MyDD :: A Question of Oil

A Question of Oil

by David Model, Mon Jul 21, 2008 at 03:21:36 PM EST

The entire debate about oil should focus on one issue; how to conserve and reduce our dependence on oil. I live in Canada and it saddens me that our country is adopted the worst possible oil policy in which the Alberta government is extracting the dirtiest and least efficient oil in the tar sands where there are over 300 billion barrels of oil in reserve.

Tar sands is a combination of oil and soil, called bitumen, which is very expensive to extract and consumes enormous quantities of energy. Furthermore, the process of extraction contributes significantly to global warming adding to the greenhouse emissions produced by the consumption of gasoline derived from the oil.

Not only is Canada apolectic about possessing the largest oil reserves in the world currently but can't sell it off fast enough to other countries, in particular the United States.

It is a huge step backwards in the struggle to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and consumes resources that could be allocated to alternative sources of energy. Canada is far down the list in the use of alternative sources of energy and fails to realize that sooner or later there will be no choice.

http://www.stateofdarkness.com

Tags: oil, tar sands, Alberta, Canada (all tags)

Permalink :: 8 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: A Question of Oil (none / 0)

Oil has become the legal version of smack. Every thug wants control of it, and every addict thinks it should be more available. Quite sad. Rec'd

by Dog Chains on Mon Jul 21, 2008 at 03:26:20 PM EST

Re: A Question of Oil (none / 0)

Energy is a necessity. Due to the lack of foresight by some, we are now paying $4.00 plus per gallon of gas. Had we kept exploring, drilling, refining, etc., we would not be in the mess that we find ourselves. We need to allow all forms of energy, i.e. fossil fuel, nuclear, wind, solar, etc. to work through the free market system and the winner at any given time could be any of these energy sources. We need to stop cutting off our noses and be a bit more practical with our solutions. The future of the United States hangs in the balance.

by LesGovt on Mon Jul 21, 2008 at 03:58:43 PM EST

Re: A Question of Oil (none / 0)

The very future of the world may hang in the balance. Your comment sounds like typical conservative thinking. The free market solution is skewed towards short term profitability. Free-marketers believe profit is the ultimate incentive. This leads to solutions that are geared towards maximizing profits at the expense of the long-term public good.

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

by MS01 Indie on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 11:55:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A Question of Oil (none / 0)

Federal Express devised the hub and spoke system and revolutionized the transportation industry, which benefits everybody. Pharmaceutical companies have discovered drugs that save peoples' lives. Private enterprise helped discover and manufacture all sorts of things, like, x-ray machines, jet aircraft, automobiles, wheel chairs, clothing, housing, groceries, computers, software, and so many other things that benefit society and, yes, at a profit. Profit is not a dirty word. Profit helps produce so many items that we don't have the space here to mention all of them or even very many of them. It includes virtually everything. And, guess what. If we have solar, wind, battery, or any other type of energy, companies will be producing these items too... and at a profit.

If you work, I hope you do so for a company that makes a profit. Most companies die without it.

by LesGovt on Sun Jul 27, 2008 at 07:17:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A Question of Oil (none / 0)

I didn't say anything about profit being evil. What I said is that sacrificing the public good for short term profit is a bad idea. We see evidence of it all the time, whether it's a company that sacrifices the environment to maximize profits, like coal mining companies, or pharmaceuticals that cover up negative test results in order to market a drug. Where would you put the tobacco companies on that list of yours?

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

by MS01 Indie on Sun Jul 27, 2008 at 07:24:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A Question of Oil (none / 0)

Profit is still good. Private enterprise will still be more efficient in building markets. Yes, there are some unscrupulous people in this world. They run companies. They run unions. They run government agencies. They run governments. When people do things only for a short-term profit, they often end up losing in the long-run. Most companies don't do that. Most companies invest in people and equipment in order to produce better or less expensive products. All of this benefits society.

Is it your contention that we should villify government since not everyone in govenment is scrupulous or moral?

Drill for oil and gas. Develop wind, solar, battery, and hydrogen power. May the best product (least costly and most efficient) source of energy power us today and may the best product power us in the future. In my case, I really don't care which product works best now or whether it is the one for the future. I just want that which is best for America.

by LesGovt on Sun Jul 27, 2008 at 07:41:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A Question of Oil (none / 0)

Profit is not good when it comes at the expense of the environment or people's health. An unfettered free market is as bad as a government without controls. We have watchdog groups and a three-branch government for the very reason that people cannot always be trusted. It doesn't matter whether those people are in the marketplace or the government arena.

Your username, and earlier posts I've seen of yours, suggests that you have libertarian leanings. That's fine, I have some myself. However, I strongly believe that an unfettered free market and unfettered capitalism would lead to anarchy. It would soon become a dog-eat-dog world. I should say, it would soon become more of a dog-eat-dog world.

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

by MS01 Indie on Sun Jul 27, 2008 at 08:10:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A Question of Oil (none / 0)

I have not said that there should not be some controls over business. For example, if they commit fraud or become monopolies, I am not against government stepping in to right the wrongs. However, that is different from letting the free market economy do its thing of producing goods and services in as free an environment as can be allowed. It is freedom that allows people to create products and services that best help society. Government doesn't know how to produce those goods and services. If government would do less regulating and less taxing, businesses would produce even more and better goods and services. Again, this does not mean that moderate regulation should not be present.

As for the libertarian leanings, you will learn that I am anything but a libertarian. I am a conservative through-and-through. I am for freedom. I am for freedom, but not to excess. Licentiousness should not be tolerated whether by industry or by private citizens. I believe in the same basic freedom that the Founding Fathers of the United States believed in.

I am not for big brother telling us how much businesses can or should produce and what businesses should produce. The market will produce what is needed and desired. Naturally, that cannot happen when something is over-regulated or over-taxed.

by LesGovt on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 06:56:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.