[Vision2020] Book reviews

[lfalen]

I don't think that Exxon/Mobil will necessarily carry the day. For the short term we should develop all available Western Hemisphere sources to reduce our dependance on Middle eastern oil. Some government incentives would be in order, but not a massive government ran program. Leave it to private enterprise along with government incentives.
Roger
-----Original message-----
From: "Ted Moffett" starbliss at gmail.com
Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:59:43 -0800
To: Vision2020 vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Book reviews

> Roger Falen wrote:
> 
> I mentioned breakthrough because it recommend solving problems through
> technology not excessive regulation. I realize they would use government to
> do this. While some business incentives would be justified, it should
> basically be left up to the free market. I said that the approach of
> breakthrough and  A contract with Earth are different.
> Roger
> --------
> It would be wonderful if the free market and grass roots efforts could
> substantially and rapidly address climate change, and eventual fossil fuel
> depletion, given the critical need to roll out alternative energy
> technologies.  But given the pace of the roll out so far, this is not
> working.
> 
> There is too much short term profit to be made maintaining the fossil fueled
> powered economy mostly as it is, for the "free market" to address climate
> change quickly enough to lessen the destructive and very costly long term
> effects, while an oil crisis that could cripple our economy becomes more
> probable every year.  Of course some energy corporations could make a
> killing off an oil crisis; and we see Exxon/Mobil making record setting
> profits (the most of any corporation in history) in recent years, as
> pressures on the oil markets have pushed gasoline to a sustained high price
> in the USA, hurting consumer spending and stressing middle and lower class
> budgets.
> 
> I guess you do not favor a massive "Apollo" styled government program to
> promote roll out of alternative energy technologies.  But I don't really see
> any other way to realistically address a quick and significant
> implementation of alternative energy.  For example, do you
> think Exxon/Mobil, the largest oil corporation on the planet, with
> incredible resources to lobby the US government (VP Cheney's secret energy
> corporation meetings...), is going to push for the rapid roll out of
> alternative non-fossil fuel energy in the free market?
> 
> I think the answer is obvious.  No.
> 
> Ted Moffett
> 
>