Maybe it's time to Nationalize Oil (Caribou, Lincoln: credit, lawyer, job)

[CreditWitch]

Originally Posted by knightjohannes

I think the fact that Texas has surpassed all other states in production of Wind generated power is telling.

$.02

(/soapbox)

Good ideas but Mars Hill would disagree. We will need to be responsible with where we put these beasts.

[shadowfax1997]

Lots of good points made thus far, although i completely disagree with blaming it so much on president bush.

IMHO - do not nationalize oil. Keep the free market.

Supply and demand. Demand is WAY up, so price goes up. We either development more oil, change to another power source, or use less. The easiest and quickest answer is to use less. How many people here have SUV's? How many need them? My closest friend runs around in an suv, and is single and has absolutely no need for one.

China - 1.3 billion people - United States - 300 million. The top 20% brightest/smartest in china is the same population as the entire united states. Now thats a little scary. They are starting to embrace capitalism, and people are moving into middle class, thus demanding more.

We need to develop alternative power - hydro (stop taking out the dams ), wind, solar and nuclear. ALso create more incentives to install/buy energy systems that rely less on oil. I would love to install solar water heater on my roof, but at $15K - i don't think so unless there is a larger incentive.

[rossco17]

Originally Posted by CreditWitch

Bill Gates can take the billions he made off of us and start a bio fuel dynasty.

Boy do i get tired of people asking Bill Gates to fix the world's problems with his money. Ignoring the fact that he has done an incredible amount in global health care, isn't hoping and waiting for someone else to fix it one reason we are where we are?

BTW, Molly - simply an amazing post.

[CreditWitch]

Originally Posted by rossco17

Boy do i get tired of people asking Bill Gates to fix the world's problems with his money. Ignoring the fact that he has done an incredible amount in global health care, isn't hoping and waiting for someone else to fix it one reason we are where we are?

BTW, Molly - simply an amazing post.

I think I offered enough choises besides Bill Gates. I was being snide in my comment as I too see many turn to Bill. But we can go that route. Bill was smart enough to make billions maybe he can be smart enough to offer viable economic suggestions. I did not ignore his health care work as we are discussing oil. I do think he would a be a good source to turn to as a mentor and council to help the people fix our oil dependancy.

[joeymc]

Originally Posted by shadowfax1997

Lots of good points made thus far, although i completely disagree with blaming it so much on president bush.

IMHO - do not nationalize oil. Keep the free market.

Supply and demand. Demand is WAY up, so price goes up. We either development more oil, change to another power source, or use less. The easiest and quickest answer is to use less. How many people here have SUV's? How many need them? My closest friend runs around in an suv, and is single and has absolutely no need for one.

China - 1.3 billion people - United States - 300 million. The top 20% brightest/smartest in china is the same population as the entire united states. Now thats a little scary. They are starting to embrace capitalism, and people are moving into middle class, thus demanding more.

We need to develop alternative power - hydro (stop taking out the dams ), wind, solar and nuclear. ALso create more incentives to install/buy energy systems that rely less on oil. I would love to install solar water heater on my roof, but at $15K - i don't think so unless there is a larger incentive.

many good points made and we need to develope as many alternative energy fields as we can. for every drop of oil we save now will gain us time until the newer energy sources are made efficent enough to support our needs.

[grimstuff]

Oil is already nationalized. One of the biggest oil families runs the country, and the industry recieves some of the largest subsidies of any industry.

[CreditWitch]

Originally Posted by grimstuff

Oil is already nationalized. One of the biggest oil families runs the country, and the industry recieves some of the largest subsidies of any industry.

WOOT! You got a Rep out of that one from me.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by CreditWitch

I think I offered enough choises besides Bill Gates. I was being snide in my comment as I too see many turn to Bill. But we can go that route. Bill was smart enough to make billions maybe he can be smart enough to offer viable economic suggestions. I did not ignore his health care work as we are discussing oil. I do think he would a be a good source to turn to as a mentor and council to help the people fix our oil dependancy.

I agree with you about Bill Gates. If there was a viable alternative to oil consumption ,a new technology like Fuel Cells, or Magnetic Motors that could, with the right guidance become a major source for energy, someone like Gates would be all over it. There is money waiting for the next big energy idea to come along. There are alternatives coming but they will be slow in replacing embedded infrastructure. Perhaps the government could put together a Manhattan Project style of think tank and development to come up with the next big energy source. No one seems to want a wind farm in the back yard, you would have to plant corn on 95% of the open land in the country to make enough methanol to replace gasoline, Solar is not a vaible alternative in the higher latitudes or places plagued by overcast skies,nuclear power sends many folks off the deep end even thinking about it, tidal power is great as long as it isn't blocking your view,dams keep fish from spawning. I'm convinced there will be a breakthrough technology very soon. It will be simple and cheap. It will most likely involve making your own electricity. A home sized powerplant if you will. Pipe dream....Perhaps. Like a carriage without a horse once was.

The responses to this thread so far have been just as I expected from you people GREAT! This forum is unique as has been mentioned from the many visitors from other States. We seem to be able to debate points and make suggestions without name calling and arrow slinging. Do you know how rare that is in society today? I wish Congress could do the same.

[flycessna]

Could you imagine a world with out oil???????? roads, tires, plastic, MEDICINE, Lubricants, diapers, ............and the list goes on and on and on.

I do not like putting $50 into my car every week any more than anyone else..........but why is it every time people think their life is getting a little hard......that government intervention can somehow save them........Our standard of living here is one of the highest in the world.........for all this talk about health care reform.......we have pretty darn good health care.......and its already free......anyone of you can walk into CMMC here in Lewiston and they cannot refuse treatment. A close friend of mine has had 2 bypass surgeries.....is on medication.....and has no job..and no disability.

Sorry about being off topic. We can debate about our quality of life here in Maine compared with other states. But can we really compare life here in the United States overall to countries overseas. What ever the inner workings of a mass plan to control OIL are......bringing down the costs of oil will only force increase consumption and further our dependency. $3 $4 for a price of gas.............has any one filled up their car in Canada or Europe in the last 5 years.......it was over $4 years ago and is now. Other than OIL producing countries......I cannot think of anywhere where gas is cheaper then here.

I've said it before..........are we so liberal now that we have such a disdain for business and a free economy........want to end the oil dilemma and global warming catastrophe....want to end pollution.....tell our children to stop majoring in LAW, stop depending on a good government job or aspiring to work for a non profit and get a education in science......engineering.......electronics....ect. go out and invent.......lets cultivate scientists and inventors.......free thinkers. INDA...CHINA.....Japan...are all producing a highly educated and technical workforce while we produce lawyers

Sorry I offended anyone......but that’s my rant for the day

[Coaster]

Nationalize what? The oil industry is international. The price of a barrel of oil is set on the international market. The only reason gasoline prices in the United States are so low (that's right -- low) is the free market model. If anyone wants to see prices go through the roof, start regulating fuel supplies through rationing.

I am beyond impressed at the quality of replies to this thread. I've followed the global petroleum situation for more than 30 years, and in all that time, in all the forums, conferences, seminars and meetings I've visited or participated in, this thread and you folks have shown more understanding and common sense than 95 percent of them.

There are no easy answers, nor is there one big solution. As noted, conservation is one key element. Europe uses half the energy per capita that the US does, and they do pretty well over there. I have a lot of hope for wind and tidal and solar, if the NIMBYs can be overcome.

My greatest fear is that the energy crunch will arrive -- is arriving -- so quickly that we won't have time to transition to alternatives and still maintain our current standard of living.