The Repiglicans are at it again.

Blocking a renewable-energy-credit bill.

What is up with these assholes? They want to discourage the development of renewable energy, while making domestic drilling a priority? It makes no sense...

...unless you're on the payroll of Big Oil...

 

That is precisely the reason, once the last drop of oil is burned then the big oil folks will invest their ill-gotten gains in another profit intensive energy aided by corrupt politicans. Even the current ethanol requirement profits current big agriculture, there are many more efficient biomass flora available which grow faster, use less marginal land and are cheaper to cultivate than corn. Switch grass is one example with 6 times the ethanol yield.

 

Big oil runs the country. When big oil is finished it will be big agriculture.

 

algae is actually the most efficient biofuel that I know of.

 

Man fuck the republicans man, Fuck the democrats too! Its half thanks to them that our government is so fucked up as it is man. This is why I stay appolitical

 

Profits always trump common sense, but we can look out for the next generation or we can squander it. What gets me is how short sighted these assholes are, they're shooting themselves in the foot along with the rest of us, their grandkids will suffer too.

Switch grass seems to be the most viable alternative, but it may not ever get assimilated into the main stream energy infrastructure if no one stands to profit. Hmmm, maybe I ought to try growing some switch grass...

And don't get me started on Al Gore, that guy pisses me off too, profiteering off alternative energy while himself consuming more energy than most, damned hypocrite.

We need to look at energy as something that needs to be conserved, not justify our over-consumptive behavior by going green.

 

They are trying to hold the development of alternative fuels hostage until they get their way and are allowed to give more off shore drilling rights to their friends in the petroleum industry.

I say let's vote them all out in November. How many votes do the CEOs of large petroleum have compared to those of the people who wish to establish alternative fuels in order to protect our environment and our economy. Why should they continue to receive their tax breaks but those interested in developing alternatives have to suck it up and watch their tax breaks expire.

They say more drilling is their only business:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5icrolgbXr0mlnZQmLr-1svIyNDpwD9289B8O0

Let's show them what our priorities are!

 

When these politicians say this is the only answer to rising fuel costs ask them about this:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11397.html

 

Exactly, there are too many good ol' boyz entrenched in government with ties to industry who only care about profits, not about what's best. Time to stir the pot and get the scum off of the top.

 

Time to ask Obama to get off the fence too. Why is he conditionally agreeing to more offshore drilling? He should be focussing on advancing flex fuel vehicles and more alternate fueling stations instead. It would be cheaper and more of an advancement in the whole cause of minimizing our use of fossil fuels, petroleum specifically. Let's face it the transportation sector is the biggest consumer of petroleum, not electrical generation so why the focus on building new nuclear power plants. It's the old bait and switch con. They think we'll buy their arguments that new nuclear plants and off shore drilling will bring the price of gas down. It won't. The only thing that will is if we don't have to use it, we have alternatives. Let OPEC bathe in their oil. That's better than watching them build palaces in Dubai.

Someone could make a killing by developing a do it yourself kit that could be added on to regular gasoline consuming vehicles to make them flex vehicles, but that's only going to work if we can find ethanol to fuel the flex vehicles. Right now I know of no station within 50 miles of my hometown that has it.

 

Do you really not know the intricacies of this question? Do you really not understand the legislative game that is being played by the Democrats? Did you read the substitute bill that the Republicans wanted to vote on? Why do you seem to be so uninformed on these issues? You really must think there is a difference in these parties on economic issues. They are all on the take from different interests and almost all, Democrat or Republican, on the take from the oil and gas lobbies. Do you think the Iowa Senators. one Republican and one Democrat, for example, aren't pushing subsidies for ethanol?

I think Speaker Pelosi is ideologically driven on this issue, but she's almost nuts. Also, she has different kinds of economic interests.

 

It can be done, with no risk to ANWR and no nuclear accidents, why aren't we focussing on converting our vehicles to something other than petroleum?

http://www.engr.unl.edu/~ethanol/

 

Ethanol has had subsidisies for years as does petroleum. Which one should we focus on today and throw money at? I vote Ethanol, and remove the tax breaks and subsidisies from oil. Spend money on making it more available at fueling stations, make RD money available for converting our current vehicles. Stop throwing it down the tube to petroleum companies that are now reaping the hugest profits in history and doing little else than drilling and capping. Spend it on something that may make a difference. Spend it on something developed in this country by it's own citizens. And protect it from predatory offshore interests. It's part of our infrastructure. Let's not be dependent on foreign markets again for something so vital. Let's make Henry Ford and Thomas Edison proud.

And remember corn isn't the only thing that be made into ethanol. Corn farmers have had it easy, let's see what we can make alcohol out of, potatos come to mind.

As for the Speaker she's from my state, but I trust her as far as I can throw her.

 

You're getting Lincolnesque. Lincoln said I trust him as far as I can throw a red hot stove. The press complained, so he said, I retract my statement, I do not trust him as far as I can throw a red hot stove. (something like that anyway).

I don't favor subsidizing any fat cat operation, ethanol or oil. It will be a cold day in Hell, or southern California, when they subsidize people like us. Jeez, if they use potatoes they will get expensive and a lot of Irishmen will starve. Besides I am Irish (Yeats, misspelled by some immigration officer in 1849), and I like potatoes. Good cheap food.

 

I'm sure they are, as the recipients of those subsidies represent a huge lobby.

Contrary to what the title of this post implies, I'm not suggesting this is a partisan issue, I'm suggesting that it's assinine to block renewable energy for the sake of procuring off shore drilling rights.

Pelosi is just as bad, if not worse, than bush, and I agree she's a nut job. At least bush wears it on his sleeve.

My point was that we need to kick a bunch of those mother fuckers in government out of their cushy offices so that we can get some new blood in there that can come up with legislation that makes sense long term, namely investing more into R&D of renewable energy sources, and subsidies for those who buy into them. Then again, I may be naive into thinking it's possible, considering the system is rigged, but I'm willing to take my chances.

And no, I'm sure I don't know all the intricacies of this issue, no one does, except the folks on the inside, and they're all dirty.

Renewable energy will become main stream when Big Oil (aka Big Energy) is ready for it to, which is based on the bottom line, not what's best for the planet or for humanity.

 

'Figures, I'm a limey myself.

 

Hey I love my potatos too. And my Gran was Irish. I was just suggesting we could all run our vehicles on vodka, instead of OPEC oil or Iowa corn liquor. There are alternatives. Saw a great presenter on CSPAN the other day speaking to young people somewhere, forget the specific group. But she outlined why we are being distracted with offshore drilling and nuclear plants and how neither would really solve the problem of our dependence on oil. We should focus on flex fuel vehicles and hybrids, that's the only way. But we don't have nearly the infrastructure in place to support the change.

Why aren't we focussing on that?

 

I wonder also why this president has never called for restraint in vehicle use from the citizens. It happened during the first energy crisis and our speed limit was lowered to 55, and everyone was reminded to inflate their tires. But he just tells us to continue to shop.

I say vote all incumbents out. Experience? Did Bill Clinton have any experience when he was elected? Had Abe Lincoln visited Europe or any other foreign country when he was elected?

Experience has proven in many cases to be a negative, unless you are a lobbyist and you already have them in your pocket.

 

I am ready to switch my 1986 Ranger over to ethanol or methanol, if it can pass California smog after the alterations. I'd much rather spend my few pennies on a domestic product than a foreign one. Can't afford a new vehicle, have to keep this one on the road. Besides I just bought new tires after ten years.

 

Boy you've got more money than I have that you can afford to switch your truck around.

I think all methods of getting fuel or energy need to be tried. BTW, that's what the Republican bill did, but, of course, it included drilling on the continental shelf, in Alaska, and extracting oil from shale in Colorado. I was in a tribe in Colorado years ago. I don't know what the hell they are talking about, but it must be true since Congress decided to block oil shale extraction.

You're right. I don't know the intricacies of all this shit, but I do know I don't drive much anymore. I ride my bike much further and at greater risk than I should. Highways in Houston Texas are dangerous in a car. I can't afford a scooter even if I could drive one safely.

I do drive more than 55 miles per hour, but most people are passing me all the time anyway. I hope my tires are properly inflated. They are on my bike.

BTW I am quite willing to throw all the leaders out and their government with them. I still don't plan to vote since this isn't going to happen.