Talking Points For An Energy Crisis

The Nation: In The Face Of The Oil-Price Crisis, America Had Better Come Up With A Plan

(The Nation)  This column was written by Nicholas Von Hoffman.

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Airlines are cutting back on water for plane toilets to save weight and fuel. They had better come up with a better business plan than that. And in the face of the burgeoning oil-price crisis, America had better come up with a plan as well.

Single-issue fixes -- like John McCain's plan to grant consumers a summertime gas-tax holiday, or Barack Obama's proposal for a windfall profits tax on oil companies -- just won't do it. America needs a comprehensive plan to deal with post-peak oil -- and that is going to involve some serious long-term thinking. To get the thought process going, here's a list of ideas -- some good, some not so good -- about how to address political, technological and social dimensions of the planet's most pressing issue.

Rationing

The United States rationed energy during World War II and, though there was the inevitable black market, it worked. People will hate it, but the only fair way for rich and poor to have equal access to a dwindling resource is to give each citizen an equal allotment. Does any political leader have the courage to suggest this? Does the American public have the fortitude to participate?

The Manhattan Project

Politicians should stop talking about a Manhattan Project for energy. It took two-and-a-half years to design and build the atomic bomb. It will take a much longer to invent, prefect and deploy solutions to our energy problem.

Instead of a giant, government-financed Manhattan Project, money would be better spent on a number of different research efforts. These should not be decided on by lawmakers from states desirous of selling corn or coal. The projects and priorities should be made by disinterested committees of the National Academy of Science, and not the barons of political pork.

Environmental NIMBY-ism

Until science and technology come up with a workable solution to surviving in a post-carbon era, we have to accept some imperfect solutions. Seaside aesthetes in Nantucket and elsewhere who don't like the looks of wind farms on the horizon will have to withdraw their objections. So will people who unequivocably oppose nuclear power, desalinization plants, biofuel or any number of other options in an era of scarce resources.

Environmental NIMBYism has reached the point of self-destructive self-indulgence. Can Americans agree to overcome our selfish objections to new ideas in the interest of resolving our energy dilemma?

Don't Take the Train

Except for a very few special situations, high-speed trains are not going to significantly ease our transportation woes. First, they're energy hogs -- anything that moves at 300 mph will burn fuel inefficiently. Further, those high-speed trains running around Japan and France are the products of strong central government and planning ahead -- years ahead -- something Americans take pride in not doing. Given the lawsuits that inevitably would be filed by residents in affected neighborhoods, a high-speed train could not be built in the United States in less than fifty years.

Subways and light rail vehicles (trolleys) won't work, either. Subways, which are titanically costly to build, cannot be justified except in those few densely populated areas where they can be expected to carry a couple of hundred thousand people an hour. Light rail is less expensive, but still not cheap. And once installed, no rail system's routes can be changed, and so are unresponsive to population shifts.

Take the Bus

All hail the humble bus. The roads it runs on have already been built. Buses come in every size, configuration and degree of comfort, from barebones school bus to limo-luxury. Buses are flexible. Their routes can easily be changed. As new fuels and technologies are perfected, they can provide targeted solutions to a community's changing transportation needs. Buses and shuttles like those already serving airports in many cities are ideal for commuting and useful for shopping, soccer-momming, trips to the doctor and other purposes, thanks to GPS and technology that can deploy them at the least cost, smallest delay and most convenience for their passengers.

Stop the Roller Coaster

Rein in the oil futures market. The panic causing abrupt ups and downs of oil prices may be diminished by new regulations requiring players to put up more dough to get into the game. The country ought not to live in fear of tossing its breakfast every morning when it hears the business news.

Tax Oil

This tax would apply when the price of oil drops below a stipulated number. The tax would be slowly increased over twenty or twenty-five years to prevent us from falling back into our gas-piggish ways when and if oil gets cheap again. An oil tax is the best means of guaranteeing low-mpg cars and low energy houses located for short distance commutes.

This kind of tax will be opposed as a restraint on freedom, social planning, unfair to minorities and unjust to majorities. But it's the right thing to do.

[ubrew12]

www.mopedbus.com

[red1530]

We need more rail use in this country, not less. It is more efficient to use rail to travel between cities than air or car.

[samthetvcat]

---"Stop the Roller Coaster.Rein in the oil futures market. The panic causing abrupt ups and downs of oil prices may be diminished by new regulations requiring players to put up more dough to get into the game. The country ought not to live in fear of tossing its breakfast every morning when it hears the business news."---

I enjoyed this article! This isn''t a long-long-term solution, but apparently Russia''s got a lot of reserves they aren''t able to get up and running in a way that''s profitable because they like still haven''t mastered capitalism yet or something like that. And apparently back when China and India''s demand for oil first started ratcheting up in the early part of the decade Russia was pumping enough to offset this demand, and their development setbacks are part of the reason supply has stagnated while demand has increased . . . I just read a little thingie about that in The Economist, but I don''t know if that''s the full picture because that''s the only place I''ve heard about it.

But if that''s basically true and Russia WERE able to find a way to increase production, then might that help whittle down the supply/demand imbalance? Maybe we could forge a partnership there with Russia or something - economic guidance in exchange for first dibbs or something like that (if that''s what''s really going on - I''m not sure ) . . .

[ubrew12]

"In The Face Of The Oil-Price Crisis, America Had Better Come Up With A Plan"

I thought NOT having a plan WAS our plan. I mean, isn''t that why Cheney met with the oil industry to hash out America''s energy policy in 2001, turning away environmental and energy-efficiency advocates, in a secret series of meetings whose business the Bush administration took to the Supreme Court to prevent the public from seeing?

The plan is no plan, and its been working out great if you''re with the oil industry:

2000: Bush Gang takes over - the oil industry averages $20 billion in profits.
2007: Oil industry averages $120 billion in profit, that''s a 600% increase in 7-years.

[joyous88]

President Carter had the country on a long term plan to energy independence,

It was dismantled by the conservatives and the criminal Reagan,

Since that time the conservatives, through the bush crime family, have done everything that they can to keep big oil big,

The republicon party will obstruct any and all efforts
at comprehensive energy reform, just remember the secret meetings the VP Cheney had with the energy companies, WHY THE SECRET?

Until the american people wake up and reliaze that conservatisism and the greed driven evangelical are the root of the problem, we are doomed

[swtmix]

All hail the humble bus? Apparently you haven''t been keeping up with the news. Transit systems across the country are cutting back on bus routes because they can''t afford the fuel to run them! As diesel prices continue to rise where is the money going to come from to fill all of these buses you want to put on the road?

Yes, light rail is more expensive initially than buses but over the long run, factoring labor costs and fuel prices, they''re more economical.

And yes, they are fixed. That''s what people like about them. A bus stop can be gone tomorrow as many people around the country are finding out. That''s a LOT less likely with a train. And as far as population shifts, if you look at just about every rail system built in the last 20 years, the population does shift - people move closer to the train stations!

[swtmix]

All hail the humble bus? Apparently you haven''t been keeping up with the news. Transit systems across the country are cutting back on bus routes because they can''t afford the fuel to run them! As diesel prices continue to rise where is the money going to come from to fill all of these buses you want to put on the road?

Yes, light rail is more expensive initially than buses but over the long run, factoring labor costs and fuel prices, they''re more economical.

And yes, they are fixed. That''s what people like about them. A bus stop can be gone tomorrow as many people around the country are finding out. That''s a LOT less likely with a train. And as far as population shifts, if you look at just about every rail system built in the last 20 years, the population does shift - people move closer to the train stations!

[swtmix]

All hail the humble bus? Apparently you haven''t been keeping up with the news. Transit systems across the country are cutting back on bus routes because they can''t afford the fuel to run them! As diesel prices continue to rise where is the money going to come from to fill all of these buses you want to put on the road?

Yes, light rail is more expensive initially than buses but over the long run, factoring labor costs and fuel prices, they''re more economical.

And yes, they are fixed. That''s what people like about them. A bus stop can be gone tomorrow as many people around the country are finding out. That''s a LOT less likely with a train. And as far as population shifts, if you look at just about every rail system built in the last 20 years, the population does shift - people move closer to the train stations!

[ubrew12]

www.mopedbus.com

[ruralpawn]

I notice that,as usual, the stock photo with this article shows no houses under the wind turbines. Picture an ordinary 1500-sq.ft.ranch house under those turbines, and tell me you would ever choose to buy that house.
If I am "selfish" not to want to risk 25% or more of the value of my home, our major security for retirement, for the drop in the bucket of our national electricity needs that wind power can provide,while the developers make millions in tax credits, just what are YOU willing to sacrifice 25% of the value of YOUR home for, Mr. Von Hoffman?

[truthislife1]

The only energy crisis is the lack of energy the American Government uses to get our own oil in our own country. Duh

[ubrew12]

ruralpawn said: "If I am "selfish" not to want to risk 25% or more of the value of my home... for the drop in the bucket of our national electricity needs that wind power can provide"

Not every wind turbine has to be parked over your house.

[nojoy01]

"All hail the humble bus" H-m-m-m Apparently the author has never stood in 10 Degree (F) weather with a minus 15 Degree wind chill waiting for the "humble bus" to get to the bus stop so you can spend an hour, switch buses once or twice (which means standing out in the aforementioned weather) and finally travel the 5 or 10 miles to get to work. Either very early or somewhat late, depending on the schedule & delays in route. And don''t even try to use the bus schedule to time your wait at the bus stop. Those seem to be as accurate as a two week weather forecast. And if you "miss your bus" you''re standing out in whatever kind of weather there is for 20 to 40 minutes more. You can''t leave cause the "next bus" might be really early. Anybody ever done a study on the man hours lost using the bus vs private transportation?

[nojoy01]

Wind Turbines? Electricity for home useage is generated by Coal, Natural Gas, & Nuclear Power. How is a wind turbine going to get me to work with out using "fossil fuel" (crude oil)? Oh, an electric car. Somebody design an electric car/or "humble bus" that can run for 125 miles a day & do it while running a heater/air conditioner, defogger, windshield wipers (not to mention a radio) & do it in the 2hrs +/- It takes me now, and I''ll buy it. Assuming I can find somebody to loan me that kind of money :)

[closethippy1]

In this time of crisis, we need the Best.
We need Experience. We need Hillary and Bill.
We can''''t afford to take a chance on someone who still needs training wheels on his bike.
We can still have Hillary.
Posted by JTait2 at 09:07 PM : Jul 04, 2008

Oh, shut up. Just shut the f'' up, you freaking sore loser.
You got to be an i.diot to think that any one person is the answer to our problems.
It''s all about team work. So just shut up and go with the flow.

[dickyounger]

As regards rationing. Rationing would require hiring even more federal government employees just to administer the program. Just what we need, more civil servants, whom you will have to employ for life. The savings in gas would be eaten up by salaries and pensions!

[dickyounger]

As regards rationing. Rationing would require hiring even more federal government employees just to administer the program. Just what we need, more civil servants, whom you will have to employ for life. The savings in gas would be eaten up by salaries and pensions!

[cjwirth]

This is a good article, but we can''t conserve our way out of this energy crisis. Global oil production is now declining, from 85 million barrels per day to 60 million barrels per day by 2015. At the same time demand will increase 14%. This is like a 45% drop in 7 years. No one can reverse this trend, nor can we conserve our way out of this catastrophe. Because the demand for oil is so high, it will always be higher than production; thus the depletion rate will continue until all recoverable oil is extracted. We are facing the collapse of the highways that depend on diesel trucks for maintenance of bridges, cleaning culverts to avoid road washouts, snow plowing, roadbed and surface repair. When the highways fail, so will the power grid, as highways carry the parts, transformers, steel for pylons, and high tension cables, all from far away. With the highways out, there will be no food coming in from "outside," and without the power grid virtually nothing works, including home heating, pumping of gasoline and diesel, airports, communications, and automated systems. This is documented in a free 45 page report that can be downloaded, website posted, distributed, and emailed: http://www.peakoilassociates.com/POAnalysis.html

[cjwirth]

This is a good article, but we can''t conserve our way out of this energy crisis. Global oil production is now declining, from 85 million barrels per day to 60 million barrels per day by 2015. At the same time demand will increase 14%. This is like a 45% drop in 7 years. No one can reverse this trend, nor can we conserve our way out of this catastrophe. Because the demand for oil is so high, it will always be higher than production; thus the depletion rate will continue until all recoverable oil is extracted. We are facing the collapse of the highways that depend on diesel trucks for maintenance of bridges, cleaning culverts to avoid road washouts, snow plowing, roadbed and surface repair. When the highways fail, so will the power grid, as highways carry the parts, transformers, steel for pylons, and high tension cables, all from far away. With the highways out, there will be no food coming in from "outside," and without the power grid virtually nothing works, including home heating, pumping of gasoline and diesel, airports, communications, and automated systems. This is documented in a free 45 page report that can be downloaded, website posted, distributed, and emailed. For repost Internet search: clifford wirth peak oil

[cjwirth]

This is a good article, but we can''t conserve our way out of this energy crisis. Global oil production is now declining, from 85 million barrels per day to 60 million barrels per day by 2015. At the same time demand will increase 14%. This is like a 45% drop in 7 years. No one can reverse this trend, nor can we conserve our way out of this catastrophe. Because the demand for oil is so high, it will always be higher than production; thus the depletion rate will continue until all recoverable oil is extracted. This is documented in a free 45 page report that can be downloaded, website posted, distributed, and emailed. For repost Internet search: clifford wirth peak oil

[joyous88]

I see that the oil companies that own the republicon noise machine are hard at work here, spreading LIES,

OIL is dead, the republicon wars are lost, it is time for a change

[cjwirth]

This is a good article, but we can''t conserve our way out of this energy crisis. Global oil production is now declining, from 85 million barrels per day to 60 million barrels per day by 2015. At the same time demand will increase 14%. This is like a 45% drop in 7 years. No one can reverse this trend, nor can we conserve our way out of this catastrophe. Because the demand for oil is so high, it will always be higher than production; thus the depletion rate will continue until all recoverable oil is extracted. This is documented in a free 45 page report that can be downloaded, website posted, distributed, and emailed. For repost Internet search: clifford wirth peak oil

[jon2012-2009]

This is a good article, but we can''''t conserve our way out of this energy crisis. Global oil production is now declining, from 85 million barrels per day to 60 million barrels per day by 2015. At the same time demand will increase 14%.
Posted by cjwirth at 10:33 AM : Jul 05, 2008

The high cost of oil will inevitably cut consumption and demand as consumers will find a way to do without. They won''t have a choice if they can''t afford the price of gas. And renewables will be more competitive and take up some of the slack. A culture that has glorified the personal automobile will slowly slide into history. Even commercial aviation will change. But look on the bright side. The end of the era of cheap energy may slow population growth and even reverse it.

[sparks224]

Oil is the enemy.

We need to stop purchasing gasoline as quickly as possible.

Freeway speed electric cars will allow us to do that.

http://www.afstrinity.com/

http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/news-and-events/index.php

[wanbleeman]

I just don''t get it'' The U.S. once had the best rail passinger system in the world until we started to dismandle it. Passinger trains can''t make an profit, but they are needed and people will ride them if given a choice. We need to rebuild our total transportation system, It not working. For many communities rail is the only transportation for most to get anywhere. We can change way of thinking. It is going to take some hard choices to get out of this mess we find ourselves in, and never underestimate the will and understanding of American''s for change, if it is explained to them, when we have honest and straight talking leaders. There is going to pain for sure, but there is no growth with pain, but not doing anything is way far wrose. Every one is going to have to do something, people, industory, corparations, rich and poor. We are all in this togehter and it is going to take us all to work together to make us free from oil and other things which inslave us as a nation. Only the truth will help us now and I believe that we can do it, It only take the collective will and it has been proven in the past that Americans can make changes, if only our leaders be honest and a plan is set forth. The fulture is in our hands and we will do it. I have faith in our everyday people, and nothing should be taking off the table in finding soluctions. I will do my part, if it will help all of us. Thank you.

[atheismwins]

Report is out that biofuels greatly increase food costs, KILLING PEOPLE.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=5309161

A vote for the Dems KILLS PEOPLE.

[whitemale08]

There is no "post peak-oil" crisis.

This is the same garbage they media tried to pull back in the 70''s.

The problem is that our Federal Reserve Notes are worthless plain and simple.

Now I agree that we should go to alternative energy for environmental reasons but tell the truth.

Don''t give us this hooey about "post peak-oil" nonsense.

[atheismwins]

There is no "post peak-oil" crisis.
Posted by whitemale08 at 07:53 PM : Jul 05, 2008
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Lefty CBS admits it. The Saudis ain''t producing any more. This is going to be SO ENTERTAINING watching the Dems try to fight this one off.

WORLD: People are dying!!!!!
Dems: We want to win an election.
WORLD: Do you think you are going to win by killing people?
Dems: We''ll stack the lies to the moon.
Reps: We''re gonna expose some lies.
Dems: We''ll lie some more.
Reps: We''ll expose some more.
Dems: We''ll lie some more.
American people: We don''t believe in killing people.

[ubrew12]

AtheismWins said: "biofuels greatly increase food costs, KILLING PEOPLE...A vote for the Dems KILLS PEOPLE."

Ethanol is not a Dem-only problem. The greatest injustice in America today is the ability of banks and corporations to bribe-yes, that''s the right word-our elected officials in return for trillions of dollars of value creation to their shareholders in sleazy mortgage regulation, phony ethanol programs, high energy prices, costly pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and wars that only seem to profit the defense industry. Ethanol, healthcare and the mortgage crisis are just symptoms of a much bigger problem of trying to constrain lobbying, which will continue to fester until the American people conclude they have had enough and just won%u2019t take it anymore.

[atheismwins]

AtheismWins said: "biofuels greatly increase food costs, KILLING PEOPLE...A vote for the Dems KILLS PEOPLE."

Ethanol is not a Dem-only problem. The greatest injustice in America today is the ability of banks and corporations to bribe-yes, that''''s the right word-our elected officials in return for trillions of dollars of value creation to their shareholders in sleazy mortgage regulation, phony ethanol programs, high energy prices, costly pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and wars that only seem to profit the defense industry. Ethanol, healthcare and the mortgage crisis are just symptoms of a much bigger problem of trying to constrain lobbying, which will continue to fester until the American people conclude they have had enough and just won%u2019t take it anymore.
Posted by ubrew12 at 08:52 PM : Jul 05, 2008
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If both our parties begin to support killing people, I may have to run for office. Right now, it is only the Dems. Dems ripping food out of the bellies of poor people.

[omega39-2009]

A vote for the Dems KILLS PEOPLE.

Posted by AtheismWins at 06:33 PM :

California tried to get an ethanol waver and all Bush could see was the farm vote in the Midwest, you just keep chanting your Dems bad-Reps good nonsense though.

[atheismwins]

A vote for the Dems KILLS PEOPLE.

Posted by AtheismWins at 06:33 PM :

California tried to get an ethanol waver and all Bush could see was the farm vote in the Midwest, you just keep chanting your Dems bad-Reps good nonsense though.
Posted by omega39 at 10:37 PM : Jul 05, 2008
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It''s a clear-cut issue. This is easy.

[ioweign]

Right now, it is only the Dems. Dems ripping food out of the bellies of poor people.

Posted by AtheismWins at 08:56 PM : Jul 05, 2008



It was not the Democrats that created "Ketchupgate"...

And here is a good one...
The Bush prescription: Cut food stamps

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle that the government was going to take away some of her food stamps if she opted into the plan. The Bush administration assured Daschle that the concern was unfounded . Medicare chief Mark McClellan told Daschle: "New benefits . . . cannot take away any existing federal benefits." Bush''s Department of Agriculture, which runs the food stamp program, followed up with a memorandum to its regional directors saying that it would ensure that "no food stamp applicant or participant who uses the drug discount card will lose food stamp benefits."

It turns out that wasn''t, you know, "true."

[ioweign]

Right now, it is only the Dems. Dems ripping food out of the bellies of poor people.

Posted by AtheismWins at 08:56 PM : Jul 05, 2008
###

And here is another...
July 17, 2007
Punishing Food Stamp Program Success: The Bush Administration''s Farm Bill would reverse Oregon%u2019s progress against hunger

by Michael Leachman and Janet Bauer

The Bush Administration has proposed eliminating $543 million in food stamp benefits for about 329,000 low-income Americans over the next five years. The Agriculture Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives may soon vote on this proposal as an amendment to the 2007 Farm Bill.

Oregonians would suffer a larger share of the reductions than most states. Under the Administration%u2019s plan, a minimum of approximately 41,530 low-income Oregonians, including about 17,000 children, would lose food stamp benefits. While Oregonians comprise less than two percent of the national food stamp program caseload, Oregonians losing food stamp benefits would equal about 13 percent of the total number of people nationwide who would be cut

[magoo2u1]

Rationing? Get real, we don''t need to divert gas to the "war" effort as we did in WWII. The rationing was in place so the oil,butter,metal rubber etc.... could be diverted not because of it''s price. So just ration everything to ensure its fair distribution. What nonsense. Almost as stupid as all this Rep/Dem *** you people distract yourselves with. You better start concerning yourselves with what is good for all and not just your own side.

[jon2012-2009]

If both our parties begin to support killing people, I may have to run for office. Right now, it is only the Dems. Dems ripping food out of the bellies of poor people.
Posted by AtheismWins at 08:56 PM : Jul 05, 2008

Your views put atheism in a bad light even though they have nothing to do with atheism but everything to do with promoting the Republicans. Can''t you fight for your cause with facts alone? You get paid by the line here?

[jon2012-2009]

A vote for the Dems KILLS PEOPLE.
Posted by AtheismWins at 06:33 PM

I haven''t seen that in the news. Any names you can give us? A vote for the Republicans has killed more than 4,000 Americans with tens of thousands injured and suffering PTSD, with hundreds of billions in associated costs projected to run into the trillions.