Will Kerry address Peak Oil?

[NEOBuckeye]

I guess I should probably phrase that to be "WHEN will Kerry address Peak Oil?" We all know its coming. But if we, and our leaders, continue to act in denial about its inevitability, we fully deserve the crisis and its consequences when the Oil flow falls to a trickle, sometime probably within the next decade -- and very likely during "President Kerry's" 1 to 2 terms.

We already know the Republican response to this issue. War. More war. Even more war. And, of course, the elimination of our freedoms. The Bush-Cheney-Rove axis is morally bankrupt and completely devoid of any progressive solution that will save America and the developed Western World from the inevitable crisis just around the corner. Another four years of Bush will all but completely guarantee the unprecedented and devestating collapse of America and Western Civiliation!

Whatever negatives lie in John Kerry's past, whatever his past voting record, they are now irrelevant. John Kerry HAS to be THE MAN. It may sound like an overstatement, but I don't think it is when I say that the fate of the entire world, and its future, now rests upon this man, and his ability to address our present predicament.

[kalian]

1. Will he...?

:shrug:

Will he ever?
Will he bring back our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan?
Will he go before the UN and apologize for our blatant disregard to
international law?
Will he cut back military spending to pre-shrub levels?
Will he prevent the draft from being re-instated?
Will he bring about a full-court press investigation into WHAT
really happened during 9/11?

Will he...?
:shrug:

[DenverDem]

2. I hope he has the balls to tell The People the truth and lead on this.

We sure need him to.

Time will tell.

[jean]

3. you're right - Kerry has the full weight of the country on his back

I think once he is sworn in there will be quick changes in policy across the spectrum. The environment will be huge and I keep wondering if RFK Jr will be the EPA head.

Peak Oil - will it be Peak Bush as well? What will the oil barons do next - they probably already have their claws into something (water, alternate power)

[cprise]

7. Peak Oil and Climate Change are two different issues

Peak Oil is about corporate profits... NOT a serious threat to our survival. Oil companies do not want the peak to cause a shift away from their product before they can sell all of it.

Climate Change... well it results in 110 degree summers in Switzerland. With this, we're in serious doo-doo.

Hysteria about Peak Oil will only aid those who want to railroad us into other non-renewable energy sources.

[kalian]

10. There is no "hysteria" in Peak Oil...

far from it. The facts are there, plain and simple for everyone to
see.
As for climate change...that's another reality, but I personally
believe that it will actually lead to global cooling more than
warming.

[cprise]

20. There most certainly is

People are blowing the effects of an oil shortage way out of proportion.

What is the RISK posed to our survival? Having to sit on a bus or a bike seat is not the end of the world.

There will be no hysterical oil-grabbing fits around the world because we are the only ones who think we need big cars and disposable-everything to survive. Most of the world's population scarcely even uses oil.

Getting frozen or baked or flooded to death is another matter entirely.

[sable302]

23. Using the bus is fine for me

Too bad the issue is not simply about gassing up the family SUV. In a world without oil and gas, how do you suppose we build the bus in the first place?

[Spider Jerusalem]

18. Unfortunately, you're wrong...

in stating that the issue of peak and decline of petroleum as an available resource does NOT pose a serious threat to our survival.

Agriculture in its modern form is dependent upon petrochemicals for fertilisers and pesticides. Also, petroleum is the most efficient energy source known. Post-production peak, when supply no longer meets demand, I predict some very bleak times for our global civilisation. War and famine are almost certainties.

Factor climate change into the equation as well, and I'm a bit unnerved at the thought that I shall probably live through a good part of the coming century.

[cprise]

22. Um, no

Fertilizers are made with natural gas. The volume of required pesticides is mainly an artifact of GM food production, and there are viable alternatives.

"petroleum is the most efficient energy source known"

You don't know what you're talking about. The energy balance for gasoline and diesel are negative.

[Deja Q]

19. WRONG-O

How much money do you make? Must be a lot if you're not concerned about peak oil and how much our society needs and wants it (aka 'not a serious threat to our survival)... do you really think they'll halt NASCAR in exchange for the prices of goods and services to remain the same?!

Witness, when oil goes up, the cost of the following will go up just as much, if not moreso:

* Anything made with or of plastic, such as clocks, electronics, gaskets... the list goes on for ages.

And especially if it's related to the medical industry. Without plastics, our advanced medical science is NOTHING. Period. Don't bother arguing, you can't use glass and wood to make a catheter, replacement joints, amongst other bits and pieces...

* Cost of transport, cost to transport.

* Food (because of transport AND because of petrochemical fertilizrs).

I think I've said enough, but there are plenty of reasons why oil is a crisis of mammoth proportion.

When it crashes, it's not going to land on a matress, all soft and fluffy. It's going to land on concrete with a loud *THUD*.

It is a serious threat. Make no doubt about it.

[sable302]

21. exactamundo

You and Spider are on the money.

I've often thought about this. You can't do squat without oil and gas. How do ya melt steel without oil and gas? How do ya make glass without oil and gas?

All the alternative energy in the world won't do either of those tings. So much for hydrogen cars saving the world. Who's gonna build the car without oil and gas?

[blm]

4. Kerry has already mentioned peak oil in the last couple months.

I doubt he plans to stop, as his platform deliberately links the environment and alternative energy with national security and the economy.

[dawgman]

5. not a chance.

the tinfoil hatter in me says that the the change from Bush to Kerry is just to put a kinder gentler face on the drastic changes that the "powers that be" believe will be necessary in 5-7 years.

But who really knows and I don't buy into conspiracies for one reason; powerful, rich men tend to think alike without having to collude. And if there is no collusion there is no conspiracy. That does not, however, mean that we are not about to get royally screwed.

[sable302]

6. Not if he knows what's good for him

Who has ever won an election on a 'the world's about to end real soon' platform?

I say addressing 'war for oil' would be a great way to oust Bush, but the whole 'peak oil' theory would be a mistake. Too much gray area, and it would give the other side amply opportunity to rebut facts with 'facts,' all courtesy of Fox news.

[Indiana_Dem]

8. You're right. It should be addressed full throttle after

the elections. We will need to move quicker than ever before and stay on our own people to make the changes needed.

[sable302]

9. That said

If Bush wins come November, God forbid, then I say we scream 'peak oil' till the cows come home. God knows a second Bush term wouldn't change doodly squat on its own.

[Indiana_Dem]

11. If Bush wins in November, we might as well kiss ourselves

goodbye. It'll definitely do no good.

[NEOBuckeye]

14. I think it's all in how he would word it.

I would never expect any national leader to flat out tell the people that the Oil is almost gone, and leave it at that. Do I even have to mention what level of mass chaos would break out as a result?

I think what Kerry must do from Day One in January is push for immediate and massive development of alternate fuels and infrastructure, citing the great benefits it would bring to our national security, not to mention the potential for new economic growth and opportunities. He could probably do this with little mention of the impending Oil Peak. However, I personally believe that this can and should be a joint effort between the United States and the rest of the Western and developing Eastern nations. Doing so could totally avert the "War of Civilizations" that the present BFEE regime seems to be driving us towards.

[RainDog]

12. Strong on Defense

The Pentagon thinks that global warming is more dangerous than the threat of terrorism.

Peak oil figures into this, but the way to approach it, imho, is to talk about being PRO-active in fighting the corporate fat cats Bush panders to and lead the way in saving our nation and the rest of the world from the Bush/Cheney crony corruption.

http://www.gbn.org/ArticleDisplayServlet.srv?aid=26231

[sable302]

13. I can see it already

The election will be all about Peak Oil VS Gay Marriage.

Each voter will get to choose which one is the bigger threat to the future of our world.

[whistle]

15. Peak Oil has come and gone

We went past peak oil in 2001 and now we are on the downside of that curve. That's why we are in this current economic/geopolitical crisis. Even if there is oil around Haiti, it's not going to help. So it should be no surprise to anyone that oil and gas prices are accelerating up-wards. Where I live, gasoline has gone up six more cents per gallon since my last fill-up and 18.2% since December. Expect prices to be between $2.00 to $3.00 per gallon for gasoline by the summer. The question as always is "Who should profit from this?" Well, I believe that Americans should, but how? Immediately with the inauguration of the new democratic president let's support an increased federal tax on all energy independent of the present road taxes on gasoline aimed at reducing our deficits, conserving energy and protecting the environment. For starters, lets support $1.00 federal tax per gallon on regular gasoline and diesel fuel, $1.50 tax per gallon on premium/higher octane fuels. Let's slap a $1,500.00 energy conservation tax on all of the gas-guzzlers like SUV's. And finally, put a federal services tax of 25% on the services by any lobbyists and special interest groups conducting billable services inside the beltway. That will bring in close to $550 billion in the first year alone. By mid-term elections 2006, this will be working so well that there will be another democratic sweep through congress and we can retire the Neanderthal republican/right wing neo-conservatives right to the Texas deserts where they belong.

[Indiana_Dem]

17. Welcome to DU whistle

I don't think anybody would get elected with that platform! Or re-elected for that matter!

[frank frankly]

16. I have heard him address it

at one of his NH townhall meetings...it was at cspan.org

[Moderator]

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