So you have anywhere from 16 to 100 million barrels of oil per day turning your sunny beaches a nice shade of black... Cleaning all that up is going to cost more than $100 million. Companies like ExxonMobile contributed zero tax dollars to the United States last year...
Those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it. Isn't it time we learned? We didn't learn in 1973. Do you expect GM, Ford, and Chrysler to learn? Aren't they still producing mostly useless large ego machines that run on gas? No America, it is up to you, each and everyone of you.
Overdrives and driving stick isn't going to solve the problems. Do you expect Flex Fuel vehicles to solve the energy problems we face? Hopefully not, as they are little more than a joke. Flex fuel vehicles date back to the 1900's with the Ford Model T. You think 100 year old technology is the solution? Flex fuel will solve the energy crisis like washing one's hands would have cured the Black Plague. That's right, in order to make money, car companies exploited society's wants for a more fuel efficient car and sold you a pile of crap. This does not surprise me.
Is the hybrid going to save America? I think not, only a band-aid solution, and a poor one at that. Besides, what is the point of putting hybrid or Flex Fuel technology on a medium to large sized car? It's like polishing a turd, yeah it might be nice and shiny, but it still smells like crap.
What about the politicians? We can expect the Republicans with their slogan of "Drill, baby, drill" to make the problem worse. Isn't that the solution to all our problems? More drilling, more spills, more accidents. All with most major companies proving themselves to be little more than completely incompetent when it comes to anything outside of your wallet.
The Democrats are too busy playing "lets be friends" with the Republicans who are doing the exact same obstructionist routine Democrats pulled during the Bush years.
I listen to what most of you say, many of you seem to think Joe Biden is insane, with more than a couple of you using those exact words. Yet you refuse or neglect to see that McCain, Palin, and Michael Steele are clearly the insane ones. They don't have your interests in mind. They have their own, and their pockets in mind.
Do you want to rely on the free market? HA! This is the lazy, obviously western (largely American) response that allows individuals to not have to care or do anything about a social issue or problem. It does sound rather wonderful, anytime a problem comes up that makes you have to think: Free Market! Someone asks you a question with proven historical facts pointing towards the opposite of what you believe? Free market!
Well, as much as I love a good fantasy story be it in film, book, or game, it isn't going to solve anything for us. The price of oil went right back up after 1973, and for a time the US market moved towards smaller cars. Even then the industry may not have downsized cars if overdrive technology was introduced at that time.
It's been more than 40 years since the US was embargoed and the market hasn't changed much. The top selling car in the US in 2009 is? The Toyota Prius with its 51/48 mpg? The 45/40 Honda Civic? Those small Smart Cars rated at 41/33? What about the Camry or Solara? They did get 33/22!
No, you see, free market capitalism is such a joke that in the wake of 3 different oil embargoes, numerous oil spills, negative political actions, and numerous other problems in the US, the top selling car in 2009 was rated at 19 miles per gallon on the Highway, and 14 in the city. The Ford F-150! And it was by a 10,000 car lead over the 2nd place 31/22 Honda Accord. In third was the super gas efficient Chevy Silverado rated at 20/15.
Yep, apparently last year everyone decided to own a horse or become a farmer, or just decided to haul their junk around all year and bought a F-150 or Silverado. Let me know when the free market thing starts to line up and actually be true, cause from here it is looking like nice bedtime story one reads to their children.
The funniest thing about the whole F-150 thing, is that it the Prius which has a whopping 30MPG lead over it is only about 1,000 dollars (about 14 dollars per month over 72 months), but in purchasing one you become eligible for tax credits.
However, for what I can only imagine is political stupidity to support the failing American automobile industry (hint: gas isn't groovy), it seems tax credits are no longer available for non-American cars, and these credits will be phased out this year. It is such a pity, even more so than the fact people have to be PUSHED into a car that saves you money over time. I've already discussed how going back in time doesn't actually produce solutions. The only thing we can do in the society we have created, is push people with the only motivation we do have, money. Offer incentives to make development in the right areas more appealing. Make goals, and actually meet them. Offer prizes to corporations who actually manage to meet those goals. For example instead of making a 32,000 dollar electric car like the Nissan Leaf, make an incentive for a 20-25K dollar car. Push the industry to do better than it is doing right now.
On a different note, I'm sure there are a few people who sleep soundly at night knowing that the US does have strategic oil reserves in case something should happen. But it won't last more than a month. I wish that was a sarcastic hyperbole, but it isn't.
In truth, the only thing that will fix our problems America, is you. Each of you need to go out and make the right decisions in your future. And doing what is right, isn't always what is easy. Large entities don't listen to public outcry. The only language they speak is money, and their own survival.
So my advice to you citizens of America is that if you truly are disturbed by the BP oil spill, remember: buy a real renewable energy car, and don't settle for anything less.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
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