We SO need a change in leadership.

I agree but we must also place blame on ourselves for buying BS we don't need or being inefficient in terms of personal energy use (food, heating and a/c, transportation, home products, etc.). Building codes and efficiency requirements are also suspect considering buildings use arpox. 40% of all energy in the U.S.. We can finger point all day long but in reality it is our fault. Mine included.

 

If we enacted higher fuel efficiency standards 10 years ago (or even 30 years ago during the first oil crisis), we wouldn't nearly be in as much of a mess as we are now.

If we embraced the electric vehicle 10 years ago when the EV-1 debuted, we wouldn't need to talk about drilling at all.

If we invested in finding alternative energy 10 years ago (a serious investment, not just the trite $5-10 million afforded in the budget), we'd probably have several options available right now instead of the monopoly of the oil companies being stronger than ever.

Think about it....

 

For those of us that are old enough to remember, the immortal words of Pogo continue to ring true "We have met the enemy, and he is us!"

Finger point all you want as you freeze to death in the dark! If we don't do something new, we are destined to repeat the mistakes of the past!

Icarus

 

I did enact higher fuel efficiency standards 8 years ago when I got the 2001 Prius. About two decades ago I figured out government is reactive, not proactive. If 'we' is the US consumer, then we dropped the ball. If 'we' is the political leadership, then the US voters dropped the ball. As far as I know, the US consumer and US voter are essentially the same group.

This statement confuses me. The EV-1 was totally embraced by those that were lucky enough to be able to lease one. (The elusive "we" shows up again.)

We did invest a lot in the 1970s and 1980s. Back then, Alternative energy cost about 2 time more than coal power, and a lot more people were opposed to doubling the electric bill rather than supporting alternative energy. It just turns out that alternative energy must be economically viable to be wide spread. We have reached that point now, so watch wind and solar efforts explode.

 

Bush has been bankrolled his entire life by his father's oil buddies. Going back to when they provided the money for him to buy a piece of the Texas Rangers-- for which he profited handsomely on selling after a stadium had been built with public funds.

He will never act against the interests of the oil companies.

 

But unfortunately, most consumers never act against the interests of the oil companies either.

 

From out in the stciks! This is all fine and dandy, I can remember living in a little town on the fringe of a city of about 25K in the early 60's, and having to take a crap in an out house when I was a kid, We didn't have running water and were lucky to have Electricity.

Alot of why things are the way they are is because people just do what they need to to get by and improve upon things as time goes by and they learn or make better equipment.

This is what we need to remember when getting our panties in a bunch, WE are trying to improve. We need to all pull together as a team.! So the song goes!

As for or elected crocks, I mean crooks, I mean I am going to do this, when I get you suckered into voting for me then I am going to do something totaly different and self serving. And switch back right before re-electionm time! I think you get the drift!

 

For those who only glean scientific data, here are the real people that pull the levers of power and what they have in store for us! http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/business/worldbusiness/08venture.html?ref=todayspaper

 

FL_Prius_Driver,
You, my friend, are an exception to the rule. Finally, I have awakened to the truths that you figured out early, and I will be taking measures as you already have. Better late than never.

The 'We' in the poster's lament was aimed at us as a nation with a slam to the Dems for standing in the way to the only solution he sees, which is more drilling. The 'We' in my post was aimed at the same us as a nation. 'We' did not figure out what you did, that government is reactive not proactive. 'We' did not embrace the EV-1. 'We' have not done enough when it comes to alternative energy, case in point cities who are demonstrating against wind power because 'it's ugly' instead of being educated to how beneficial it can be for them.

My post was really aimed at the lament of 'if we had just drilled back then, we'd be happier than pigs in shit right now, and it's all because of the Dems, WAAAH', but that's just not true. It's like saying (in the famous words of Judge Judy), 'If my parents had been taller, I'd be taller'. Well, they weren't. And even if they were, there'd be no guarantee. So here we are today with the hand we've been dealt, largely due to our own doings.

 

The gov needs to enact a strategy and initiative to find a means of using alternative fuels that are cost effective for the consumers. The main problem is that our gov has too much partisanship and can not work together as one for our benefit. It seems that the elected officials are not really working together and probably never will because the two parties absolutely hate each other. And this animosity has carried over to the general public. I have voted Dem and Repub in the past based on who I think will do the best job, not along party lines. As much as I like the NASA space programs, maybe we ought to stop pouring money into such programs and concentrate on the fuel problems that exist. Use these scientists to put their minds and efforts into finding an alternative. Fuel cells are nice, but currently too expensive to help. The average person can not afford to get rid of their old gas guzzlers. Also, a couple of years ago, many consumers bought SUV's when they were given 0 percent interest. Now they are stuck with a high price vehicle that they can't trade in because they are buried in debt and will take a substantial loss. I have a 2005 corrola (sold a suburban) and have a prius ordered. I used to spend an avg of $700/mo for gas and now have cut that down to $325/mo. I have 4 drivers and just sold a 93 f150 4X4 that averaged 10 mpg (worse than a hummer). My wife and I drive to work together in the corrola and essentially, I don't have a vehicle until the prius comes in. I'm in a good position to make a difference on fuel usage, but again, many consumers are not. If I could afford it, I would put up a wind mill in my yard and go geothermal. I'd have to win the lotto for that. But, I'm trying to make a difference. Honda has a great idea with the fuel cell concept, but who can afford this new technology?

 

Well put! Same here.

 

Fuel cells are a scam and a diversion. Where do you think the energy to fuel them comes from?

 

How about water for fuel. Something is better than nothing.

 

Water+electricity=fuel cell fuel. Why not avoid the middle man and use the electricity directly? Efficiencies are significantly higher.

Icarus

 

You've still got to get the energy from somewhere for the electrolysis. At the moment it's just not cost competitive with steam reforming of methane. That may change, but why not just put the energy for electrolysis directly into the vehicle. FCV are evolving into a form of PHEV, which suggests to me that the end result will be a BEV. If we end up with PHEVs our demand for liquid fuels will be dramatically lower, which will mean that various biofuels will be a LOT more relevant. In that case, a well tuned genset in a series PHEV will be WAY more cost competitive than a fuel cell stack.

 

There are many inefficiencies associated with fuel cells and the whole "water for fuel" ideas. Maybe someday this will be feasible but in the next couple decades we need to come up with something better. Changing transportation in general would be the best method to reduce pollution and energy consumption.

 

Water is not fuel. Icarus has it right.