Re: [nukkad] SEPTEMBER 22nd 2006

["Harshal Chhaya" <>]

Maloy wrote:
> As long as the auto and oil industry lobbies remain powerful in the USA,
> adequate amount of funding in alternative energy research and the political
> thrust would not be forthcoming.

Maloy,

The auto and oil industry are partners only till it is beneficial to
both of them. Till a few years back, the auto industry had little
incentive for research into alternatives to the internal combustion
engine. They did try though - GM had an electric car years back (the
EV1) but it wasn't profitable because people didn't buy them. GM is
also spending a lot of money on R&D on fuel cells and hydrogen-powered
cars (http://wired-vig.wired.com/wired/archive/13.07/start.html?pg=11).
So clearly, the auto makers have realised that they need to separate
themselves from the oil companies.

And if the US-based car makers ignore this, Toyota and Honda won't.
Look at all the hybrids on the road today. Things are definitely
improving.


> > BTW, just read a news report about how Venezuela has the cheapest
> > gasoline in the world - cheaper than mineral water. A great example of
> > short-term populist thinking without thinking about long-term
> > consequences.
>
> Nowhere is this short-term populism more evident than the US, which has
> allowed the auto and oil lobbies led by GM and Shell to build the huge network
> of roads with countless one-driver SUVs and trucks running on gas cheaper
> than water without any transit system to speak of.

The influence of the auto lobby is certainly a factor in the road
network crisscrossing the US. But it is only one factor out of many.
There are numerous geographical and historical factors - notice how
the older cities of the Eastern part of the US have much better public
transport - that have led to the current situation.

And the cities and regional governments are also realising the
problems and are building transit networks. There are more transit
networks today than 10 years ago.


> US lawmakers were reported to be considering sending a $100 bill to taxpayers 
>to
> offset increasing gas prices.

This proposal was almost universally derided as blatant politics. It
never went anywhere.


> Gas in the USA is cheaper than  in developing countries like India or 
>Venezuela.
> Another instance of the hegemony and blinkered approach of the United States 
>to
> the state of the world.

US gas cheaper than India and the rest of the world, yes.
Cheaper than Venezuela and other oil producers, no.

Gasoline is 12 cents per gallon in Venezuela, about 25 times cheaper
than in the US.
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060511/od_nm/energy_gasoline_dc_1 and
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5400422)


>   As long as there is no technical breakthrough, nuclear power seems to be
> the only long-term feasible power source for mankind. France has shown the
> way with almost 80% of its energy generated from nuclear plants. The earlier 
>the
> US top brass realize this, the better it is for the world.

The problem with nuclear reactors is that no one wants them in their
own area. Plus there is the vexing question of handling the nuclear
waste. I wonder how France handles both these problems. Anyone know?

- Harshal


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I judge a religion as being good or bad based on whether its adherents 
become better people as a result of practicing it. - Joe Mullally
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