Talk politics.

Of course not. Eventually, a workable, viable, and affordable alternative will be developed - most likely by the oil companies - and then we'll gradually switch.

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And you seem to have no idea about what the solution might be?

As for oil companies, why the heck would you have any faith at all that they would simply choose to develop technology that would replace all of their own existing investments, and make it obsolete.

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And you seem to have no idea about what the solution might be?

None. I'm no scientist.

As for oil companies, why the heck would you have any faith at all that they would simply choose to develop technology that would replace all of their own existing investments, and make it obsolete.

Because if they don't, they'll be obsolete.

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Nice. You have simply no idea what magical technology we will move to. You simply ASSUME that the oil companies will eventually produce this unnamed boon at some point.

Well, at least you admit that you know nothing about the issue, and it's to be hoped that you remember your lack of knowledge prior to ever again posting on an energy issue.

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Nice. You have simply no idea what magical technology we will move to. You simply ASSUME that the oil companies will eventually produce this unnamed boon at some point.

Perhaps the future is biofuel. Perhaps we can make water run a car. I don't know, but I know that those who are the ones who provide fuel now will be the ones to lead the way.

Well, at least you admit that you know nothing about the issue, and it's to be hoped that you remember your lack of knowledge prior to ever again posting on an energy issue.

I never said that.

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"Perhaps we can make water run a car."

"I never said that."

You've just completely proved it.

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lol

Yes, I proved that i'm not some bigwig exec who knows what's on the horizon. But I am confident that those bigwig execs do, and will be the ones to lead the way.

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And that you're a complete tool.

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Right right. *eyeroll*

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You're confident of bigwig execs. Wow, I thought you had a brain.

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You should be, too - they've made your life immeasurably better.

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How so?

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You using a computer? You connected to the internet on broadband? Getting your information from books and television? Do you have a vehicle in which to drive? Did you put gas into that car? Did you go to the supermarket to buy any food? How'd it get there?

Etc etc etc.

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How broad is your statement, it is the creative person who came up with how to problem solve all of these things. Not a corporate exec- they just capitalized on it, for stuffing their own pockets

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Uh, no, it's the corporate execs who make this possible.

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ironhawke.livejournal.com

Not that I enjoy agreeing with BDJ, but I think his point is well made. People have been watching this happen in the computer world for at least two decades now. As technology progresses at an increasing rate, there have been examples of many companies resting on their laurels, assuming that "We've got the best out there, nobody can do better," and were bankrupt within a handful of years.

The oil companies are no different, they know that their ability to continue operating the status quo is going to become harder and harder as it becomes more difficult to find accessible forms of oil. (There are trillions of barrels of oil spread all over the globe, but the expense of turning that oil into a profitable business is almost impossible, slate oil is a great example.)

As such, because they'd rather stay in business, they're going to have to develop new methods of sustaining the energy needs of the world, or go bankrupt when someone else does. (Watch all the American car companies over the last two years as reference.)

Although I'm sure BDJ is coming from a "The Free Market Will Save You(tm)" stance, I'm coming from a more pragmatic point of view....adapt or die.

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Adapt or die, the latter for these "execs" sounds good to me, how many countless thousands of wildlife are dying as we speak.

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Your point is fairly made independently of BDJ's statement. I would tend to agree with you. On the other hand, my comments to BDJ are basically snark based on the fact that he is claiming to be completely clueless. I rather suspect that this might be a way for him to answer me without actually supporting any positions that he knows that I battle for. On its face, his stated position of absolute faith in oil execs to solve the problem is silly, and though he has been seen running around using Sarah Palin icons, I really doubt that he is so clueless as he claims. Arguing that he simply doesn't know is probably easier for him than to support the case that the technology is already here, as opposed to some fantasy-future tech that hasn't yet been imagined.

I've actually been operating a large portion of my life on the following assumptions.

1: The Global Energy market is more vast than pretty much anybody imagines, as is the wealth held by various Global Energy Interests.

2: Oil is incredibly versatile in the number of niches it can fill. It will be replaced by a great many technologies (Solar, Wind, Tidal, Biofuel being primary over the long term).

3: There is no Economy without Energy.

4: I DO believe that oil interests are faced with the decision of either get into new tech or die. However, I am quite certain that they are not going to invent much in the process; they'll buy it (and then start directing resources to improvement / R&D). For one thing, the last thing big oil wants is for the whole world to think that the big change is immanent. Once the Big Oil makes a real move on new tech, suddenly the prices of new tech assets skyrocket as everybody starts buying in. Also, it's much harder for Oil Corporations to try to turn their existing expertise and assets towards new tech, than it will be for them to just buy assets that have been developed by others, and then grow it and integrate it.

5. The roots of the primary technologies exist right now, and the path to replacement of fossil fuels over 60 years or so is realistic.

6. Fucking Americans are assholes and fight new tech with great zeal (overgeneralization here). Chinese are not wed to existing fossil interests like Americans, and so they're going to own the future energy market if we Americans don't get off of our asses.

7-10000. I could go on, and BDJ knows it. LOL!

Here's my Solar Blog if you want... http://Americansolareconomy.blogspot.com

The most recent post isn't a very good one, but it's rooted in some fun calculations from way back.. haven't been blogging in quite awhile, but there some good info from over a year ago about what's been going on in China in the Solar area.

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