what if the price of oil declines significantly?

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Permalink Reply by Sandra Kalke on July 23, 2008 at 11:01am

If it does and we have wind and other alternative, clean energy, why do you care? Why do you want to push dependence on oil?

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Permalink Reply by Robert D. Jones on July 23, 2008 at 2:04pm

Sandra,

Don't know where you get the concept that I am pushing continued dependence on oil. That is exactly opposite my position. However, realism demands that we have some kind of reasoned strategy to go from where we are now to the point where we are no longer dependent on foreign sources for a critical national resource. Part of that strategy would be, IMHO, use of LPG or CNG as an interim transportation fuel and wind/solar/nuclear to serve in that same capacity until something better comes along.

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Permalink Reply by Brad Joesten on July 23, 2008 at 2:00pm

Oil is limited, we only have a certain amount in the planet. We have to develop ways of making things go without it now or we will surely be in the dark later.

Brad and Tina

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Permalink Reply by Robert D. Jones on July 23, 2008 at 4:20pm

Please see my comments below (page 9) of this thread. I also mentioned them earlier in a response on page 7, if memory serves.

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Permalink Reply by Janis Oney on July 23, 2008 at 2:11pm

My thoughts are the same as they were yesterday. We must stay the course and develope all of our resources sowe are never again to be held hostage to any nation who threathens our way of life . It nausates me to even now seening Congress still fiddling around with this issue like they have done for 30 or more years... They just don't get it, but we the adverage American man/woman on the street sure do!!!

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Permalink Reply by Robert D. Jones on July 23, 2008 at 2:15pm

Then why don't we vote the varmints out? Frankly, I don't think the "average American man/womas really get's it. I think that the average Joe simply votes (if he voes at all) to either help his billfold or to reduce axes.

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Permalink Reply by Robert D. Jones on July 23, 2008 at 4:17pm

Please see my thoughts regarding a different thread written in response to an earlier posting. While I enjoy these discussions, I believe we need to start being proactive in our effort to wean the US away from fossil based fuels and on to other renewable energy sources.

The first step, IMHO, is to convince Congress that they are a major impediment and that they need to act responsibly and soon -- without regard to political party pronouncements -- for the good of the people.

I will be happy to begin that effort and with the help of you folks, maybe we can get something done.

My intent would be to create an open letter to Congress with copies sent to both Obama and McCain asking (demanding) that they come up with an energy strategy that will provide short, medium, and long term resolution of our dependence on foreign powers for a critical national resource.

How do you all feel?

Bob Jones
Houston, Texas

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Permalink Reply by Robert D. Jones on July 23, 2008 at 4:46pm

Thanks Larry,

We'll see what others say over the next day or so.

Hopefully, we will get enough folks on-board to provide a pretty extensive knowledge base. We will need it as we combine our thoughts effectively enough to cause change. Assuming there is a good response (and maybe even if not) I'll start a new thread asking folks to answer several questions regarding what the plan should contain and how best to address the issues facing all of us.

My background (resume on request) causes me to approach the problem in the following manner.

Decide where we want to be 2, 5, 10, 25 years in the future. That becomes a set of near, interim, and far-term goals.

Develop a strategy for each level leading to the final result -- thus each level builds on the earlier work and little or nothing is lost. (It also allows progress to be measured, risks assessed, and corrective action to be taken in a timely manner.)

Clearly define the elements associated with each step and how they work together... there has to be a beginning set of circumstances -- think of it as input conditions, a clear description of what we must do, and a clear statement of the conditions that will exist as we exit one step and enter the next. Obviously, the entry level for step two is the exit criteria for step 1, and so forth. I think the step-by-step approach is mandatory for a lot of reasons. Not the least of which is the fact that we are trying to do something effective with a house that works on a two-year cycle, a senate that operates on a six-year cycle, and an executive that operates on a four/eight year cycle.

We have to be able to show progress to each in order that they have something good to show their voters for what is actually a couple of decades worth of investment and work. That is the only way we can garner and keep their support.

So much for a starting position. As I said before, we will see what others think about that kind of approach.

Bob Jones
Houston, Texas

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Permalink Reply by Robert D. Jones on July 23, 2008 at 7:25pm

Evening Larry,

Who knows. What I mentioned was a starting point. I'm not particularly hard-over for any set of numbers. Mine was based on the election schedule and the knowledge that you have very little success getting effective funding of long-term activities. And, even if you do, there is a tendency of promised funding levels to slip away under the immediate pressures of the current legislative session.

How about picking a schedule and taking a crack at what our goals for each segment should be... We will eventually have to do that and then write a set of statements that capture what we are trying to do in plain English -- so we can explain it to the people.

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Permalink Reply by John Denman on July 23, 2008 at 4:51pm

About the only way oil will drop below $100 a barrel is after the next world war.

China and india represent 1/3 of the entire world population. Five years ago few people had cars, and fewer were wanting to own one. Today each of those countries have about 5 times the number of registered motor vehicles and the growth rate is increasing fast. China isn't "hoarding" fuel, they're burning it. Same for India. And they aren't alone. Australia, Africa, South America, Indonesia, and Europe are all burning more oil.

I've been to China and India several times over the last few years and the growth is phenominal. Scarey. The US is no longer the 800Lb gorilla. Americans tend to believe they're "entitled" to cheap oil and thats what got us in this mess to begin with.

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Permalink Reply by Robert M. Flick Jr, on July 23, 2008 at 8:12pm

I know what you are saying and I guess only time will tell what will happen. As of now there is about 80 thousand people on the wagon here really thinking about making changes in their energy uses and most of them will drop this as soon as they get use to paying the price. I know we didn't learn anything in the past or do much back in the 70's or everytime since when gas took a giant leap in price. People just kind of cry a lot , say they are going to do something and make big changes and then finally dig a little deeper in their pockets and pay for it and soon forget about it until the next time it happens. I am kind of thinking that $4.00 a gallon is the magic button for change right now and as soon as people get use to $4.00 a gallon people will do just like in the past and just move on with their live and forget about it until it happens again. As always there will be a few of us that are tired of the every next time and will keep active on alternative energy but I think the biggest part of people will soon just pay and forget about it.

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Permalink Reply by Robert D. Jones on July 24, 2008 at 9:52am

Robert,

My experience is pretty much the same as yours -- and that's why I am kind of embarking on this crusade to wean us from our reliance on foreign sources for fuel.

I don't think we are at any real pressure point yet for the general population. People are griping about the cost at the pump, but they are (for the most part) still driving. While they may be making some relatively minor changes in driving habits, the changes are such that as soon as there is any relief (or the price has been accommodated in some fashion) the furor will die down and old habits will return.

Without the people, we will have no leverage on the politicians. Without the politicians at least getting out of the way, we will have zero progress.

If you will glance back through this thread, you will see what I propose we all do to make sure that doesn't happen.

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