Charles asks…
Scientific hypocrisy…?
Why do conservatives have such confidence in the ability of science and technology to invent new solutions to problems like alternative energy sources or any other new markets or new products? …but when there’s bad news, when science and technology tells us man-made Global Warming is a distinct possibility…they just suddenly lose confidence, call it a socialist conspiracy and hire new scientists to support their point of view?
The Expert answers:
Science is based on facts. Science has not proven global warming. However, science has proven that the sun is producing more energy which means more heat which eventually hits the planet earth and therefore makes the earth warmer.
Ruth asks…
Is the something that we don’t know about the oil supply from the middle east?
Solar panel as far as the eye can see in Dubai, millions of dollars being pumped into alternative energy, Geo-scientists being recruited from all over the world for work in Dubai. A vision for the first carbon free city named MASDAR. Is there something that we don’t know?
Here in the United States we are bickering amongst ourselves about any investments made into alternative energy? The left says yes, the right says no and while we fight…are we missing the boat?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8586046.stm
http://www.masdar.ae/en/home/index.aspx
ok…I see that there is no way through the bubble. I am capitalist and liberal, if there is way to make money while doing good for my planet, I will take it. Just thought I would take time to inform.
@Boober: yes, the first link includes an artist rendition…go to the next link. I have engineer friend who have been asked to go to Dubai for interviews.
The Expert answers:
The real problem is that construction workers benefit from the labor, so Fox News points out that unions may get that money and “steal your freedom like a socialist hitler”. Well I’m in construction and not everybody is union or democrat. You may not like unions, but ever see a group of Non Union electricians getting together to better their community? No, but the IBEW does it everyday somewhere in the country.
James asks…
Shouldn’t there be an up or down vote on off shore drilling? All arguments have been debunked!?
When President Bush spoke about drilling off shore the price of oil fell $25.00 a barrel! You talk about someone who gets heard!
Some say that the US only has 3% of the worlds oil reserve! However the Interior Depts. MMS estimates that in the Gulf of Mexico alone it has 45 Billion barrels of oil.
Another argument is that oil companies aren’t using the leases they already have. What out of 7,457 leases that the oil companies are leasing only 1,877 are producing 130,000 barrels a day which is concidered one that is “producing”. With the price of a barrel still over $100.00 a barrel that charge never made sense.
What about the environment? First of all there is strict guidlines that the oil companies have to adhere to and they spend billions of dollars a year answering to the EPA. In the last 15 years and out of over 7.5 billions of barrels of oil there has only been 691 oil spills. Not to minimize the danger but any form of energy will have it’s trade offs.
What about alternative energy? I believe that we should go after all types of energy to become “energy independent” but with our lifestyle we need to ween ourselves off of oil, coal and natural gas. There is NOTHING else available! Why spend millions on a phantom technology when we can lower the price now? Why punish oil companies with more taxes when we have a means to lower prices now! Our government is always wanting more taxes and not a solution.
69% of Americans want to drill and the Democrat leadership in congress again will not allow an up or down vote on a very important legislation.
McCain ’08
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/ar2008081102145.html
http://www.enegytomorrow.org/oilandgas/
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cap18-2008aug18,0,3079035,full.column
The Expert answers:
Pelosi and the Democratic controlled Congress need to get off their backsides and show some intestinal fortitude. Step up and do the right thing and vote to DRILL, and DRILL NOW!
Donald asks…
What has Obama done for our country?
I’ll tell you what he’s done!
MORE THAN BUSH DID IN HIS 8 YEAR TERM.
Let’s see, Obama:
-Reversed restrictions on stem cell research
-Appointed an assistant to the president for science and technology policy
-Created a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners
-Expanded loan programs for small businesses
-Extended and indexed the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch
-Expanded eligibility for State Children’s Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)
-Expanded funding to train primary care providers and public health practitioners
-Directed military leaders to end war in Iraq
-Sent two additional brigades to Afghanistan
-As promised gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in the first 100 days of his administration
-Granted Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to Cuba
-Restored funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program
-Released presidential records
-Now requires new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions
-Pushed for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factors
-Created a White House Office on Urban Policy
-Supported increased funding for the NEA
-Funded a major expansion of AmeriCorps
-Worked to overturn Ledbetter vs. Goodyear
-Banned lobbyist gifts to executive employees
-Pledged to weatherize 1 million homes per year
-Invested in all types of alternative energy
-Enacted tax credit for consumers for plug-in hybrid cars
-Provided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codes
-As promised appointed at least one Republican to the cabinet
-Extended unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspended taxes on these benefits.
I’m sick of hearing ANYBODY say that Obama hasn’t been doing anything, you don’t even watch the news, read the papers, research shit online. How would YOU know what he’s done? Who are you to say he’s not fit for presidency, who are you to say he can’t do his job right? How could you even THINK that he’s worse than Bush when he’s gone a hell of a lot more than Bush ever did within his 8 years.
Even other countries are finally happy that we got a good president, because it’s about damn time we get this country whipped into shape.
Your beloved Bush put us into war, he put us into an economic crisis, and now Obama has to get us out, and he plans on trying his hardest, in fact he’s already started.
So all you Obama haters, shut your mouth unless you’re actually informed.
And to you racists, I don’t know how anybody can’t like somebody just because OF THEIR FREAKING SKIN COLOR!
Ughh, I KNOW this isn’t a question, and I know I’m going against the rules by ranting, but WOW. I guess Americans really ARE stupid.
ALSO, yes a lot of people hate him for his skin color, they say it plain as day, they call him a f-ing n*gger, I’ve heard it plenty of times. What, did you think there was no such thing as racism in America?
Also, it wasn’t an actual question moron, as I clearly stated in my passage. Do you see why you’re a moron now?
The Expert answers:
Let’s see, Obama:
-Reversed restrictions on stem cell research and offends a huge portion of the country by doing it.
-Appointed an assistant to the president for science and technology policy, creating another job the taxpayers have to pay for.
-Created a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners that hasn’t been working.
-Expanded loan programs for small businesses that has been loaned out.
-Extended and indexed the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch that was in place before Obama.
-Expanded eligibility for State Children’s Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP) that only helped a few states that actually needed it.
-Expanded funding to train primary care providers and public health practitioners, while allowing grants for public health care workers expirw.
-Directed military leaders to end war in Iraq that is STILL going on.
-Sent two additional brigades to Afghanistan since he Directed military leaders to end war in Iraq.
-As promised gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in the first 100 days of his administration instead of doing the job he is being paid to do.
-Granted Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to Cuba. Because the reason for the restictions was resolved? NO!
William asks…
Does the rebuttal arguement for drilling off the coasts make sense?
One side says that we need to drill off the coast to ease our burden. The other side says the oil wont effect the market for 5 yrs. Then also goes on to says we need to invest more in alternative energy. But wouldn’t alternative energy, even if discovered today, not make it onto the markets in less than 5 yrs also? Why not do both?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080618/ap_on_go_pr_wh/offshore_oil
There is money being invested in alternatives. Shoot, my wife worked on fuel cell research in college.
The Expert answers:
Smart question.
The recent price spike is reflective of the long term trends in the petroleum market. (And the weak dollar caused by importing far more goods — gas and Walmart junk — than we export. The increase is far less in Europe, China and Japan).
In 20 years, we will look back at the price and availabilty of oil with nostalgia. By then, global production will have peaked and will be going down. Demand will only increase. Future generations will wonder how we managed to squander such a precious resource in so few years.
I believe that we need to act now. We are too dependent on oil and gas. We are too dependent on foreign producers.
Drilling here for oil is a short-term fix –10 years to develop the field, 20 years to pump before the field goes into serious decline. It will not affect the price of oil. It is just a drop in the global market — but it will decrease our dependency on foreign oil and is in our national self-interest.
But we also need to accept the long term trend.
Alternative energy is becoming cheaper in economic terms. Increasing efficiency, co-generation and conservation saves money.
I like geothermal. Where it can be used it works well.
Oil shale and sands are costly and environmentally ugly. We also have coal liquidification and gasification. We have a bigger supply of these hydrocarbons and they would last far longer than oil. But like oil, these have a CO2 footprint.
Now is the the time to adapt. This includes drilling. But it also includes developing alternative supplies.
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