Comments on: Gas Prices and Fisking http://gfmorris.com/2008/03/26/gas-prices-and-fisking/ The Life and Times of Geof F. Morris Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:03:05 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Geof F. Morris http://gfmorris.com/2008/03/26/gas-prices-and-fisking/comment-page-1/#comment-7036 Geof F. Morris Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:36:53 +0000 http://ijsm.org/archives/2008/03/26/gas-prices-and-fisking/#comment-7036 Yeah, after months of playing nice, the Shi'a factions have decided to fight what they [certainly historically correctly] see as restrictions from a Sunni center in Baghdad [even though al-Maliki and many in his government are Shi'a themselves]. The simplest solution to Iraq seems to be division of the wholly arbitrary British partitioning, but then that throws the whole thing into economic imbalance. No easy answer. Frankly, I think the thing that irks me the most, energy-wise, is that we use a notably scarce resource in this country---fossil fuels---for one of the most important commodities in our economy---electrical power generation. I understand the economics and politics behind it, but it's terribly short-sighted. [Why, yes, I'm all about hydroelectric, geothermal, and nuclear power generation for electricity.] Yeah, after months of playing nice, the Shi’a factions have decided to fight what they [certainly historically correctly] see as restrictions from a Sunni center in Baghdad [even though al-Maliki and many in his government are Shi'a themselves]. The simplest solution to Iraq seems to be division of the wholly arbitrary British partitioning, but then that throws the whole thing into economic imbalance. No easy answer.

Frankly, I think the thing that irks me the most, energy-wise, is that we use a notably scarce resource in this country—fossil fuels—for one of the most important commodities in our economy—electrical power generation. I understand the economics and politics behind it, but it’s terribly short-sighted.

[Why, yes, I'm all about hydroelectric, geothermal, and nuclear power generation for electricity.]

]]> By: Stephen Granade http://gfmorris.com/2008/03/26/gas-prices-and-fisking/comment-page-1/#comment-7035 Stephen Granade Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:23:30 +0000 http://ijsm.org/archives/2008/03/26/gas-prices-and-fisking/#comment-7035 "powering with oil is damn easy" Moreover, oil is very energy-dense compared to other alternatives when you throw in what it takes to find, extract, and refine. "American foreign policy in stirring shit up in the Middle East has everyone worried that oil production in this country or that country could be cut off, which always drives scarcity." C.f. what the Iraqi insurgency's done this week. As <a href="http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2008/03/journal-sadrs-d.html" rel="nofollow">John Robb pointed out right before the insurgents did so</a>, "The Mahdi army has the ability to shut down, indefinitely, all oil production (1.6 m barrels a day) in southern Iraq." “powering with oil is damn easy”

Moreover, oil is very energy-dense compared to other alternatives when you throw in what it takes to find, extract, and refine.

“American foreign policy in stirring shit up in the Middle East has everyone worried that oil production in this country or that country could be cut off, which always drives scarcity.”

C.f. what the Iraqi insurgency’s done this week. As John Robb pointed out right before the insurgents did so, “The Mahdi army has the ability to shut down, indefinitely, all oil production (1.6 m barrels a day) in southern Iraq.”

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://gfmorris.com/2008/03/26/gas-prices-and-fisking/comment-page-1/#comment-7034 Geof F. Morris Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:49:03 +0000 http://ijsm.org/archives/2008/03/26/gas-prices-and-fisking/#comment-7034 Well, the EPA got taken to task about mpg estimates and promised to change things a bit. So I'm hopeful that will improve. Well, the EPA got taken to task about mpg estimates and promised to change things a bit. So I’m hopeful that will improve.

]]> By: Will http://gfmorris.com/2008/03/26/gas-prices-and-fisking/comment-page-1/#comment-7033 Will Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:46:39 +0000 http://ijsm.org/archives/2008/03/26/gas-prices-and-fisking/#comment-7033 If only mileage estimates were calculated on realistic standard, and not how they are. City estimates simulates a 7.5 mile, stop-and-go trip with an average speed of 20 mph. Highway simulates a 10 mile trip and averages 48 mph. Last time I checked, city travel is closer to 35mph and highway is 60mph on average. Hell I average 20 around town in the pony and 28-30 on the highway depending on my foot. But people will continue to whine, completely disregarding the fact that the two most populated countries on the planet are now producing cheap cars for the masses. Ignorance is bliss. If only mileage estimates were calculated on realistic standard, and not how they are. City estimates simulates a 7.5 mile, stop-and-go trip with an average speed of 20 mph. Highway simulates a 10 mile trip and averages 48 mph. Last time I checked, city travel is closer to 35mph and highway is 60mph on average.

Hell I average 20 around town in the pony and 28-30 on the highway depending on my foot.

But people will continue to whine, completely disregarding the fact that the two most populated countries on the planet are now producing cheap cars for the masses.

Ignorance is bliss.

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