Oil independence: Do Americans really care?
In order to achieve oil independence, Americans will have to make some tough decisions according to the article, Does America Want Oil Independence?. Still, hybrid cars and alternative fuels are a strong step in the right direction. While the article also plugs plug-in hybrid vehicles, I think it indirectly points out that flex-fuel plug-in hybrid vehicles offer the best path towards beginning a real push for oil independence. Nonetheless, without a majority of Americans pushing for oil independence, many analysts think real change is almost impossible.
Thus, the question remains, "Do the majority of Americans really care about oil independence?"
Thus, the question remains, "Do the majority of Americans really care about oil independence?"
Labels: energy independence, Flex-fuel, Hybrid Vehicles, plug-in hybrids
posted by Dahcredyns at
6:54 AM
3 Comments:
If America (ie; The government and auto manufacturers) wanted to reduce the use of fossil fuels all they would have to do is produce energy efficient vehicles. An Escalade is not a fuel efficient vehicle. Autos and trucks are produced to use all f the available oil products available. Like tobacco / a host of illnesses could be stopped if the government made tobacco ilegal and unavailable. THe taxes are more important than the lives that would be saved. The same goes for oil and oil products. It all comes down to the dollar as does everything else including religion. The cause of all wars in the world today.......
It certainly does come down to the dollar.
It seems pretty obvious that only a large coalition of people can make any change.
Now I know why Americans don't care about energy independence, because it would be a disaster - at least according to the Fortune Magazine Article Energy
independence is a disaster in the making.
Ultimately, the article argues since oil is cheap, why would we make things more expensive for ourselves?
Wow, suddenly technological advancement is a bad thing? Why do I need a computer when my calculator works just fine? Why do I need a car when my horse and buggy work just fine?
Shouldn't I just use whatever is cheaper?
This article is simply beyond silly.
Sure the price of oil is cheap, but how much does it cost to keep that oil cheap? How much did the first Persian Gulf War cost? How much does America's presence in the Gulf - pre the current struggle in Iraq - cost every year? How much does it cost America to align itself with repressive leaders of oil-producing countries? Have we already forgotten 9/11, the first attack on the WTC, the Cole bombing, etc?
How much has cheap oil really cost America in the last few decades?
But let's forget all of that.
What is happening to America's Middle Class? Well, the loss of top American manufacturing jobs, such as in the auto industry, is forcing many Americans into lower paying jobs.
Obviously, America's addiction to cheap oil also had little affect on this outcome. I mean why should American auto companies focus on technology, oil is cheap?
Now look where we're at. We let the Japanese catch us because we didn't value technological advancement - cheap was better. Profit was more important than quality. The future, why invest in the future when the present is so cheap?
Hey, why don't we just let the Koreans and Chinese surpass us now!!!!
Inevitably, in today's world, America can only lead the world in manufacturing if its technologically advanced manufacturing - NOT CHEAP manufacturing.
Had we focused on quality, efficient vehicles after the Iran oil embargo, where would be today? We certainly couldn't be in a worse place.
Unlike Fortune, most energy independence activists aren't asking for immediate, expensive independence, we're asking for a constant push towards that goal. We're asking for incentives to invest in technology, such as hybrid cars.
But let's not plan ahead, let's just live in the cheap short term, isn't that always the most cost effective path?
Isn't it better to eat a $3.00 McDonald's Value Menu, rather than a $5.00 well balanced meal? Isn't cheaper always better?
I mean just because India is growing very rapidly, as is China, I'm sure that half of the world's population is never going to demand more oil and I'm sure that increased demand will just push oil prices lower, right?
Yeah, cheap oil, that's the future - to America's destruction.
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