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I think we Americans have to accept some responsiblity ourselves. We have long ignored what the experts were telling us about long term fuel supplies. We continued to ignore conservation measures, and as the far biggest user in the world have brought some of the 'sudden rise' upon ourselves as we waited till the last minute.
In this same vien we continue this lack of foresight even today. Look at this energy bill (finally!!) that all of Congress is patting themselves on the back for. It hardly contains ANY conservation measures....just handouts to the oil companies that are already making record profits from the increases in fuel prices. Lets keep that in mind at the next election.
And we as concerned citizens need to let our elected officials know that we are willing to accept some pain for TRULY intelligent energy policy rather than political policy they continue to pass.
I worked in the oil sector in SE Asia for a few years back in the late nineties. We could see looming problems then, and particularly the coming Chinese situation (now #2 user, surpassing Japan). And watch out, shortly China will feel threatened with being cut off from world fuel supplies like occurred with Japan before WWII. They may likely get REAL aggressive about any energy fines near their territory (such as all of the Spratly Islands).
And we have yet to learn how to intelligently negioate with the Chinese (true bartering combined with 'saving face'). No, we are foolishly tided up in another country.
Our motor vehicles are by far the biggest user of fuel. Why don't we really have a new nation policy on improving their efficiency. We put a man on the moon long ago.....don't you believe that if we made a REAL committment we could attack the problem with some of that brain power and funds we spend on a multitute of weapon's development and get this job done?? I'm not saying stop weapons spending....just stop some of the foolish spending such as that 'extra' nuclear aircraft carrier that even the navy didn't see a need for, nor those fuel tanker planes that are not obsolete. nor this obsolete and non-operable missile crap in Alaska, nor the F22 that may be so complicated it won't fly half the time, etc, etc. Put some of this brain power and wasted funds to work on a real important problem.
Think of what this new auto technology (or better yet, electrical energy stowage technology) would mean for our economy, both here in our own country, as well as an export item to the world. Sure would be nice to have that image again. Wake up America!! you've been snoozing too long
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