Re: Samuelson on OIl Drilling

Geo wrote:
> On Apr 30, 4:16 pm, "Sid9" <s...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> > "Larry Hewitt" <larryh...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> > > "John Galt" <whoisjohng...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> > >> <vjp2...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> >
> > >>> It's in our interest to use up everybody else's oil before our
own.
> >
> > >> It's not in our best interest to lower our standard of living in
the
> > >> process, which is what the result will be.
> >
> > > It is, in fact, very easy to _raise_ our standards of living while
> > > reducing oil consumption.
> >
> > > For example, as much as 5% of domestic electric consummption is the
result
> > > of instant on fetures in consumer electronics or consumer
electronics that
> > > are always on (cable modem are surprisingly greedy).
> >
> > > Using existing technology to change this as new electronics are
purchased
> > > would save the average family $12 a month. And at the same time it
would
> > > eliminate the need for 2 or 3 large electric generating plants. Or
the
> > > freed up power could be used to run 200,000 all electric cars.
> >
> > Replace every incandescent lamp with a CFL.....how much will that
save?
> >
> > Solar heat domestic hot war in our southern states...how much will
that
> > save?
> >
> > Restore the pre-Reagan energy saving rules...how much will that save?
> >
> > I'm sure there's a lot more that can be done on the conservation side
> > without reducing our quality of life.
> >
> > We only need the leader****p...we surely do not have it in the
Republicans.
> 
> You know something, if you want to use a CFL, solar heat, or any other
> conservation method go right ahead and do it.  Why on earth, in a free
> society, do you need the govt telling you what kind of lightbulb you
> need?  Really, is there no end to what you think govt should be doing
> for you?

Energy is a strategic resource. And it's subject to outside influences.

 http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gXRLVia5n3ktRrLRs3lKZ2PtopHgD90BMDC80
 Sudden energy crunch forces Juneau to conserve electricity

 JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — First, there was a run on energy-efficient light
bulbs.
 When those ran out, people began asking for lamp oil. But when they
started
 demanding clothespins in this land of mist and rain, it was clear
Alaska's
 capital city was caught in a serious energy crunch.
 ...
 Avalanches earlier this month knocked down transmission lines and cut off
 Juneau's source of low-cost hydroelectric power. Threatened with a
fivefold
 increase in utility bills, Juneau quickly powered down.

 Stores, though open, went partially dark. Neon signs were switched off
and
 vending machines unplugged. At home, residents of this former Gold Rush
town
 began living a little bit like pioneers, dusting the snow off the grill,
 stringing clotheslines in the backyard and flicking off their TV sets.
 Within a week, electrical usage across town was down as much as 30
percent.
 ...
 Energy expert Allen Meier of California's Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory
 is visiting Juneau this week to offer advice on the crisis. He said the
closest
 comparison may be Brazil in 2001, when severe drought gripped the
 hydropower-dependent country. Brazilians were told to reduce their
electricity
 usage by 20 percent or be disconnected.

 "In two months, the whole country cut their demand by 20 percent and they
never
 really returned to the same level of consumption after that," Meier said.

 Eighth-grader Matthew Staley is hoping the people of Juneau will likewise
 develop new habits over the course of three months, and "realize that —
wow — we
 have to keep this up. Like switching to fluorescent lights, they'll just
keep on
 with them." 
 
People have to be dragged kicking and screaming to do the right thing.
Want to waste?
Go ahead so long as you don't impact others.