Would you be willing to pay 50 per barrel for oil?

[techs]

Here's a plan that has been floated from time to time.
There are technologies such as coal to gas, tar sands oil extraction, bio mass, etc that are available and that could be implemented in just a few years. The catch is that they are only economically feasible if oil is at least 35 per barrel. No one rushes out to do these things when oil is high because they will go bankrupt if oil goes down.
Should we as a nation agree that oil will cost 50 per barrel (because we would make up the difference in taxes if oil goes below 50) if it would allow us energy independence?
There are a lot of economic problems associated with this plan. One would be if oil goes down to say 30 per barrel American businesses would be non competitive. The taxes raised on the difference would somehow have to get back to them.
Or we could make agreements with other countries that would gurantee free trade only with other countries that priced oil at 50 a barrel.
I am not proposing this as a detailed plan. I am wondering how people would feel about paying more for energy if it would lead to independence?

[WebHead]

There is too much math involved for my small brain. I say lets get off the gas and go with hydrogen and take our chances.

[techs]

There is too much math involved for my small brain. I say lets get off the gas and go with hydrogen and take our chances.

Uh, we have to get the hydrogen from somewhere.

[Ya_know]

Uh, we have to get the hydrogen from somewhere.

I believe the intention is to extract it from water...have we been running out of that too?

[TripleRLtd]

I believe the intention is to extract it from water...have we been running out of that too?

Are you asking techs for an honest, even handed, non-partisan answer?

[jaeger]

Hydrogen is possible, but complicated. There is one way to do it, but way too many people still **** their pants when they hear about nuclear reactors. It'd give us the power to seperate the hydrogen, but it would take a lot of juice. The number of reactors it'd likely take would be an interesting study.

[techs]

Yes, you need energy to make hydrogen. So lets put our heads together and come up with some strategy on how to make more energy. You can complain about it or make suggestions.

[techs]

Are you asking techs for an honest, even handed, non-partisan answer?

As opposed to the straight talkin' George Jr?

[Ya_know]

Yes, you need energy to make hydrogen. So lets put our heads together and come up with some strategy on how to make more energy. You can complain about it or make suggestions.

How about you just piss into the wind....(hint; potential power source)

[TripleRLtd]

How about you just piss into the wind....(hint; potential power source)

I almost spit up my beer: another potential power source.
Just imagine if we could tap in to techs?

[ilovetheusers]

Wow. Looks like we agree on something. Wow.

I am not proposing this as a detailed plan. I am wondering how people would feel about paying more for energy if it would lead to independence?

No. People will aswer afirmative in a poll because it sounds good. When they actually have to pay an extra nickle, dime or dollar they will go for whatever is cheaper.

Yes, you need energy to make hydrogen. So lets put our heads together and come up with some strategy on how to make more energy. You can complain about it or make suggestions.

OK. I'll do that. http://egj.lib.uidaho.edu/egj09/youngqu1.html

Alternative Energy Sources

Wood/other biomass
Hydropower
Solar energy
Wind energy
Wave energy
Geothermal
Tidal power
Fusion
Ocean thermal energy conversion

[TripleRLtd]

Or we could make agreements with other countries that would gurantee free trade only with other countries that priced oil at 50 a barrel.

Aren't you the one who's always critical of this sort of idea? Like why we deal with China??? You've mentioned being even-handed about this sort of thing, and for all of us to see the bigger picture. Well, how about you?

[Major Kong]

Fusion
and develop Core Tap technology

[paraflyer]

Alternative Energy Sources

Wood/other biomass
Hydropower
Solar energy
Wind energy
Wave energy
Geothermal
Tidal power
Fusion
Ocean thermal energy conversion

OK, so:

1. Cut down forests? Then Greens would love you...
2. Yeah, let's put dams everywhere. Force tons of people to move without asking (I'm referencing the Chinese dam project here).
3. Too inefficient at this time, and how much additional taxes do you want to pay until a breakthrough is found (if it ever is)?
4. "NIMBY" factor.....Ted Kennedy comes to mind, he didn't like the idea of a wind farm in Massachusetts...
5/7. Come up with long-term corrosion prevention; and figure a way to keep Greenpeace activists from ramming the stations
6. Only works where there's geothermal vents; and over time that changes, requiring periodic movement. Reference the Yellowstone geysers, etc.
8. Work's been done on this for years, so far nothing sustainable.

All I'm trying to show here is that there's another side to the coin; not all alternative sources are trouble-free.

[techs]

I am certainly willing to p*ss in the wind if will solve our energy problems. Especially if I get to choose who is downwind from me...
I have read some things that seem to contradict the site about all the energy alternatives. I will try to get some links.
I think this is good stuff, though. An actual idea driven thread..