OK, I used to think that “mad king” thing was a cheap shot … but truth is sicker than fiction:
President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.
- more here
I am listening now to the recent joint talk by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett and Dr. Robert Hirsch, the top item on this EnergyBulletin page:
http://www.energybulletin.net/15440.html
It rocks, and blows my mind. It’s been a while since a peak oil presentation did that for me, jaded TOD reader that I am …
I am surprised by the pessimism that comes through Hirsch’s verbal comments. And I am surprised by the good grounding in science that comes through Bartlett’s talk.
I think I’ve been listening to talks by Bartlett and others which were pitched at a more general audience (congressmen), and maybe haven’t heard him open up with facts and figures like he does here.
He also hits one of my old themes, one that maybe I should return to in face of PO fear … that happiness varies around the world, and that people who burn less oil per capita can be as happy as we are now … or even happier.
Be happy …
Quick Fixes Won’t Solve Looming Oil Crisis, Scientists Say
With the cost of oil at or near record territory and gasoline prices hovering around $3 a gallon, the government is advocating new measures to sooth growing public concern over rising prices at the pumps.
But the fixes are only temporary and largely symbolic, scientists say. They will do little to address the more serious threat of what will happen when demand for oil outstrips the ability to produce it.
When I wrote earlier today, I pretty much accepted the “slow awakening” I see with current gas prices and peak oil. I took the “circus quality” of political debate as a given. The editors at The Oil Drum push back a bit against the current politics of oil and have written a very forceful essay:
The political discourse on this topic is simply so devoid of fact, and constructive discourse so buried and out of the mainstream, that we felt we needed to raise a voice of reason. Public officials will continue to misinform and obfuscate if we allow it.
The only solution is to educate the public about the most important problem we face as a generation. We, the citizens of the US and the world, must move our attention to this the issue of energy more than any other. We must hold our representative governments accountable for having an open and honest debate on the subject.
Simply put, we must learn more about where our energy comes from.
- more here
Well gas prices have certainly been in the news, and as someone who generally believes we are near “peak oil” I’d say the news has been good. People interviewed at gas stations say the problem is “we use too much” and that’s an improvement over simple “blame” for one party or another.
The political response has a circus quality, but I suppose political response always does. In general I think the President’s plan is about the best he can do right now. Pulling back the pointless tax credits given to oil companies last year would be good. Giving credits to fuel efficient cars would be good, though it should go to high mpg cars, rather than to any specific technology (like hybrids).
There has been some talk about “increased domestic exploration” which I think is funny, because we have already explored domestically. That’s like being low on Pepsi, and saying your solution is to keep checking the fridge.
This might also devolve into an ANWR debate, again, but even Bush (the oil man) isn’t pushing that one. That’s because ANWR would only produce a tiny fraction of our consumption, even if we started now and got it on-line in 10 years. That reserve would provide on the order of a few (1, 2, 3 who cares?) million barrels per day. We currently consume more than 80 million barrels per day, and the government expects that (if we could find it), we’d be consuming 100 million barrels in a decade. I don’t think we’ll find it. I think we’ll be at about the same production (give or take 5 million barrels per day).
Add ANWR or not, it won’t matter.
Actually, maybe we should just drill ANWR, just to get the people fixated on it to shut up already. It’s not going to help. Drill it and they’ll see that it is not going to help. The North American fridge is low on Pepsi, and the way to make it last is to stop guzzling.
Pretty neat … CLICK HERE
All the Earth Day news that’s fit to print: CLICK HERE
I got something in the mail today “Especially for” me!
It’s a brochure describing GM cars, and a “Certificate Extraordinaire” offering $1500 off a “Chevrolet Avalanche, Tahoe, Suburban; GMC Yukon (all models); Hummer H2 (all models); Cadillac Escalade (all models).” Strange, the discounts seem to sort of slide, with $1000 off midsize SUVs (Chevrolet Blazers and such), and only $500 off a Aveo or Cobalt.
Actually, while I kind of have a “they made their bed” attitude toward GM, it is kind of sad. They should not have to offer discounts, even of $500, on their most fuel efficient cars. Unfortunately they are trapped between being perceived as an SUV company, and trying to unload their large SUVs.
I don’t really see how they can avoid bankruptcy at this point (though of course, I could be wrong).
As China’s oil use becomes more of a topic of conversation, it’s important to get the numbers down:
How’s this for nerve? The leader of a country that consumes more than 20 million barrels of oil a day is warning the leader of a country that consumes some 6.5 million barrels not to try to lock up world oil resources. When President Bush welcomes the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, to the White House today, the American complaint will be that China’s appetite for oil affects its stance on Iran, Sudan and other trouble spots.
- more here
The U.S. lives in an energy trap. We fell into it gladly, dug it deeper and sit fat and happy, with blinders on. We’re fed daily meals of imported oil, from countries we pay in IOUs and think we can push around. But now we’re starting to see the costs and risks of our dependency—and I don’t only mean gasoline averaging $2.74 a gallon at the pump.
For years to come, we’ll be in the hands of some of the most dysfunctional governments in the world. Oil prices will rise and economic growth will slow—not this year, but almost certainly a few years out. We’ll be paying in both treasure and blood, as we fight and parley to keep ever-tighter supplies of world oil flowing our way.
- more here