New USA Energy Policy

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello,

Here's a very good article from the Christian Science Monitor, on what the new USA energy policy looks to be:

A closer look at Obama’s energy plan

[Doofus McFancypants]

All the political crap asside - we probably ALL agree something does need to change with Energy Policy. There was alot of talk - time to see what action comes of it.

[trebuchet03]

I wonder how the 15b research money will be spent.... 1b each to 15 big players? Application and grant system? Combination?

[jamesqf]

From the article: "...American taxpayers will each get a $500 rebate check – funded by a windfall profits taxes on big oil companies..."

I don't suppose many people bother to read history these days, but it reminds me of the latter days of the Roman Empire, when one of the first things a new Emperor did after seizing the throne was to give money to the Praetortian Guard and the rest of the army, and more bread & circuses for the masses.

[some_other_dave]

Heh... James, I've been hearing comparisons like that for as long as I can remember. (And, dude, I can remember most of the 70s and even some of the 80s! ) Bread and circuses, we're in the Decline of Western Civilization, everything is doomed to fall into barbarism. Well, we've escaped that fate so far, and I have no reason to assume that we won't figure out how to keep muddling our way through our current problems.

Of course, I did grow up in a house full of Classics professors and their friends.

-soD

[Big Dave]

His energy plan turns me off everytime they say "tax." "Tax" (cap-and-trade is a huge tax) just means it costs me more.

[Duffman]

If a tax can help reduce that 700 billion you bleed out of your economy every year, then a tax is just what you need.

[Big Dave]

How would a tax stop the bleeding. A tax is just more bleeding.

You get the alternatives in place. That's how you stop the bleeding.

[Duffman]

A tax curbs demand, the problem is your demand is multiples greater than your supply.

100% of the money generated by a tax stays in the country. Around 70% (off the top of my head) of the $$ spent on oil leaves the country.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by some_other_dave

Bread and circuses, we're in the Decline of Western Civilization, everything is doomed to fall into barbarism. Well, we've escaped that fate so far...

Oh? I don't think you've been paying attention :-)