Evil companies that aren't WalMart

[mike_v_s]

Assuming that we phase out fossil fuels in favor of solar, nuclear, geothermal, wind, water and other alternatives, does that necessarily mean the companies that sell these energy sources are evil when they begin making billions of dollars a year?

I can see this same conversation taking place 40 years from now:
"The electric companies are screwing us with solar power rates."
"The biofuels industry is conspiring with the transportation industry to kill new technology."
"Massive wind farms are ruining the environment and impacting wildlife."
"Nuclear power can never be made safe, no matter what the technology."

This is damn near clairvoyant. There will always be a bogeyman.

Mike

 

[Horny Toad]

If Big Oil were so hell bent on crushing this....why is the Prius here and selling better than ever? Hell, people at my office drive them.

Well...... http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hybrid17-2009mar17,0,6682265.story


I'm not suggesting that "Big Oil" is crushing the Prius. The article affirms other arguments you've made - that the market dictates what will be successful. That's the way it's always been. IMO, that's the way it should be. Why drive a weeniemobile if you don't have to?

 

[DudeistMonk]

Assuming that we phase out fossil fuels in favor of solar, nuclear, geothermal, wind, water and other alternatives, does that necessarily mean the companies that sell these energy sources are evil when they begin making billions of dollars a year?

I can see this same conversation taking place 40 years from now:
"The electric companies are screwing us with solar power rates."
"The biofuels industry is conspiring with the transportation industry to kill new technology."
"Massive wind farms are ruining the environment and impacting wildlife."
"Nuclear power can never be made safe, no matter what the technology."

Very true...

But I was trying to say we need to localize energy, we need to build sustainable homes, with solar power, ground based heat, low power everything...and we need to supplement the transition with the non fossil fuel energy sources we have.

Also corn ethanol is not a solution, its another problem...We are farming the land to death already and chemical fertilizers are destroying our water supply, lack of trees is reducing our O2 supply and causing massive soil loss to runoff.

 

[CapnSev]

Insurance, utilities, oil and banks are my biggest gripes.

Every one of them takes you for a ride IMO.

 

[hbarcat]

Very true...

But I was trying to say we need to localize energy, we need to build sustainable homes, with solar power, ground based heat, low power everything...and we need to supplement the transition with the non fossil fuel energy sources we have.

There is a proposal to build a wind power facility near where my folks live. The area is all farmlands for miles around. But it won't happen, becuase there is too much opposition to it from those saying the footprint is huge, the amount of electricity generated is too small, it kills birds, it ruins local property values.

When the subject of fossil fuels and the evil petroleum industry comes up everyone says "We need to go local." and "We need green alternatives." Until it's time to actually commit to it and then it's all about excuses.

Also corn ethanol is not a solution, its another problem...We are farming the land to death already and chemical fertilizers are destroying our water supply, lack of trees is reducing our O2 supply and causing massive soil loss to runoff.

Same thing, here. Twenty years ago, the idea of alternative feuls became fashionable as a way to break the hold of big oil. By far, the most feasable alternative fuel at the time was ethanol and the easiest way to get lots of it was as a byproduct of corn. Major corn producers suddenly found themselves in the position of having truckloads of money dumped on their heads and they haven't been able to keep up with the demand since then, especially because the demand is purposely subsidized in order to make the transition to alternative fuels faster than the market place would dictate.

Now that it's becoming obvious corn simply isn't cost effective and there are other alternatives that are far more efficient (but weren't available twenty years ago) the public is blaming the corn producers for pushing a bad product on them.

ADM used to be heroes now they are as evil as Exxon.

 

[mike_v_s]

Well...... http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hybrid17-2009mar17,0,6682265.story


I'm not suggesting that "Big Oil" is crushing the Prius. The article affirms other arguments you've made - that the market dictates what will be successful. That's the way it's always been. IMO, that's the way it should be. Why drive a weeniemobile if you don't have to?

Thanks for the fact-check-face slap . I should have guessed, but had no idea that the sales were slumping any more than other cars. To be honest, I thought that the reality of gas prices going up again would have kept that small car trend going longer.

Mike

 

[embellisher]

Assuming that we phase out fossil fuels in favor of solar, nuclear, geothermal, wind, water and other alternatives, does that necessarily mean the companies that sell these energy sources are evil when they begin making billions of dollars a year?

Of course. Anybody making more money than me is evil.

I can see this same conversation taking place 40 years from now:
"The electric companies are screwing us with solar power rates."
"The biofuels industry is conspiring with the transportation industry to kill new technology."
"Massive wind farms are ruining the environment and impacting wildlife."
"Nuclear power can never be made safe, no matter what the technology."

Yep. Same song, different verse.

 

[embellisher]

Also corn ethanol is not a solution, its another problem...We are farming the land to death already and chemical fertilizers are destroying our water supply, lack of trees is reducing our O2 supply and causing massive soil loss to runoff.

Now there is somebody who is evil. The person(s) who really got farmers on the 'grow corn for ethanol' bandwagon. Probably more destructive to the environment than burning straight, unrefined crude, when you count fertilizers, defoliants, pesticides, deforestation, etc.:scowl:

 

[tasty sweeps]

it's simple, it's worked in the past, it will continue to work in the future and nothing can stop it; GROW MORE POT.

as for companies that are not on my greeting card list; ISPs. net neutrality is extremely important and is quickly coming under attack. that market is far from free or competitive. but then again, the internet is an elite operation. the majority of the world's population has never even made a phone call let alone used a computer.

 

[popinfresh]

it's simple, it's worked in the past, it will continue to work in the future and nothing can stop it; GROW MORE POT.

+1

 

[tasty sweeps]

thanks, popin. where are my tea shades? i can never remember where i put them...

oh, they were on my head.

by the way, i hate TV, too. pretty much all of it. the whole system is so retro. i see people like my brother actively avoiding coming to my house simply because i don't own a tv.

'how do you do it?'
-'do what? not rot my brain? easy. i read books or get movies and a light smattering of entertaining tv programs on my computer.'
'yeah but... what do you do all day?'
-'i just told you that.'
'what about when people come over?'
-'...'

tv's a drug. a harmful drug. can we finally admit this now that technology has given people a slightly different choice in how advertisements and THE MESSAGE are drilled into their skulls?

"o say, can you see. o say, can't you see what's being done to your eyeballs?" -TL

 

[DudeistMonk]

thanks, popin. where are my tea shades? i can never remember where i put them...

oh, they were on my head.

by the way, i hate TV, too. pretty much all of it. the whole system is so retro. i see people like my brother actively avoiding coming to my house simply because i don't own a tv.

'how do you do it?'
-'do what? not rot my brain? easy. i read books or get movies and a light smattering of entertaining tv programs on my computer.'
'yeah but... what do you do all day?'
-'i just told you that.'
'what about when people come over?'
-'...'

tv's a drug. a harmful drug. can we finally admit this now that technology has given people a slightly different choice in how advertisements and THE MESSAGE are drilled into their skulls?

"o say, can you see. o say, can't you see what's being done to your eyeballs?" -TL

"I'm The Slime" is now stuck in my head...

I have a big *** TV but I only watch 5 shows a week on it...other than that its for Halo

 

[IconBasser]

tasty sweeps, we see eye to eye on many things. Your above post is one of them.

 

[R D Maynard]

Disney

BIG +1

 

[Thunderscreech]

I like my Shergold...

It'd work better as firewood. That is the ugliest bass I have ever seen.

 

[IconBasser]

It'd work better as firewood. That is the ugliest bass I have ever seen.

the man speaks truth.

 

[tasty sweeps]

I have a big *** TV but I only watch 5 shows a week on it...other than that its for Halo

i'd love to have a big tv, just not a big heavy bulky thing that takes up room and has a black screen i'd have to put curtains on like harvey crumpet. i've been bouncing the idea around in my brain of how to work a projector and possibly 200" screen into my plans for building a home. but the programming is what gets you- or quite literally programs you in subtle, small ways. i'd like to watch EBN on a screen that large. anyone ever seen that? the 'emergency broadcast network' vids?

tasty sweeps, we see eye to eye on many things. Your above post is one of them.

for real? right on, man, thanks!

 

[vbasscustom]

Long and Macquade. yeah, 8 months for a gig bag to come in, come on guys. some of the places are cool, but the local ones suck!

 

[sarcastro83]

Long and Macquade. yeah, 8 months for a gig bag to come in, come on guys. some of the places are cool, but the local ones suck!

I honestly had to stop going there... everytime I went in, I'd usually leave unsatisfied and annoyed with the lack of assistance and the attitude I'd recieve.

 

[aborgman]

Well, riddle me this. How will you replace all those hydrocarbon based products if we stop using oil. Also, the process by which oil is created is not proven, and oil has been found quite deeper than any fossils. Also, look into the methods by which oil is found. There are signatures of nuclear processes which happen to be happening deep within the Earth. Also, old wells that were considered spent have started producing again.

Hahahahaha...

Yeah, abiotic oil. What a joke.