Great post, Laura. My favorite thing about Obama is that his approach in this campaign is fundamentally different with respect for financing, transparency and technology. Just as you are, I'm hopeful that this will translate into a lasting effect.

Posted at May 16, 2008 9:11 PM in response to Obama and the Internet May Change American Politics FOREVER.

Magical unity ponies had better contribute zero carbon emissions.

Posted at May 16, 2008 8:35 PM in response to Over a Barrel

Of course the weakness of the dollar plays a factor (something which is clearly addressed in my links). Did you read them? Even in consideration of all of the factors you mention, there's good reason to believe that speculation is driving the price up considerably.

Is it callous to observe that people are unwilling to change without it being mandated by forces beyond their control? You can "howl" about the unfortunate as much as you like, it won't change the realities that either of us has highlighted.

Nature is just callous, I suppose.

You're right about when oil is going away. We're down to little better than a 10:1 exchange rate. This is at least an order of magnitude lower than it was a century ago.

What "useful alternatives" can replace coal and gasoline? Have you examined the numbers required? Do you have any meaningful suggestions along these lines?

Posted at May 16, 2008 8:26 PM in response to Over a Barrel

Heh. Yeah, that's it.

Seriously though, that was why I brought Gore up. Remember when global warming was still considered to be on the outer-reaches of the scientific mainstream? Even after the evidence became overwhelming it helped tremendously to have someone like Gore who could push the message.

Then again, circumstances may soon become more convincing than the most well-constructed argument any statesman could proffer.

Posted at May 16, 2008 7:43 PM in response to Over a Barrel

Population is a problem, but the U.S. only accounts for about 5% of the world's population and we consume about 25% of the world's oil resources. Population will cause much larger energy problems in China and India (and thereby in the world), but these aren't populations that we have any control of. As far as saving our own sweet asses goes, we need to address our major problem: Excessive consumption and an infrastructure that depends on it.

Posted at May 16, 2008 7:32 PM in response to Over a Barrel

Some might argue that some idiot already did try this.

Posted at May 16, 2008 7:28 PM in response to Over a Barrel

Overpopulation, and exponential growth in an even more abstract sense, is of course at the root of energy (and all resource) issues. However, it's quite difficult to tell people that there shouldn't be so many of us.

Posted at May 16, 2008 7:28 PM in response to Over a Barrel

IMHO, energy is the most important issue. Everything is about resource.

Posted at May 16, 2008 7:11 PM in response to Over a Barrel

I'm always curious what people mean when they bring up nationalizing oil resources. In the U.S. we simply don't have oil resources to nationalize in any meaningful way. The majority of what is left on the planet is located in the Middle East. The only real way for us to "nationalize" this resource would be to seize it, but I think we can see from current circumstances that this resource will never be put in the hands of the people at large even if it is seized.

Posted at May 16, 2008 7:10 PM in response to Over a Barrel

Needs more caps lock.

Posted at May 16, 2008 6:50 PM in response to TPM is not Reddit, Please keep it that way. Thank you.