huge haybales out to their cattle or drive at least 20 miles to town to pick up supplies that they and their family need to live. They can't just hop on a bike you know.

People used to do it with horse-drawn wagons. Not saying that's the "magic solution" or anything, but civilization lurched along before the invention of the internal combustion engine.

[Dr. Strangelove]

You all don't realise how much of the Black Gold is in Siberia, do you? Or the North and South poles..

[Goji Son]

I used to think that we had a fairly decent mass transit system in Cleveland. Until I went to Toronto and realized how broken ours actually was. I don't know about the rest of the country, but I'm going to guess that if you live in the exurbs and have to commute an hour or more to get to work, you're screwed if you don't have a car. The thing that has kept the research funding of alternate fuels to a minimum, the oil and car corporations and their lobbyists, has probably had the same stunting effect on mass transit.

That's true, Europe just gets it I guess. I went to Athens and there was a tram system that goes EVERYWHERE in town and it's rather convenient and very popular.



Nah. If we went to war any time soon, it would most probally be with these countries: China, North Korea and Iran.

The only reason to attack China is because Bush is suffering from a bout of ***** envy because their economy is doing better than ours. Then again, they are also as Authoriarian/Communist/Capitalist nation so they still have alot of people starving and being executed, but still, it's on the rise.



You all don't realise how much of the Black Gold is in Siberia, do you? Or the North and South poles..

You'll be the first one to go and freeze your *** off while your drills crack from the ice and wind and then you are slaughter by a gang of rabid penguins. Get real, man!

[Gorjirus]

Ethanol.We just need to use more ethanol. I don't think we're going to be having a corn shortage anytime soon, and I know we won't go to war with anybody for it.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Actually Goji Son, I was thinking more along the lines of Global Warming to make it a bit more ' human-freindly '...

[Cole Deschain]

You all don't realise how much of the Black Gold is in Siberia, do you?

The Russians do. Feel like paying their asking price?

Or the North

The Arctic Ocean is a mass of ice over water. We'd have to come up with a whole new method of deep-sea drilling to make it work there. Feel like waiting?

and South poles..

Considering that dogs are no longer allowed down there because of how they effect the ecosystem, I see this being a contentious issue.

[Dr. Strangelove]

The Russians do. Feel like paying their asking price?



The Arctic Ocean is a mass of ice over water. We'd have to come up with a whole new method of deep-sea drilling to make it work there. Feel like waiting?



Considering that dogs are no longer allowed down there because of how they effect the ecosystem, I see this being a contentious issue.
You don't seem to understand, if we don't BUY it, China will TAKE it. And there is no doubt in my mind that they will win. The Dragon is not one to fool with..

[Burkion]

Yet again, kill the enviormentlisits, start up research on how to make moonshine into fule for cars, and kick the crap out of France.

...what?

[Goji Son]

Actually Goji Son, I was thinking more along the lines of Global Warming to make it a bit more ' human-freindly '...

Then there wouldn't be much of an America to give oil too. Wow, you young people today really don't think things through before you say stuff.

[Cole Deschain]

You don't seem to understand, if we don't BUY it, China will TAKE it. And there is no doubt in my mind that they will win. The Dragon is not one to fool with..

The Dragon has problems of its own.

And as I said, the Bear has the Siberian oil. Even China's in no hurry to fight Russia, even now.

Antarctica? All kinds of off-limits. You're talking about a major international incident.

North Pole? They don't have the technology any more than we do.

[Raptor]

A possible solution (http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=4838725)? Anyone remember in the '70s when alternate energy, from solar to biomass, initially got proper attention? There are plenty of demonstration projects out there with ethanol, soy beans, corn, etc.
In the news, you'll probably come across CAFE, mileage requirements for new vehicles. Thing is, hardly anyone can afford a new car so we tend to keep what we got longer. Forget the glitz and sales pitches about the latest sheet metal. No doubt this guy has accomplished a retrofit that others could also do.
CONSERVING resources is a very viable option. PLAN your trips and use less of whatever you are burning! Illegal aliens are going to try and make a "statement" tomorrow. How about EVERYONE sending "big oil" a message also by not wasting so much gasoline?

[kritaya]

How about EVERYONE sending "big oil" a message also by not wasting so much gasoline?

It's not good for the economy.;) But hey, look at the bright side, we're all going to get $100 gas rebates. Yay! Don't know what we'll do the next week, but...:laugh: