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blaze Spinnaker
1/2 Serious
Join date: 12 Aug 2004
Posts: 5,898
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10-31-2005 10:42
I am an environmentalist and a rabid capitalist.
My theory is that I'll live forever, so the rational thing to do is make sure we don't destroy our environment now so we can exploit it forever. I want to enjoy life in 1000 years.
So why do I think over consumption now is a good thing?
Because it's increasing the price of oil. The slow, steady drip of oil out of our reserves was simply directing us towards disaster.
We would have ended up using up all our oil and then started using coal, which would have pretty much destroyed our atmosphere.
By over-consuming now, outstripping production (rather than the reserves), we are forcing our capital markets to invest in alternative energy production.
We could still screw up here, of course, we could build more refineries which would be a nightmare scenario.
This is what the middle east wants us to do - no fucking way.
Not only does that continue our dependence on them, it also reduces the cost of gas and takes the pressure off of investing in alternative energy. That scenario is pure evil.
Now, how did we get to this point? Well, george bush did a number of things: he accelerated consumption with consumption friendly laws, he invaded iraq and destabalized the middle east and did a terrible job of helping out the gulf coast where oil becomes gas.
Yes, the fact is, George Bush's incompetence is a huge blessing in disguise. He may well have done the most of any person ever alive for our world's environment. Or, who knows, it's possible him and his advisors did this all on purpose.
I wouldn't be terribly surprised if they did.
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Chip Midnight
ate my baby!
Join date: 1 May 2003
Posts: 10,231
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10-31-2005 10:47
Great post, Blaze. Definitely not an argument I'd have thought of and I don't think I can argue with your reasoning. Well done. This may very well accelerate development and adoption of alternative energy. We can hope. My fear is that it'll cause us to do more monumentally stupid things instead.
_____________________
 My other hobby: www.live365.com/stations/chip_midnight
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Beclamide Neurocam
3.14159265
Join date: 8 Oct 2005
Posts: 70
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10-31-2005 10:59
I have to say, he's doing a damn fine job of making us think he's an asshole. More executions no abortions (I'm not pro-abortion, I'm pro-choice) no to stem-cell research thinking about destroying science destabalizing countries whose names he can't pronounce but have plenty of black stuff appointing extremist christians into powerful positions being in charge of a business with an army using religion as a smoke-screen to cover his business ventures telling people he's "doing God's work" telling people God talks to him in his sleep (I'd imagine saying "Good work old chap, your throne next to Jesus is looking forward to your butt"  training military groups in Columbia to look after oil pipelines (al Quida anyone?) coming to power by using an outdated an archaic policital system that hadn't been used for years and last but certainly not least, 7% of America now belongs to the Saudi Arabians. But if you look on the bright-side.... oh EDIT-- sorry, went slightly off topic there  |
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Jamie Bergman
SL's Largest Distributor
Join date: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 1,752
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10-31-2005 12:57
From: blaze Spinnaker I am an environmentalist and a rabid capitalist.
My theory is that I'll live forever, so the rational thing to do is make sure we don't destroy our environment now so we can exploit it forever. I want to enjoy life in 1000 years.
So why do I think over consumption now is a good thing?
Because it's increasing the price of oil. The slow, steady drip of oil out of our reserves was simply directing us towards disaster.
We would have ended up using up all our oil and then started using coal, which would have pretty much destroyed our atmosphere.
By over-consuming now, outstripping production (rather than the reserves), we are forcing our capital markets to invest in alternative energy production.
We could still screw up here, of course, we could build more refineries which would be a nightmare scenario.
This is what the middle east wants us to do - no fucking way.
Not only does that continue our dependence on them, it also reduces the cost of gas and takes the pressure off of investing in alternative energy. That scenario is pure evil.
Now, how did we get to this point? Well, george bush did a number of things: he accelerated consumption with consumption friendly laws, he invaded iraq and destabalized the middle east and did a terrible job of helping out the gulf coast where oil becomes gas.
Yes, the fact is, George Bush's incompetence is a huge blessing in disguise. He may well have done the most of any person ever alive for our world's environment. Or, who knows, it's possible him and his advisors did this all on purpose.
I wouldn't be terribly surprised if they did. I COMPLETELY agree with what you say. Letting the free market settle things and distribute wealth and resources is the most efficient and highest and best use of our limited resources. Bravo, Blaze, Bravo!! |
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Jamie Bergman
SL's Largest Distributor
Join date: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 1,752
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10-31-2005 12:59
From: Beclamide Neurocam I have to say, he's doing a damn fine job of making us think he's an asshole. More executions no abortions (I'm not pro-abortion, I'm pro-choice) no to stem-cell research thinking about destroying science destabalizing countries whose names he can't pronounce but have plenty of black stuff appointing extremist christians into powerful positions being in charge of a business with an army using religion as a smoke-screen to cover his business ventures telling people he's "doing God's work" telling people God talks to him in his sleep (I'd imagine saying "Good work old chap, your throne next to Jesus is looking forward to your butt" training military groups in Columbia to look after oil pipelines (al Quida anyone?) coming to power by using an outdated an archaic policital system that hadn't been used for years and last but certainly not least, 7% of America now belongs to the Saudi Arabians. But if you look on the bright-side.... oh EDIT-- sorry, went slightly off topic there You're forgetting he cut taxes a LOT. I know a lot of people (including my parents) who are quite stoked about this - especially the elimination of the death tax (inheretance tax) - and really think GWB is doing a great job. I'm also digging it because it means that when the time comes, I'll have to give the government less of my parent's hard earned assets. |
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Lianne Marten
Cheese Baron
Join date: 6 May 2004
Posts: 2,192
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10-31-2005 13:07
From: Jamie Bergman You're forgetting he cut taxes a LOT. I know a lot of people (including my parents) who are quite stoked about this - especially the elimination of the death tax (inheretance tax) - and really think GWB is doing a great job.
I'm also digging it because it means that when the time comes, I'll have to give the government less of my parent's hard earned assets. Your parents have over $1 million!? Wow... lucky... |
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Jamie Bergman
SL's Largest Distributor
Join date: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 1,752
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10-31-2005 13:11
From: Lianne Marten Your parents have over $1 million!? Wow... lucky... LoL... I have no idea whether they do or not. I just know they were excited about the new tax cuts and elimination of the death tax. But I'm excited too because the government shouldn't be taking money from people who earned it. |
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Ananda Sandgrain
+0-
Join date: 16 May 2003
Posts: 1,951
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10-31-2005 13:38
You know what would help this along? Collect all the money the government is spending around the world to try to secure our oil supply as a gas tax.
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