|
Post by glowplug on Aug 18, 2011 7:53:21 GMT -5
looter,
Comparing the relatively mild winters of Germany to northern USA heating fuel needs is just silly. Comparing the size and scope of US ag. output to Germany is goofy. Comparing our industrial production to Germany's is goofy.
We're not the same geography, climate, agricultural product mix, etc.
Now, compare the Red China corn farmer with an 80 bu. average to the US running 150 bu plus. In terms of bang for the input buck, Red China should give up raising corn and buy it all from USA, according to "free" trade theory.
The argument that USA consumes more than "it's share" is voided out by the FACT that we produce a bigger bang for the investment than other nations, BUT you must consider geography, climate, etc.
|
|
|
Post by sandbox on Aug 18, 2011 8:05:53 GMT -5
Heck, we don't need no stinkin' energy efficiency. Just need the right person in the white house then all our problems disappear.
The sort of statements below make it difficult to take anybody running for office seriously.
***
Bachmann: I'll bring back $2 gas By Charles Riley @cnnmoney August 18, 2011: 5:17 AM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- President Michele Bachmann has a promise: $2 gas.
"Under President Bachmann you will see gasoline come down below $2 a gallon again," Bachmann told a crowd Tuesday in South Carolina. "That will happen."
Sure, politicians promise all kinds of things on the campaign trail. But Bachmann, a leading contender for the 2012 Republican nomination, is wading into truly tricky territory.
The price Americans pay at the pump is tied to the crude oil market -- a global system largely beyond the reach of Washington.
It's certainly true that prices -- now about $3.50 a gallon on average -- have risen since President Obama took office.
"The day that the president became president gasoline was $1.79 a gallon," Bachmann said. "Look what it is today."
Of course, that's not the full story.
When Obama took office, the country was mired in a terrible economic contraction.
"That was in the 4th inning of the greatest recession of our lifetime," said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service.
During recessions, demand for gasoline plummets as trucks pull off the road, companies cut back on travel and laid off workers drive fewer miles.
"You have to be careful what you wish for because the recipe for cheap prices these days is economic disaster," Kloza said.
Since early 2009, the economy has recovered somewhat and demand for crude has risen. It has even spiked in the developing world -- especially in China, India and South America.
Kloza said that increased crude demand is the principal driver behind higher gas prices.
"We're going to have to recognize the rest of the world has this increasing appetite for oil," he said. "If we go below $2 a gallon, it probably means there has been a lot of wealth loss and we are in a deflationary period."
There are some measures that could be taken to lower gas prices, according to Phil Flynn, a senior market analyst at PFG Best.
A stronger dollar would take pressure off prices, and reducing the number of miles Americans drive in gasoline-powered cars would also weaken demand.
"I never say never," Flynn said. "But whether or not Bachmann can do that in four years is a tall order."
Bachmann did not lay out a specific plan to drop prices on Tuesday. But her campaign website says that as president, she would ease restrictions on drilling and roll back federal regulations on the shale gas industry.
While increased oil and gas drilling in the United States may create good-paying jobs, reduce reliance on foreign oil and lower the trade deficit, it would have little impact on gas and oil prices.
That's because the amount of extra oil that could be produced from more drilling in this country is tiny compared to what the country -- and the world -- consumes.
Plus, any extra oil the United States did produce would likely be quickly offset by a cut in OPEC production.
According to a 2009 study from the government's Energy Information Administration, opening up to drilling areas off the East Coast, West Coast and the west coast of Florida would yield an extra 500,000 barrels a day by 2030.
The world currently consumes 89 million barrels a day, and by then would likely be using over 100 million barrels.
After OPEC got done adjusting its production to reflect the increased American output, gas prices might drop a whopping three cents a gallon, the study said.
|
|
|
Post by looter on Aug 18, 2011 8:06:48 GMT -5
looter, Comparing the relatively mild winters of Germany to northern USA heating fuel needs is just silly. Comparing the size and scope of US ag. output to Germany is goofy. Comparing our industrial production to Germany's is goofy. We're not the same geography, climate, agricultural product mix, etc. Now, compare the Red China corn farmer with an 80 bu. average to the US running 150 bu plus. In terms of bang for the input buck, Red China should give up raising corn and buy it all from USA, according to "free" trade theory. The argument that USA consumes more than "it's share" is voided out by the FACT that we produce a bigger bang for the investment than other nations, BUT you must consider geography, climate, etc. 1) Crude always has and always will flow from the person who adds the least value to it and over to the person who adds the most value to it. Forced conservation started constricting the American way of life in 2005. The soccer mom and the Suburban commuter in their SUV is less efficient than the Asian scooter/train. That is why people who cling to the old way of doing things will max out their credit cards until they are dead broke. It's over. 2) I can take you to plenty of 80 bu/acre corn fields with a cost-of-production of $2.85/bu. Except those corn fields this year are gonna top 90 bu/ac, so the cost/bu will be even less. It ain't about who can blow the most resources. It's about who can add the most value to finite resources. The Suburban living arrangement is becoming past tense. Nothing can stop this.
|
|
|
Post by looter on Aug 18, 2011 8:13:15 GMT -5
looter, Comparing the relatively mild winters of Germany to northern USA heating fuel needs is just silly. Comparing the size and scope of US ag. output to Germany is goofy. Comparing our industrial production to Germany's is goofy. We're not the same geography, climate, agricultural product mix, etc. Now, compare the Red China corn farmer with an 80 bu. average to the US running 150 bu plus. In terms of bang for the input buck, Red China should give up raising corn and buy it all from USA, according to "free" trade theory. The argument that USA consumes more than "it's share" is voided out by the FACT that we produce a bigger bang for the investment than other nations, BUT you must consider geography, climate, etc. Do you REALLY wanna compare Germany's per capita Industrial output to America's? America is the fat kid than anybody on the playground can steal lunch money from. We are the world's "Swing Consumer". Anytime a scooter in Asia needs some petrol they simply take it from an American SUV.
|
|
|
Post by linsal on Aug 18, 2011 8:24:07 GMT -5
My personal experience with light rail is in Houston. The cars were clean, as were the stations where we got on/off. From what I've read, the Houston light rail system, on a per mile basis, is the most heavily used in the United States. From what my wife tells me, there has been a ton of redevelopment which has taken place in the areas where the light rail goes---the areas were quite blighted previously and things look nice now. It seems to be mostly retail shops, but there are some businesses relocating to the area as well. Plans have been made to expand the various rail lines and residents seem to be waiting rather impatiently for the extensions to happen---as usual, money is an issue. The two most popular planned extensions are from downtown Houston to IAH (which, if current plans hold, would run about 2 blocks from my m-i-l's house), and west from downtown to Katy in the I-10 corridor. That section would be elevated and the concrete pads are already in place.
My b-i-l who used to live/work in the Chicago area has shared that using commuter rail was the only way to go to/from dt Chicago. Trying to drive was too much of a hassle.
My sense is that where driving a car is a gigantic PITA, commuter rail lines can make a go of it. Driving in Houston during rush hour, whether you're on the freeways or in dt is no fun.
I know that the Twin Cities (Mpls/St. Paul) have one light rail and one heavy rail commuter lines. I don't know how they are working out or have been received in the community. Perhaps Dman can share his observations. They are recent developments (within the past decade). And I don't know if they were driven by the gov't or the people.
I think that the only way long distance rail can work in the US is for Amtrak to be able to get their own dedicated tracks. Trying to share tracks with freight trains (when they own the tracks) doesn't give Amtrak enough flexibilty to schedule trains.
It seems that this business (www.megabus.com) has some potential..they seem to be doing well financially. Maybe that's the way of the future?
I still think we have to figure out ways in this country to use our resouces more effectively if we're going to thrive and prosper....otherwise we're going to go down the toilet.
|
|
|
Post by glowplug on Aug 18, 2011 8:29:00 GMT -5
Again, looter. These are two completely different climates, geography, winters, summers, etc. I have many of the same traits of a NBA basketball player. Two legs, two eyes, two arms, same number of fingers and toes. But I ain't the same as the NBA player.
I've made the case for producing more energy at home, being it petrol, thorium, hydro, bio-fuels, geothermal, clean coal, etc. We've made great progress in energy efficiencies in household appliances, better insulated homes, etc. 48 and I have pointed out the need to transistion some of our fleet to diesel, compressed air and natural gas. But govt. and CARB are blocking that progress because they want to eliminate cars-trucks, taking us back to 1800s technology. Rail is okay to move non-perishable freight but there's not a passenger rail that makes a profit. The Mississippi lock and dam system could certainly be made more efficient and water is the lowest cost way to move freight.
Our real problem is the enviro-wackos who block everything in the name of "man-caused" global warming and some damn minnow, etc.
|
|
|
Post by jabber1 on Aug 18, 2011 9:19:37 GMT -5
I believe Germany's acknowledgement of the fact that they have to import lots of energy and therefore they wanted to avoid artificially low fluid fuel prices for the sake of long term security explains their energy efficiency.
In the US, we have been kicking and screaming about our right to cheap energy, while spending oodles of dollars to keep international petrol flowing, built public highways, yet have private rail lines, and fell in love with our cars.
Linsal is right about Amtrac sharing too much rail with freight lines that are often off schedule.
|
|