OT: Gas Prices

[aegisx]

From the gas company side:

http://www.conocophillips.com/newsro...il_profits.htm

Looking for an opposing link right now...

This one is ok: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=5367090

Still haven't found a good site that opposes the oil viewpoint with good data.

[aegisx]

It is a tough situation. They tried to tax the oil companies more in the past (1980) and it had the effect of decreasing domestic production and increasing foreign dependence, which isn't what we want.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/1168.html

An alternative energy source is preferable and they are at least starting to look at things like Ethanol. Now Ethanol is not the best solution but progress will not be made overnight.

[GuyOfDoom]

The problem with the oil company "support" article is that they fail to take into account that their "modest" price increases and maintainence factors into just about every other category of expense they claim is higher because of transportation costs.

As for foreign dependance, one of the biggest problems America has is thinking it can produce everything and fully support itself. No economy can do that, we only want to think we can with oil because we've pissed off all the major suppliers of oil.

[aegisx]

We probably cannot produce everything by ourselves, but I think that is a good goal to strive for. Ethonal might be a good idea for us then. We grow a lot of food (i.e. corn) and we are strong in pharmaceuticals/genetic engineering. I would hope we can use that to our advantage in producing plenty of ethonal. There are a bunch of issues right now with corn Ethonal but its a start. I think a Prius that runs on E85 would be a good thing.

[GuyOfDoom]

Ethanol will be a nice stepping stone, but I don't believe it's the "wave of the future." The cost of production for ethanol limiting on how effective it will be right now, unless as you mentioned we engineer something to reduce that.

[aegisx]

Yep, its a start and thats exciting. I think Gas prices will be high for a long time now. It is gonna cost $$$ to convert to a non-oil based infrastructure.

[Raapys]

Hah, here in Norway we've been at $4'ish/gal for years O_O

[GuyOfDoom]

Yes, but there should have been alternatives for a long time now. We're the only developed country out there that hasn't been concerned with fuel economy and the US is also the only country that didn't do the right thing after the gas shortage of the 70's.