A piece of a smaller pie
In the upcoming era of reduced energy supply, we're all going to be getting a slice of a smaller pie.
Pessisism about the ability of ethanol production to replace even a fraction of our oil/gasoline consumption is a strong reminder:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060710/ap_on_sc/ethanol;_ylt=Ao0ZiwNVdWErZntXPuXH8loPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM- Study: Ethanol won't solve energy problems
Ethanol is far from a cure-all for the nation's energy problems. It's not as environmentally friendly as some supporters claim and would supply only 12 percent of U.S. motoring fuel — even if every acre of corn were used.
Thoughtful people, when faced by reduced resources, will offer plans of sharing resources fairly. On the other hand capitalistic forces will say the market works best and we ought to let the world bid up energy prices as much as it takes to arrest unacceptable demand. Or in otherwords, someone's going to get screwed, but it's not going to be the rich!
I tend to think the conflict between wealth-interests and representative democracy will become the breaking point after which democracy will either lose, or become even more than now, just a word used to make people think they have a say in the dicisions being made for them.
I was thinking last night, seeing thee $2.97/gallon gas signs (while biking home from work), wondering what sellers ought to do. If I pay $1000 for a tanker to fill my station tanks, and I know the NEXT shipment will cost $2000 because of an energy scare, do I kindly keep my prices fixed until the next load comes in, or do I raise prices in anticipation? If I raise prices I'm "price-gouging", and if I don't, I might end up with empty tanks for a week until my next shipment comes in.
It is funny how competition is GOOD when there's a surplus, and BAD when there's shortages.
Anyway, I have to think shortages will come, even if short term. I mean we have the Strategic oil reserve, you know like 3 months of consumption, and longer when we're only replacing a fraction in a crisis, but you gotta know prices will go up no matter what, UNTIL we get a clue and find a fuel we can depend on without dictators and kings as our suppliers.
It sounds like electricity is now cheaper energy than oil, so I'd have to expect transportation will fast or slow move towards electricity, which means those prices will sooner or later catch up to gasoline and oil.
As much as I don't want the worst to happen, I am basically impatient for it. The sooner we hit reality, the sooner we can change directions. Even if reality means no more cheap transportation and a reduced global trade. Let's get it done, whatever we need!
Pessisism about the ability of ethanol production to replace even a fraction of our oil/gasoline consumption is a strong reminder:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060710/ap_on_sc/ethanol;_ylt=Ao0ZiwNVdWErZntXPuXH8loPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM- Study: Ethanol won't solve energy problems
Ethanol is far from a cure-all for the nation's energy problems. It's not as environmentally friendly as some supporters claim and would supply only 12 percent of U.S. motoring fuel — even if every acre of corn were used.
Thoughtful people, when faced by reduced resources, will offer plans of sharing resources fairly. On the other hand capitalistic forces will say the market works best and we ought to let the world bid up energy prices as much as it takes to arrest unacceptable demand. Or in otherwords, someone's going to get screwed, but it's not going to be the rich!
I tend to think the conflict between wealth-interests and representative democracy will become the breaking point after which democracy will either lose, or become even more than now, just a word used to make people think they have a say in the dicisions being made for them.
I was thinking last night, seeing thee $2.97/gallon gas signs (while biking home from work), wondering what sellers ought to do. If I pay $1000 for a tanker to fill my station tanks, and I know the NEXT shipment will cost $2000 because of an energy scare, do I kindly keep my prices fixed until the next load comes in, or do I raise prices in anticipation? If I raise prices I'm "price-gouging", and if I don't, I might end up with empty tanks for a week until my next shipment comes in.
It is funny how competition is GOOD when there's a surplus, and BAD when there's shortages.
Anyway, I have to think shortages will come, even if short term. I mean we have the Strategic oil reserve, you know like 3 months of consumption, and longer when we're only replacing a fraction in a crisis, but you gotta know prices will go up no matter what, UNTIL we get a clue and find a fuel we can depend on without dictators and kings as our suppliers.
It sounds like electricity is now cheaper energy than oil, so I'd have to expect transportation will fast or slow move towards electricity, which means those prices will sooner or later catch up to gasoline and oil.
As much as I don't want the worst to happen, I am basically impatient for it. The sooner we hit reality, the sooner we can change directions. Even if reality means no more cheap transportation and a reduced global trade. Let's get it done, whatever we need!
posted by Ares Olympus at 1:14 PM
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