[extropy-chat] FWD [U-Tapao] Re: IS IT TIME TO RATION FUEL?

[Terry W. Colvin]

Forwarding from another list...

Terry


I agree spomething has to be done.  What was a robust economy will 
soon be in recession or at least diminished growth.  I'm not as bent 
out of shape over the oil companies as they don't set the price of 
oil, they simply drill and refine. I think the commodity traders are 
out of control at the moment.  They drive up the price of oil for 
almost any reason and NONE of them ever happen. So, here are my 
thoughts grounded in the simple fact that for the short term, WE HAVE 
NO CHOICE BUT TO USE OIL.

1) Conservation - I too would like to see a sizable reduction in 
consumption.  I would offer huge tax incentives for fuel efficient 
vehicles. Deduct 10% of the vehicle cost for each 1 mpg over 20 the 
car gets.  This would not hurt Detroit because they now produce many 
vehicles that get milage in this range. And many people who own large 
SUVs and pickups would migrate to more fuel effcient cars.  Those who 
love large vehicle would pay extra as they do not get the tax write-
off.  (this doe interfere with my flat tax idea but I can only save 
the world one step at a time ;^))

2) Drill dammit just drill - there is oil out there and can be 
processed with today's technology.  Be environmentally friendly but 
drill - for the short term we must have oil. I don't know how many 
studies Congress needs but drill for the oil.  If a few bugs, bears, 
snakes or moose are unhappy so be it. 

3) Standardize the fuel grades - for heavens sake how many different 
fuel formulas do we need in this country? There are far too many - 
have a winter and summer national standard and let the refineries 
optimize for these formulas and reduce the cost of processing.

4) More refineries - none in 30 or so years? Why? EPA regulations?

5) Nuke em - hell electricity in France comes from nuke power why not 
us?

6) Start the future now. - Start a program similar to NASA to define 
and build the infrastructure for the next generation of fuels - 
hydrogen or whatever.  Set a goal to use 50% less oil by 2030.

Oh well I guess I can dream

Cheers,

Larry

 --- In U-Tapao at yahoogroups.com, "Lou Georgieff" <lou.g at s...> wrote:
OPEC, the oil companies and refinery's are having a field day at 
your expense. They are all making massive profits while some 
Americans are required to cut back on food and medicine.The gas 
station owners isn't responsible for the gouging because a large 
percentage of his profits go to the credit card companies. The 
refinery's don't have any comp editors because we have made it 
impossible to comply with the EPA standards so no new units are 
built. Stupidity is rampant. We listen to a few minority groups  and 
pay the price. 
> I think the answer is in congress.We should look seriously at 
rationing fuel and use a 20% reduction as a guide.The price of oil 
would drop at least $25 dollars a barrel because the hedge funds 
would bail out and leave no one to buy the $66 dollar oil the very 
minute the proposal is made.
> There is no shortage of oil  but there is a shortage of courage by 
our congress to  do what is right for the citizens they represent. In 
the mean time I buy five gallon of fuel at a time and if we all did 
that the refinery would be over run with fuel and have to drop their 
price because there is no where to store it.
> There is fool born every day and nine men to take him and I think 
it is clear we have been taken.
> The next time a candidate is running for office and has taken a 
dime from oil or car manufacturers think twice before you vote for 
them, and please vote.
> Don't you think we should stop talking about  the alternatives to 
gasoline and do something about it? The problem with America is 5% of 
the people squeal and 95% pay for their mistakes.



-- 
"Only a zit on the wart on the heinie of progress." Copyright 1992, Frank Rice


Terry W. Colvin, Sierra Vista, Arizona (USA) < fortean1 at mindspring.com >
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