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Time to use oil sources
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More from OpinionRe: Rep. Lois Capps' July 6 Pulse page commentary, "Here we go again":
After reading Capps' "analysis, I was immediately reminded of H.L. Mencken's apt description of politicians: "They are fools, phonies and crooks."
I feel he was too kind. Capps attacks the Bush policies — how boring is that? — and tells us we should not seek oil independence. I guess just let other nations solve the energy crisis while we go to work using wind on a sail on Highway 101.
Today, oil is what we have to run our industries, our autos and, in the largest sense, our gross national product. Of course, we need to change, but we cannot do it quickly. Our national well-being is fully tied to oil. Yes, we should be working like little beavers to develop alternative energy sources. However, it will take years to change from an oil-based system to whatever we find for the future.
We could have used our skills to fully utilize nuclear power and reduce our need for imported oil, but the same dummies who now call for the end of oil dependence have prevented the full utilization of nuclear power.
We can utilize the world's largest oil shale reserve, which is located in the Rocky Mountains.
We could do more with offshore oil, but our Congress prohibits any such solution. It is worth noting that Brazil, China and Russia have no such restrictions and will drill and strengthen their economies while we watch from our seashore and send billions more dollars offshore to buy their products, arm their armies and support their extremists.
Then to top off her list of why we should continue to be at the mercy of oil countries, Capps brings up the "horrible" damage done to Santa Barbara in 1969. Well, Santa Barbara has recovered. It is 20 times more valuable than it was in 1969. Real estate is extremely high and people still visit and wish they could own property there. There has been no permanent damage. Reasonable people expect occasional errors and mistakes. They get over it and move on.
New York City's former Mayor Ed Koch recently suggested all politicians should be replaced because of their abject failure to act in any reasonable way to solve the real issues of our time.
Let us begin by getting rid of Rep. Lois Capps.
— Robert A. Lombardi of Ventura is a former member of The Star's Community Advisory Board.
Posted by mikeb6804 on July 10, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Robert--I'm with you and I'm with Ed Koch as well.
Posted by cassandra2 on July 10, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Lombardi's rant is flawed in fact and logic.
Among the most respected experts not tied to the oil industry's BS is Richard Heinberg. His many years of study and eloquent presentation has earned him a large following. Here is his alternative suggestion--
http://www.truthout.org/article/want-...
Posted by sslocal on July 10, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cassandra,
I read the article you posted a link to. I also read some of the comments that were posted below it.
One said: Why was there no mention of the speculators?
I would have to say that the author did not mention them because it didn't fit in with the point of his article. He wants the world to go on an energy diet. Yes it might work but it will never happen. There are way to many people happy that the US is struggling with fuel prices.
There was also some mention of nationalizing the oil companies. The is a republic. We don't take over companies.
All in all it is a left wing piece written by a left wing author promoting social change.
We became great by individual responsibility. Lets put that idea back into the lime light and can all this progressive pansy stuff.
Posted by cassandra2 on July 10, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Speculators--essentially a fake issue spread throughout the corporate media. Read Krugman--last week I think it was, he was featured in a sudden move to improve the abysmal quality of the Star's columnists with someone knowledgeable.
I love the smug way you say we don't take over companies, like it's the 11th commandment? The 5th Amendment (I think it is) only requires due process. And we can tax them. We can regulate them. We don't really need to nationalize them.
You repeat the same cliches--we became great by individual responsibility, example--that have no basis in empirical fact and act as if you are saying something. Our wealth came from our resources that we took from Native Americans and other European claimants.
You post a label--"left wing" and you're off, failing to deal with the issues raised. We can't drill our way out of this shortfall in petroleum. Pay attention to the market forces involved.
What's with this pansy stuff? Are you saying I'm gay?
Posted by sslocal on July 10, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No, I am not saying that you are gay. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
You want to tax and regulate them? Go ahead and see where it gets you. The free market should self regulate. However, there have been way to many attempts to impose regulations upon them so things don't work quite right. More regulations won't help.
We need a multi pronged effort to obtain more energy. Drill more oil wells, build more wind generators, hydroelectric dams, and so forth.
Nothing irritates an Arab more than telling him we don't need his oil.
Bottom line is that there are simply to many people in this world. If we could get rid of several billion things would work better. But, I don't think we would like the aftermath. Nature might be able to do this, but we should not.
Posted by cassandra2 on July 10, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You still fail to deal with the market realities. Any supply increase will be a drop in the ocean and result in more of the same problems.
Conservation is the first and simplest. We need a change in our life style and expectations.
You say regulation won't help. This is faith based. Regulation by agencies not in bed with the industry is what's needed. Oilmen as prez and VP is not likely to produce honest regulators. And the Supremes letting Exxon off the hook for the Valdez spill emphasizes the need for appointees to the court who are not ideologically conservatives.
Nature WILL take care of the four to five billion overshoot of population. And it won't be pretty. It's already started hidden beneath resource wars and the tribal warfare in Africa. And it's not pretty.
I really knew the pansy bit was not about gays. It's part of the chest thumping machismo that replaces thought and information on the right.
Posted by sslocal on July 10, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Damn cassandra, you just have to get the last little dig in don't you.
Talk about
I'm going for a bike ride. See ya.
Posted by sslocal on July 10, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For a definition of what it means to be a Republican check out this link.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbo...
Posted by mikeb6804 on July 10, 2008 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We can use our own oil or we can be kept over a barrel (pardon the pun) by the Saudis, etc
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