01-19-2004, 07:22 PM
"Then shut off your computer. It's not necessary, and it's burning the power I need for my TV."
Maybe he does shut off his computer from time to time. I admit its a very un-American thing to switch TVs and such off, but you never know, do you?
"So, dial power consumption back? Sacrificing the manufacture of your TV, your Car? Down to say what level? Zero?"
Haven't we heard enough slippery-slope tactics this last year? With over 2/3 of the worlds energy production being used by 1/3 of its population, a remark like that surely must come from someone in the lucky group. Noone said you have to shut down your own cars, TVs or computers (even if many 'civilised' people have several of each). But do you need all those neon lights in the streets? If everyone had the same high energy consumption as we have, the world would have to produce twice as much. Every country, including the socalled 'evil Islamic' ones, would need its own nuclear plants. Seeing how both fossile and uranium-based nuclear power will last only for several decades at the current pace (or did we forget uranium is a rare element?), that would give quite a problem.
Luckily, there are people who know we can find more durable sources of energy, if we put some effort in it. Let's just hope such people don't despair because they are ridiculed for it, and accused of destroying the future of nuclear power (which seems to have survived the attack well enough) and causing the current shortages (it must be those demonstrations, using up so much power).
To get back on topic ...
I hope there are only few Americans who don't see Bush' announcement as a way to gain votes. But it looks as if there are many who think this is not going to work. Ambitious plans like this are always welcomed by investors and the industry (even if there is not going to be an actual manned flight), and that in turn makes shareholders happy. And American voters are shareholders, for the most part. You can be sure that Bush, or at least one of his advisors, is aware of this. Don't underestimate your politicians again, in their ability to gain your favor.
Maybe he does shut off his computer from time to time. I admit its a very un-American thing to switch TVs and such off, but you never know, do you?
"So, dial power consumption back? Sacrificing the manufacture of your TV, your Car? Down to say what level? Zero?"
Haven't we heard enough slippery-slope tactics this last year? With over 2/3 of the worlds energy production being used by 1/3 of its population, a remark like that surely must come from someone in the lucky group. Noone said you have to shut down your own cars, TVs or computers (even if many 'civilised' people have several of each). But do you need all those neon lights in the streets? If everyone had the same high energy consumption as we have, the world would have to produce twice as much. Every country, including the socalled 'evil Islamic' ones, would need its own nuclear plants. Seeing how both fossile and uranium-based nuclear power will last only for several decades at the current pace (or did we forget uranium is a rare element?), that would give quite a problem.
Luckily, there are people who know we can find more durable sources of energy, if we put some effort in it. Let's just hope such people don't despair because they are ridiculed for it, and accused of destroying the future of nuclear power (which seems to have survived the attack well enough) and causing the current shortages (it must be those demonstrations, using up so much power).
To get back on topic ...
I hope there are only few Americans who don't see Bush' announcement as a way to gain votes. But it looks as if there are many who think this is not going to work. Ambitious plans like this are always welcomed by investors and the industry (even if there is not going to be an actual manned flight), and that in turn makes shareholders happy. And American voters are shareholders, for the most part. You can be sure that Bush, or at least one of his advisors, is aware of this. Don't underestimate your politicians again, in their ability to gain your favor.