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March, 2024

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Drill here. Drill now. Pay Less.

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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
As gas prices continue to increase, Congress continues to blame others while ignoring practical steps to stop the pain Americans are feeling at the pump. To lower gasoline prices and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we need real solutions to our energy challenges.
"We, therefore, the undersigned citizens of the United States, petition the U.S. Congress to act immediately to lower gasoline prices (and diesel and other fuel prices)* by authorizing the exploration of proven energy reserves to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources from unstable countries."

Sign the petition @ http://www.americansolutions.com/

Sign it or shut our mouth because we are already debating this in another thread.
Jun 16 2008 10:01PM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
Epic fail.
Jun 17 2008 11:11PM
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cfox
Posts: 2286 - Karma: 40
yea agreed i think we just need to find some alternate ways instead of fossil fuels its just not going very well not good for the enviroment either
Jun 17 2008 11:12PM
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bermbuster49
Posts: 7445 - Karma: 90
i want to find out where they live to be able to be experimenting with ethanol, i have never seen anything other than gasoline and diesel pumps.  hopefully that will change sometime soon.
Jun 17 2008 11:13PM
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tjski
Posts: 5859 - Karma: 44
well i really dont care if we drill every spot availible, i mean as long as it makes the prices of fuel drop im happy, that way prices on most other things will go down. And i honestly think that we will have alternative fuel sources far before we run of of oil..

Jun 17 2008 11:15PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
ummm... here is a big downfall, it is less efficient! 

i dont have the numbers off the top of my head, but if it cost you 4 dollars to drive 20 miles, it would cost something like 4.50 to drive the same distance on ethonel
Jun 17 2008 11:15PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
IMO, ethanol is a waste of time now and its only adding to the food shortages around the world (by increasing the demand for corns).

We only have so much farmland left on this planet that we haven't paved over yet, lets keep it for food instead of fuel.
Jun 17 2008 11:22PM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
Dude, my truck has lost exactly 2 mpg because of the 10% ethanol in my fuel. Corn takes longer to produce too. It's a seasonal thing. Now that grass they have on the other hand grows like a weed - literally. Catch my drift? 
Jun 17 2008 11:22PM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
Fuel cells, hydrogen, electric and solar = ZERO OIL (except for lubes)    It's the car companies that are keeping this from being a reality.
Jun 17 2008 11:29PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
and if the government wasnt subsidizing it, we wouldnt have those food shortages...

the government doesnt know when to let a bad idea die...
Jun 17 2008 11:29PM
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tjski
Posts: 5859 - Karma: 44
... amen brother...
Jun 17 2008 11:36PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
and may i point out, the free market does, if nobody wants to buy a purple car, car company's wont make a purple car...

wow this kinda ties into my whole "the free market kicks ass" argument doesnt it?
Jun 17 2008 11:40PM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
the car companies?  maybe we should blame ice cream and the WNBA while we're at it.  so much of our country runs on the internal combustible engine.....which is runs from the combustion created by a fuel and an oxidizer....not by sticking in a fuel cell, hydrogen, electricity, or solar rays.  yes hydrogen is the easiest to convert for use, but if you take some thermo courses in college you might learn the efficiency goes down the toilet during this process.

ever wondered why we failed to implement the metric system despite numerous efforts?  feasibility. 
it is going to take a long, long time to reconfigure all the items that run off that old outdated engine to an alternative fuel source.
Jun 17 2008 11:55PM
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tjski
Posts: 5859 - Karma: 44
well it sure does make a heck of a lot of sence.
Jun 18 2008 12:06AM
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mtsteeze406
Posts: 447 - Karma: 11
Guess that leaves me with Solo



or chewy, i guess....



Jun 18 2008 12:07AM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
Han is taken...

You can be Obi.
Jun 18 2008 12:18AM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165

vocabulary can make one sound smart.  The combustion engine has been around for a long time and is long past due for a change, oh but wait there were cars back in the 60's that got 50-80 mpg.  It's now the year 2008 and what progress has been made?  jack shit.  All the hype is about this hybrid bullshit.  "oh look now the Chevy Tahoe gets 22 mpg" or whatever that oversized hybrid gets.  They just do that shit to make it seem like they're really trying or that they really care.  If they really did want to make a difference, one simple way to change their engines is to simply toss out the over head valve design and go with a dual overhead cam, like honda has been doing for a loooooong ass time.  right there you will get 2 hp per cubic inch versus 1.  I honestly know don't that much about cars but that's a proven fact right there.  The car companies want to suck as much money as possible out of the Internal reciprocating combustion engine because that's what they've been making for years and already have the machinery to build them and anytime that someone makes a new design that will blow away the competition, they do almsot anything possible to push them out of the market, or buy their ideas.  Who do you think has a lot of money invested in oil?  car companies.   Ever see the movie "Tucker?"  

It's all about power and money, not about figuring out how to do things differently, cuz i can almost guarantee that theses companies and other companies have had enough money to research and test other means of fuel and or power for quite some time now, their just isn't any profit in it, YET.

We didn't implement the metric system cuz we're lazy ass americans that don't wanna spend the coin and think we're better than everyone else.  It's really not that costly, just start teaching kids in schools right now.  We've just got our ego's to fight with.

How is hydrogen made?  Think we're gonna run out anytime soon?

Jun 18 2008 12:32AM
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sdfjklioeur
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 114
thank you
Jun 18 2008 12:37AM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
And until car companies decide to put their money there we need oil.
Jun 18 2008 12:54AM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
ROFL!
Jun 18 2008 12:55AM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
No we don't.  we WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT OIL!
Jun 18 2008 12:56AM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
dukes, just get a boob job and fall on them  (c;
Jun 18 2008 12:57AM
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switchskier206604
Posts: 497 - Karma: 36
done -- companies only react once the market does. this is excellent, here here
Jun 18 2008 12:57AM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
So you like the prices this high? You like paying more for food? You like paying for crazy expensive plane tickets? I have yet to hear a legit argument to back your "statement".
Jun 18 2008 1:05AM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
You think this is high?  Buy an expensive plane ticket and fly to Europe.....  Americans need to change their way of living, plain and simple.  Why do you think Americans have a weight problem?  They're fuckin lazy.  They can't even hop on a bike and ride a few miles to work, they can't even take 15 minutes to cook a meal, so they buy fastfood, etc etc etc. I can back it up for days girl.
Jun 18 2008 1:09AM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
there's literally hundres of things that americans do on a day to day basis that millions of people around the world consider a luxury.

If everyone in the world lived like americans, we would need 4 planet earth's.  Yeah, I know I'm part of the problem too, its just that generation after generations of americans have been programmed to think in a certain way, and that's what we're use to.  so sad.
Jun 18 2008 1:13AM
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720skiguy
Posts: 4553 - Karma: 21
were going to have to rely on it regardless? as already stated there is enough for a couple of years of US consumption in the ANWR. then what? go back to foreign oil of course.
Jun 18 2008 1:13AM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
we have lots of technological achievements that would greatly benefit our society, just not available at prices fit for generic consumption.
Jun 18 2008 1:24AM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165

very true

Jun 18 2008 1:25AM
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tjski
Posts: 5859 - Karma: 44
FAIL...
Click for larger image


We as a country (asuuming you live in america) do need oil.. If you cant see this i obviously can not see what you see, at all.
Jun 18 2008 1:26AM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
I know the Euros aren't complaining, but have you seen the Dollar recently? It sucks compared to the Euro. But you see my business cannot change the way it operates. So I should suffer because fat Americans need to get off their asses? Give me a break. Our family business involves traveling thousands of miles each year across the US. My dad drives a Suburban. He drives a big truck like that because he needs to keep the inventory that's in the back safe. Our other business involves horses. We have six horses. Those horses need to eat twice a day, every day. A bag of feed has gone from $6 a bag to $9 a bag. We buy 12 bags of feed every two weeks - you do the math. We also have to haul horses around for horse shows. Now my mom's truck (2500HD - gas) gets 11 mpg now with the 10% ethanol. My dad's truck gets around 17 mpg with the ethanol. My truck (1500 - gas) gets 15 mpg with the ethanol. Don't get me wrong. I would love to be driving a Subaru Impreza right now, but I can't afford it. Also, me going to work involves driving 30 miles a day - you do the math. My land is approximately 7 miles from civilization. Not everyone lives in the suburbs. Not everyone in America is fat and/or lazy. I cook my own food every day - sometimes I don't even eat. I haven't had fast food in months. Why should I suffer because of everyone else's bad habits? We really need to drill. Our lives, sadly, depend on it until be find better alternatives to oil. Don't say ethanol. Moonshine is only good for drinkin', and even then I feel like shit after.
Jun 18 2008 1:27AM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
Yeah, I see where you're comin from.  Some of us are just trying to make an honest living.  I just recently got a job as a sales rep and will be driving my freakin ass off as the gas prices continue to rise, and the money for that comes right out of my pocket.  No help from the brands I'm carrying.  I'm also only gonna be getting about 16-17 mpg and that's wtih a V6!  I have a passion for the action sports industry, unfortunatley gas affects so many aspects of life.  I wish we would have stock piled gas loooooong ago when it was soo much cheaper.

Yeah, having horses in the middle of the city may be a little awkward. (c;

I'll sign.  I just wish they would push the development of using other types of fuels.
Jun 18 2008 1:35AM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
Enjoying a kick ass economy and a government with a budget surplus. Thats where.
Jun 18 2008 1:56AM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
go look into the amount of money "big oil" invests into Gas alternatives.... the number will knock your socks off...
Jun 18 2008 6:36AM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
One amount figure means nothing without explaining how its invested, whos its invested with, what type of alternative it is invested in, not to mention the possible scenario where counter measures are also deployed by the Oil guys to stall the process. Simple stats are easy to throw around but the real interesting story lies within that number.

Someone get me THAT story. Thats some interesting reading.
Jun 18 2008 6:47AM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
fed grant money is a big catch 22.  its needed for funding research/design/capital improvement projects, but yet it easily wasted.

if you get a grant for a 50,000 dollars to research or design or build something, you better use all that money.  if you are able to accomplish your task under budget, the feds do not give you a trophy.  instead next time you ask for 50,000 dollars, they'll simply give you less than what you asked for.  a true use it or lose it situation. 
Jun 18 2008 10:01AM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
^ meant to add that it is possible that alternative energy R&D funded by car/oil companies falls into similar circumstances with the main goal of giving money away to be a big PR move that gains secret tax credits.

want another secret tax credit?  how about a suspension of sales tax in washington DC this august coinciding with the first week of congress's summer recess. 
Jun 18 2008 10:27AM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
Thank you. I feel the same exact way, but for now it's what is needed.
Jun 18 2008 11:55AM
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mophead
Posts: 1172 - Karma: 309
And oil takes close a million years to form.


Jun 18 2008 1:37PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
FYI, Scientists have created bacteria now thats biproduct is crude oil. So now we can produce it quicker but honestly, its not a safe/healthy fix...
Jun 18 2008 1:44PM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
We THINK we NEED IT cuz we're use to a certain style of living.  Read the rest of the thread.
Jun 18 2008 1:59PM
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mophead
Posts: 1172 - Karma: 309
Yah that sounds like something that could bring the apocalypse. Eveybody's stoked because we have cheap oil, then BAM the bacteria becomes lethal and wipes out the entire human population.
Jun 18 2008 1:59PM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,947

Just use less energy.  Its not worth ruining a national wildlife reserve over our insatiable need for oil.  No other country consumes as much as we do.  Walk/bike, turn out the lights, whatever.  Its a problem that needs to be dealt with in other ways than finding oil.  I know you said not to debate, but I'm giving a reason why not to sign the petition.  Hopefully some of you will see it like me.

Jun 18 2008 2:03PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
A lot of the opinions in this thread are starting to really make me realize how self centered a lot of my fellow Americans are these days. As alot of you are noticing the price of things, especially oil, are going up. Yes you are correct in noticing that. And the economy is nowhere near where it was 8 to 10 years ago. Yet all of you continue to think that you can continue with the same lifestyle that you used to have 8 to 10 years ago. Wake up America. Thats not the case. Yes the economy is doing pretty bad right now, not near as bad as it was doing in say the end of 1929-1930 but it is not doing to well. And as a result you will not be able to live the same lifestyle you did when it was booming in the 1990's. Of course gas prices are going to hurt the way you make a living. So wake the fuck up and change your business plan. go to europe and see the size of their cars. You won't see to many tahoes, explorers and other Large SUVs or even larger size sedans like a lot of American car manufacturers continue to build. People we are still at war and are in an economic slump, the combination of the two mean we can't live the same way we did before. So make a little sacrifice in the way you live and try and live a little cheaper. It can be done.


also I have one last parting question for you all: how many pedals are there in a car?
Jun 18 2008 2:13PM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
I would give anything to drive a little Euro car, but Chevy and Ford aren't giving them to us. Ever since I started Top Gear I knew that America was super stupid. My truck shouldn't be getting 15 mpg, it should really be getting at least 23 mpg. Also, who the hell puts an 8-cylinder in a 1500 truck?

PS. 3
Jun 18 2008 2:42PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
If you don't feel the need to drive a brand new car every year then there are a lot of extremely fuel efficent used vehicles out there that you could be driving instead of your truck (even Nissan makes trucks that are more fuel efficent then the N.American manufactures).

Jun 18 2008 2:48PM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84

I don't feel the need to drive a truck every year. My truck is a 2005, my dad's is a 2001 with over 750,000 miles on it and my mom's is a 2001. Nissan isn't much more fuel efficient. I already looked into it before I got my truck.

Jun 18 2008 2:55PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
no Chevy and Ford are not making small cars but there are still lots of options for them in the US. Chevy and Ford are not the only companies that sell cars in the US.
Jun 18 2008 2:57PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
Do you need to drive a truck around for work or is it just your prefered vehicle type to drive?

If you dont need a fullsized truck then yes, some of nissans older compact trucks get some great milage (plus they run like a clock apperently, something Ford or chevy cant claim :P )
Jun 18 2008 3:00PM
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720skiguy
Posts: 4553 - Karma: 21
chevy aveo? ford focus?
Jun 18 2008 3:05PM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
Well right now I'm kind of in the process of getting them to realize I don't need to drive that stupid truck. You can't even put anything in the bed because it's so short. Insurance would be so much cheaper and it wouldn't cost so much fuel wise if I drove a Sube. No, they aren't the best in mileage, but it's better than the shit I have.
Jun 18 2008 3:47PM
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