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Military.com Forums Hot Topics & Current Events Point-Counterpoint "The Stone Age didn't end because we ran out of Stones"|
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Member |
Heard this quote on the radio the other day. I think it was actually made by a guy who served as an advisor to OPEC. Seems he was making a point to the oil producing world, that eventually, they wouldn't be able to rely on the power they have in controlling the worlds oil supply, and they'd better look into expanding what they are doing and not put all their eggs in one basket.
When you think about it, that quote is simple, but profound. The Stone Age ended, not because we "ran out of stones", but because we found a better, more effective way. Let's not kid ourselves. Our addiction to oil has made us weaker as a country. Our president recently had to go, "hat in hand" begging for more oil from countries that would like nothing better than to keep us hooked like a junkie. That's why I firmly believe that the solution is not to produce more oil and risk destroying the natural resources and land that we have. The call for more production is exactly like a heroin junkie who feels the only problem is that "he doesn't have enough drugs to shoot, or veins to pop", or an alcoholic who feels the only problem is that "she doesn't have enough vodka to drink". Make no mistake about it. The solution to our addiction to oil is going to be discovered, produced and profited on by the innovative American people. No! The "Stone Age didn't end because we ran out of Stones". It ended because we found a better way. Isn't it time we do the same, NOW! |
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aka Aco275RGR Banned Member S_S |
Another example: The US is like an addicted junkie who knows, just knows there is another crack rock somewhere in his house...
Either way, the Oil producing Nations are already investing in other forms of capital. For instance the U.A.E continues to build these monstrous, elaborate and impressive tourist resorts because that is what they think will bring them money in the future, not oil.... They are spending BILLIONS(Your money) on their future industry....But hey, lets keep up our addiction to oil, I hear they want to plant their own Rain Forest in their desert so tourist can go on safaris.... |
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I'd rather be knitting. |
Several Gulf countries have caught on to that, and have been investing elsewhere for some time- including buying up American-based companies and real estate.
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15 DAY SUSPENSION 3 JAN 09 |
---------------------- That's bleeping awesome!!  |
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Experienced Member |
Hey! I know! Let's transition from buying mostly offshore oil to trading with our immediate neighbors like Canada or Mexico or at least with countries with whom we will never go to war,... say Norway for instance. That way we could reduce our dependency on Middle Eastern oil to less than 20% of our foreign purchases and be ready to reinvest in other sources of petroleum like oil sands, oil shale or renewable sources when the price goes up.
Oh wait.... we're already doing that, and have been for the last 20-odd years. Sullivan013 |
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Highly Experienced Member |
Why don't we just let our Grand Kids figure a way to get us out of this mess since we can't?
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"Bowlers have BIG balls!"  |
I disagree. Our problem is we let ourselves become too dependent on foreign oil.
  "The World's Finest" |
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Banned by admin |
yup |
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America became a great world power because it could do more with steel and oil than any of the competition... Now we buy all our steel from Japan, Korea and China - and all the oil to fuel our needs from Muslim countries that had just as soon slaughter us - -
No wonder prices are going through the roof on everything and our whole economy is about to go into the tank, taking us all along with it - - Right now, America makes being a kamikaze pilot or a suicide bomber look like long-term occupations - - Wandering and Wondering |
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Experienced Member |
Fear not Obama will change/solve everything!
"You'd better be able to sandpaper a Bobcat's butt in a phone booth if you want some of this. |
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Experienced Member |
Wow.. I never though I'd ever see you write something that sounded reasonable and without any major political jabs.. Bravo to you.. Are you turning a corner? |
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Banned by admin |
yup and i believe this is the part of the war against us by the entire middle east....not just the islamofascist but all of the middle east..after all to them we are a christain nation founded on christain principals regardless if we want to accept it or not they sure do....,.... |
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On Warning 14 Sept 08 20 Days Fin |
"Fear not Obama will change/solve everything!"
Picker, I know you were being sarcastic with this post....but this is what scares me! People will vote for this guy because he says "change". He is "anyone but Bush"! Sheeple are lineing up in droves to profess their allegience to an individual who has done nothing except become a Senator! NurseAttorney said: "That's bleeping awesome!!" What is so "awesome"? His lack of knowledge in regards to our oil dependency? [seeSullivan013's post above] Or his lack of knowledge in assuming an Obama will do anything different?  |
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Banned by admin |
hahahaha thats a good one... |
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Member |
On September 12th, 2001..if we had been asked, we would have rationed gas, food, milk, anything... I've said it before, but I think Americans would have crawled naked through broken glass on 12 September if we had simply been asked or led! The economic might of America alone could have brought the Middle East to its knees. Perhaps then we could negotiate from a position of strength, instead of kissing the rings of Saudi princes who take our money and fund schools that teach kids to hate us. |
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Nope! Always been the same. Perhaps it's you who are turning a corner. |
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Member |
Yeah! I'm sure the 20% we inport from the Middle East is insignificant to them. |
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On Warning 14 Sept 08 20 Days Fin |
So ya admit to the 20%. What about if Obama becomes President? What will you expect [seriously-not a wet dream] him to do differently? |
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Experienced Member |
Hey, I'm willing to give anybody a shot right now...
You all know I'm the "Nader guy" George was okay for a few minutes... He's only managed to make all his oil buddies filthy rich and screwed up a royal opportunity overseas with buffoonery, bluster and ham handed mismanagement. I'm no liberal Nor am I a conservative stooge either. I only care about our guys...and my son (ADUSMC) and their blood and guts period. Iraq is a pipe dream--nothing, NOTHING good as I see it, will turn out for me, mine or yours over this adventure--at least not in my lifetime. The billions pist away would have done well going towards the coffers of social security, medicare, medicaid, or the VA. Yes, I have a nice home-thanks to hard work and perseverance. I have a great job-also, through my efforts. What am I b1tcchin about?!? Who knows...I need my meds I guess "You'd better be able to sandpaper a Bobcat's butt in a phone booth if you want some of this. |
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Banned by admin |
i voted for him in 2000.... |
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On Warning 14 Sept 08 20 Days Fin |
Na, no meds! You've told it as you see it! Hey, I agree! There is major dissapointment amongst the ranks! Someone said earlier..."the lessor of two evils". At this point, I'm thinking of voting for Nader just to say I did my civic duty! Kinda sad state of affairs!  |
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Experienced Member |
The Stones Age is still here. Just ask Mick!
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Member |
Of course I know it's less than 20% from the ME, but you know what???? Take 20% of business away from any company and they're going to be howling! That 20% has cost us countless amounts of American blood and treasure over the years It's become a "punchline" to disparage President Jimmy Carter, but he sure got the whole "Mid-East-oil-consumption-going-to-harm America" correct. "The cost will keep going up. Six years ago, we paid $3.7 billion for imported oil. Last year we spent $37 billion -- nearly ten times as much -- and this year we may spend over $45 billion. Unless we act, we will spend more than $550 billion for imported oil by 1985 -- more than $2,500 a year for every man, woman, and child in America. Along with that money we will continue losing American jobs and becoming increasingly vulnerable to supply interruptions. Now we have a choice. But if we wait, we will live in fear of embargoes. We could endanger our freedom as a sovereign nation to act in foreign affairs. Within ten years we would not be able to import enough oil -- from any country, at any acceptable price. This was from 1977! Rest of the speech is here http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/filmmore/ps_energy.html Of course, following Carter's proposal would have required sacrifice. Perhaps the worst lesson we learned from his presidency is that our leaders can no longer require "sacrifice" from Americans. It's time we put country above self...and pulled ourselves out of the Stone Age. |
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Member |
Imagine that??? A country actually investing in their future, instead of selfish "me, me, me" crap! Imagine if we had just taken a quarter of what we've spent on foreign oil over the past 20 years and invested it in alternative energy, infrastructure, public transportation, education and health care. We may not return to the Stone Age, but we sure are on a collision course with Middle Age "fuedalism". |
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Highly Experienced Member |
Western civilization is no more "addicted" to oil than we are to oxygen. Or the blood in our veins.
Bio and Fossil fuels are what brought humanity out of the stone age. Our friends the Chinese, have been mining coal close to 10,000 years. "Brimstone" was used for heat and light at least 2,000 years ago in the ME. Fossil fuels are what sustanes Western Civilizatio now, and as of today, given the infrastructure we have built up since the 1880's, there is no replacement for it , nor will there be for at least 20 years. Solutions to inexpensive energy MUST lean on fossil fuels primarily for at least 10 years, then in concert with whatever non-fossil fuels prove acceptable suppliments/replacements over the next several decades. Now, America, between all forms of methane, oil, shale oil, and coal can power itself for 1,000 years, maybe more. If we add to the mix JUST nuclear and hydro., this can be more than doubled. Remember, nuclear and hydro. can be used to create HYDROGEN and power a hydrogen contribution to the power pool. Not to mention the electricity can be used to charge batteries, and that energy used to power transportation, homes, businesses etc. As we become energy independent we can deal with market costs by elimination of our international trade in fossil fuels, which will drive down the price of ME oil. Further, we can SELL into the world market when necessary and 1)make big money and 2) drive the gross price down. Personally, calling the use of fossil fuels to drive our civilization an "addiction" shows supreme ignorance of the situation, and a very profound lack of understanding of the base of Western Civilization that has, in total, been no less than 400 years in the development. |
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 Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils. Shock and Awe Lead Hot Topics Moderator |
Not going to say who I plan on voting for.... but I WILL say that it is NOT Obama or McCain.... In my opinion, until enough of us are willing to "waste out vote" by voting our conscience... enough so that the current batch of politicians realize that the American Public is SEVERELY disenchanted with politics as usual..... Until that happens, nothing will change.  "The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life."~~~Theodore Roosevelt~~~ |
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Member |
Hogwash!! It's not ignorance to point out that more "production" is not the answer. The largest oil field we have in America is in Detroit, MI. Had we raised the CAFE standards, or tied SUV's to the fuel efficiency standards of cars, we could save more gas in one day than we could drill out of ANWR or the coast of Florida in in 10 years!!! And we wouldn't have to risk destroying a tourist industry that brings in billions of dollars a year, or kiss the a$$ of Saudi royalty. Recent reports show that as far as 10 years ago, Ford, GM and Chrysler had developed 5 passenger concept cars that averaged 72 MPG. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PNGV Instead, we were told that we could continue driving vehicles that were as efficient as a Guided Missile Destroyer, and nearly as big. At one time, burning wood was the overwhelming way to heat our homes and cook our food. If we keep going the way we are going, we may find ourselves right back where we started. You're "well, fossil fuels are what drives our production" line is the same as saying "It's too hard to change". The America I know has never backed down from doing something worthwhile because it was "too hard". |
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 "88M, CAUSE EVERYONE ELSE IS CARGO."  |
And then, there are those that have no stones. They fall for every scam that comes along, whether it be gullible warming or eco-nazi "we're harming the earth and all the little animals on it" stances.... God gave man dominion over the earth, not the little tree rats and other crawlers.
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Highly Experienced Member |
There goes the irony meter again! It is not our belief or disbelief that can make or unmake the fact. ~ Thomas Paine |
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"Tourist Industry" means cleaning toilets for the wealthy from outside America who can afford to travel here - wouldn't that include Saudi Royalty?? Pucker up!! Wandering and Wondering |
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Military.com Forums Hot Topics & Current Events Point-Counterpoint "The Stone Age didn't end because we ran out of Stones"
