This is why Patrick is so compelling in his argument. We need to take a revolutionary approach to the entrenched powers that would keep carbon based energy sources cheap enough to keep using. Our current ‘Commander in Chief’s’ policy reversal on offshore drilling is just this type of opiate that would slow the inexorable rise in carbon based energy while keeping the drain on our nations financial resources intact until we, like Britain 100 years ago, slip into the dark twilight of an empire exhausted.

I say reject it until the next congress. Get off the juice? Yes we can!

This is why Patrick is so compelling in his argument. We need to take a revolutionary approach to the entrenched powers that would keep carbon based energy sources cheap enough to keep using. Our current ‘Commander in Chief’s’ policy reversal on offshore drilling is just this type of opiate that would slow the inexorable rise in carbon based energy while keeping the drain on our nations financial resources intact until we, like Britain 100 years ago, slip into the dark twilight of an empire exhausted.

I say reject it until the next congress. Get off the juice? Yes we can!

I think this thermal solar / parabolic solution is key. While it won’t necessarily have the best impact on transportation, it can indirectly. If we move to electric or fuel cell solutions for transportation, there will still need to be a source of energy to charge or fill these technologies. That is where solar (and wind) comes in to play.

Personally, I’ve been coming to envisage this parabolic solar energy as an effective means to power magnetic bullet trains. I haven’t thought it out thoroughly, but it would be expected that they only ran from something like 11am to 6pm (under solar power). It would take roughly 16 hours under current systems to travel by bullet train from coast to coast (U.S.A). This could mean a trip across the country may take 2 days. This is perfectly reasonable to me. Sorry I don’t have more details on this possibility. It’s merely a daydream at the moment.

Hmmmm. I think some legislation limiting governmental travel would be in order. They waste way too much of our tax dollars on fuel (esp. jet). Come on! We ARE in the 21st century. We have the technology to allow international communication without requiring face-to-face diplomacy.

This may be a long fight, but I’m there with you! We have to fight for our right…. to FREEDOM!!!

I think this thermal solar / parabolic solution is key. While it won’t necessarily have the best impact on transportation, it can indirectly. If we move to electric or fuel cell solutions for transportation, there will still need to be a source of energy to charge or fill these technologies. That is where solar (and wind) comes in to play.

Personally, I’ve been coming to envisage this parabolic solar energy as an effective means to power magnetic bullet trains. I haven’t thought it out thoroughly, but it would be expected that they only ran from something like 11am to 6pm (under solar power). It would take roughly 16 hours under current systems to travel by bullet train from coast to coast (U.S.A). This could mean a trip across the country may take 2 days. This is perfectly reasonable to me. Sorry I don’t have more details on this possibility. It’s merely a daydream at the moment.

Hmmmm. I think some legislation limiting governmental travel would be in order. They waste way too much of our tax dollars on fuel (esp. jet). Come on! We ARE in the 21st century. We have the technology to allow international communication without requiring face-to-face diplomacy.

This may be a long fight, but I’m there with you! We have to fight for our right…. to FREEDOM!!!

Sure it’s a cop-out on the insane oil/coal subsidies but it’s progress. Sometimes taking a few small steps adds up.

Here’s how I see it: even if we keep wasting money on Big Oil/Big Coal subsidies, at least we will make progress on the expansion of our clean energy sources. I personally would love to see a separate bill which removes the Big Oil/Coal subsidies and advertisements by groups supporting the bill explaining to the fiscal conservatives where their money is going. If the retraction is glomped on to a green energy bill, we lose the argument about saving money. If the green energy bill passes and the de-subsidization bill fails, the green energy will eventually overtake oil/coal; I know it’s not fast enough but at least it’ll move forward.

Cop-out, yes. Potential partial progress? Also yes. I say go for it.

Believe me, I am more than simply frustrated about oil/coal/oil-war spending, especially when supposed fiscal conservatives dear to me simply deny the existence of the subsidies. We MUST make green energy progress regardless of whether we continue to waste money on oil/coal. Let’s let the lawmakers address them as two separate issues so we can clearly argue for one on it’s merit and against the other on the waste/insanity/corporate-socialism without cross-chatter.

Bill

Sure it’s a cop-out on the insane oil/coal subsidies but it’s progress. Sometimes taking a few small steps adds up.

Here’s how I see it: even if we keep wasting money on Big Oil/Big Coal subsidies, at least we will make progress on the expansion of our clean energy sources. I personally would love to see a separate bill which removes the Big Oil/Coal subsidies and advertisements by groups supporting the bill explaining to the fiscal conservatives where their money is going. If the retraction is glomped on to a green energy bill, we lose the argument about saving money. If the green energy bill passes and the de-subsidization bill fails, the green energy will eventually overtake oil/coal; I know it’s not fast enough but at least it’ll move forward.

Cop-out, yes. Potential partial progress? Also yes. I say go for it.

Believe me, I am more than simply frustrated about oil/coal/oil-war spending, especially when supposed fiscal conservatives dear to me simply deny the existence of the subsidies. We MUST make green energy progress regardless of whether we continue to waste money on oil/coal. Let’s let the lawmakers address them as two separate issues so we can clearly argue for one on it’s merit and against the other on the waste/insanity/corporate-socialism without cross-chatter.

Bill

So very many times, the Republican view of a subject and the Democratic view of a subject are completely different subjects.

I remain delightfully optimistic that common sense and logic will finally prevail. Electric golf carts were alive and well in the ’80′s. Consider the possibilities if concentric circles were drawn around urban areas with progressively different types of transportation available, with the infrastructure to support

And consider the possibilities if urban planners make some assumption OTHER THAN, for example, that all people commute from spoke positioned suburbs ONLY TO downtown Seattle. How can high density housing exist if one cannot commute OUT TO the areas where large manufacturing plants can economically be placed? For example, just try to take Seattle’s new commuter trains from Auburn to Everett for a job; it is not possible with current perceptions of commuting patterns.

Or maybe place a park & ride on the west end of the 520 bridge in Seattle to alleviate the east bound traffic that seems to be so very puzzling to urban planners – why would anyone commute OUT OF the city – duh! Doesn’t it make one wonder where the urban planners in all cities live, and whether the resulting bus routes and train schedules are just the ticket for their lives, no never mind about anyone elses?

And has anyone seen the really cool solar arrays the school districts in Southern California have built!

So very many times, the Republican view of a subject and the Democratic view of a subject are completely different subjects.

I remain delightfully optimistic that common sense and logic will finally prevail. Electric golf carts were alive and well in the ’80′s. Consider the possibilities if concentric circles were drawn around urban areas with progressively different types of transportation available, with the infrastructure to support

And consider the possibilities if urban planners make some assumption OTHER THAN, for example, that all people commute from spoke positioned suburbs ONLY TO downtown Seattle. How can high density housing exist if one cannot commute OUT TO the areas where large manufacturing plants can economically be placed? For example, just try to take Seattle’s new commuter trains from Auburn to Everett for a job; it is not possible with current perceptions of commuting patterns.

Or maybe place a park & ride on the west end of the 520 bridge in Seattle to alleviate the east bound traffic that seems to be so very puzzling to urban planners – why would anyone commute OUT OF the city – duh! Doesn’t it make one wonder where the urban planners in all cities live, and whether the resulting bus routes and train schedules are just the ticket for their lives, no never mind about anyone elses?

And has anyone seen the really cool solar arrays the school districts in Southern California have built!

We’re also discouraged because we know that we will essentially need to wage a war against them to knock them down- not war in the traditional sense, but we’ll need an army of Americas to stand up to them and teach them a lesson about what can happen to big WRONG DOING companies like them. If we can all stand behind this cause, we can show the power of the people in a way that has never been shown before and we can discourage other similar companies from attempting the same, from thinking that they can get away with it. We have the power of this internet to make it happen, for the first time in history the people have this instant communication and can rally very fast- I believe this is the perfect time to use it because with global companies becoming stronger and stronger and richer and richer comes serious power that needs a proven counterbalance.

There are so many reasons to want to edge out Oil and Coal companies as fast as possible. Everyone should think about the reasons and get siked up and talk about them. The more we talk, the more big oil and coal get scared and the more they and the rest of America invest their money where it should be- in solar, wind, wave, fuelcells (powered by solar), and geothermal (NOT ETHONAL OR BIOFUELS).

Anyone else who is reading this and who is encouraged, please do respond with a comment and pass this link along… If I hear from people in a positive way I will fight harder and smarter. I supposed that if I don’t hear much I’ll just lay down with everyone else and take it.

Patrick

We’re also discouraged because we know that we will essentially need to wage a war against them to knock them down- not war in the traditional sense, but we’ll need an army of Americas to stand up to them and teach them a lesson about what can happen to big WRONG DOING companies like them. If we can all stand behind this cause, we can show the power of the people in a way that has never been shown before and we can discourage other similar companies from attempting the same, from thinking that they can get away with it. We have the power of this internet to make it happen, for the first time in history the people have this instant communication and can rally very fast- I believe this is the perfect time to use it because with global companies becoming stronger and stronger and richer and richer comes serious power that needs a proven counterbalance.

There are so many reasons to want to edge out Oil and Coal companies as fast as possible. Everyone should think about the reasons and get siked up and talk about them. The more we talk, the more big oil and coal get scared and the more they and the rest of America invest their money where it should be- in solar, wind, wave, fuelcells (powered by solar), and geothermal (NOT ETHONAL OR BIOFUELS).

Anyone else who is reading this and who is encouraged, please do respond with a comment and pass this link along… If I hear from people in a positive way I will fight harder and smarter. I supposed that if I don’t hear much I’ll just lay down with everyone else and take it.

Patrick