Bongulator
Well-Known Member
I don't blame Republicans or Democrats for the price of gas. It was all of us (except those hippies in the 60s) that bought SUVs and megatrucks and $200,000 40' diesel-eating RV behemoths, and the two cars for two people, and a car for every kid in college. We all did this to ourselves.
A few saw the signs decades ago, but nobody really paid attention or believed it. Not enough believed it to matter anyway. Instead, we just kept on demanding more and more gas for more and more cars. But the easy gas is all gone now. Democrats didn't blow it up or hide it away. Neither did Republicans. We all just kinda ate it up with our voracious appetite for resources, and now it's gone.
But demand for yet more gas has only increased, even as the supply lines are straining. We've got six and a half billion people now wanting to drive cars. We had problems meeting demand when there were less than half that many. Now we simply can't meet demand anymore. The world has no more easy oil to give. And what happens in a global economy when demand rises but supply fails? Prices increase.
Since the demand isn't just in the US anymore, that means demand destruction in the US won't necessarily slow the spiraling price of oil. That depends on China and India. Will they keep roaring ahead with their nation-transforming? Of course they will. Their people have seen the lives *our* people live, and they want the same. If that means they have to pay $10/gallon for gas, then they will pay that. And in a global economy, so will we. The oil companies aren't going to sell us oil at $140/barrel if China will pay them $300/barrel, and they will.
So there ya go. It doesn't much matter who gets elected. Unless there is a seriously enormous change in the way we produce and use energy, expect to see a bidding war between the big nations of the world. He who pays the highest price gets to keep his civilization. Everyone else, sorry, not enough juice for you.
A few saw the signs decades ago, but nobody really paid attention or believed it. Not enough believed it to matter anyway. Instead, we just kept on demanding more and more gas for more and more cars. But the easy gas is all gone now. Democrats didn't blow it up or hide it away. Neither did Republicans. We all just kinda ate it up with our voracious appetite for resources, and now it's gone.
But demand for yet more gas has only increased, even as the supply lines are straining. We've got six and a half billion people now wanting to drive cars. We had problems meeting demand when there were less than half that many. Now we simply can't meet demand anymore. The world has no more easy oil to give. And what happens in a global economy when demand rises but supply fails? Prices increase.
Since the demand isn't just in the US anymore, that means demand destruction in the US won't necessarily slow the spiraling price of oil. That depends on China and India. Will they keep roaring ahead with their nation-transforming? Of course they will. Their people have seen the lives *our* people live, and they want the same. If that means they have to pay $10/gallon for gas, then they will pay that. And in a global economy, so will we. The oil companies aren't going to sell us oil at $140/barrel if China will pay them $300/barrel, and they will.
So there ya go. It doesn't much matter who gets elected. Unless there is a seriously enormous change in the way we produce and use energy, expect to see a bidding war between the big nations of the world. He who pays the highest price gets to keep his civilization. Everyone else, sorry, not enough juice for you.