Re: OT: 2006 US Elections

In article <nowhere-235E66.19584124082005@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Travelinman <nowhere@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> In article <lloydparsons-3ACE85.13274024082005@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> Lloyd Parsons <lloydparsons@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > While we've got a few political postings, I thought I would add another.
> > Here is where I think the next US elections are headed and why.
> >
> >
> > Here is what the incumbents (regardless of party) have to answer for.
> >
> > Gas: Prices through the roof, with no indication of an end in sight.
> > Doesn't matter if they are still cheaper than most of the world.
>
> Except for one simple problem. It doesn't appear that the government is
> responsible. The major problem is drastic increases in demand from China
> with no corresponding increases in production.
>
It doesn't really matter if the government is responsible or not, they
are the ones that will be held to some level of accountability.
Pocketbook issues are big deals in political debate.

> Add in a little political instability, incessant American demand for
> ever bigger cars, a bit of bad weather, and you've got a problem.
>
> >
> > Oil: Ditto
>
> Same thing.
>
> >
> > Natural Gas: projected to be up 58% this next winter after the 30+% last
> > winter.
>
> Same things.
>
> >
> > Electricity : up, I don't have figures for that
>
> Since the biggest part of our electricity comes from gas and oil, that's
> not suprising.

Yep, and it doesn't have to. Especially now that the cost of energy has
risen to the point it is at. Clean burning coal is a reality and has
been for over 10 years, but the cost was previously prohibitive. Now
that isn't the issue. And for info, it is said that there is 150 years
of coal underneath my foot here in southern Illinois. I don't know if
that is an accurate number, but it sure indicates there is a hell of a
lot of coal left in the ground. Add in the eastern and western
coalfields and you really can make a dent.

One of the issues with coal that is now solved was the ash. We've now
found and are using that ash in concrete for construction. It isn't
something we can do soon, it is something we can and are doing now.

Then there is nuclear power.

Of course, both coal and nuclear bring out the flakoids on the green
side of things with their wild agendas.
.

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