Does our economy make it harder for alternative energy sources to advance?

Question

"We need government regulation and standards for the oil companies. We need the scientific community to research more renewable energy machines and put them on the market. The government won't regulate the oil companies since the economy depends a lot on them, and the economy is what powers the government (low economy=low income=less taxes). Scientists have the same fears about the economy."

The above is a quote of me. I'm still a high school student, so I'm not the most educated on the subject.

I wanted to ask you what your opinion on the question is. I provided some background to mine as an example. The person who best defends their opinion the best will be the likely best answer.

Do you think that the oil companies being engraved in our economy are causing the lack of change in the way we consume energy?

Answer 1

I think you are asking the same question that popped into my mind, after discovering that we humans are part of "The Cycle of Life".  This being the case, any damage in the cycle may have a negative impact on us too.  So why do we allow it?

Science was my calling too, but I had to try to understand why we behave in such a self destructive manner.  I originally thought the answer might be found by studying business. What is it that motivates a group of people (a company) to act in this manner?  What I discovered is that most everyone (not just companies) are after the same thing, MONEY and what it can buy.

Money is such an addictive commodity, that people are willing to sell their soul for more of it; and that is exactly what we seem to be doing.  There are less damaging methods of sustaining a living then those we currently employ, but they are less efficient, at least initially.  Apparently their seems to be some "People" who are more concerned about extracting minerals and wealth from Earth, than they are about taking care of her.  "People" who do not regard Earth as their home, and seem to have another place to go when Earth can no longer sustain life;  Call them travelers, opportunist, or just sellouts.

Today, I would be tempted to wager those in charge (at the top of the pyramid) of our governments and  financial institutions are not even creatures of this Earth. Those individuals that we are unwittingly manipulated to "elect" as our government officials are most probably just puppets of theirs.  Their patients and careful long-term planning, suggest those in charge  have a longer life span than the average Earthling, but then again so does the average fortune 500 company.

I know, I know, but Extra-Terrestrials (E.T.'s) don't exist, right?  Not so fast,  If they don't exist then why does our government have some of the severest penalties for government officials who choose to make public what they know about UFO phenomena?  It has a classification of above "Top Secret" and is punishable by a hefty fine and imprisonment and the option of death is kept on the table.  There is also a law in the books that states any American that experiences an E.T. close encounter may be quarantined for an undetermined period of time.  The reason given is that they may be a biological hazard to the population.

Space Exposure Law

http://www.halexandria.org/dward365.htm

So you see, there could very well be powers guiding our economies that may have grown beyond the control of the people or free market forces.  Powers that can opt for the use of one energy source over another.  If not an international business / government ploy,  E.T.'s could be supplying us with just enough rope to help hang ourselves (advanced weapons technology).  The good news is that not all E.T.s may be out to help "rape" our planet.  Some E.T. activity suggests they are benevolent creatures. It may be the old "Good vs. Evil" battle  (spiritual world  vs. material world).  

Any way you look at it, alternative fuel sources sure would interfere with the present day oil based fuel monopoly that exists. That sure could put a damper on any control freaks that may have an eye on further cornering the world energy market.

You're on the right track,  our governments won't control these huge energy monopolies because our governments are in their back pockets: "Bought and paid for".

Edited 2-12-08

Answer 2

oil companies, car manufacturing companies, aviation industry, plastics, public transport etc are all slaves of carbon based fuel.  They are a very powerful lobby.

Answer 3

Yes.  The oil companies, lobbysists, red tape, beauraracy, and capitalism are making it hard on us.  Look at other countries...  In most of Europe, a car that only gets 40 mpg is terrible.  Sweden has pledged to be oil-free by 2020.  

And us?  We plan to drill for oil in one of the most fragile ecosystems in the world, invade other countries for their oil, and bury nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.  

Don't get me started on how we spend 2x as much of our GDP on healthcare as the next most expensive nation but we rank #38 on healthcare standards in the world.  We could learn a lot from other countries-- if only we could stop thinking that America is the most badass country ever.

Answer 4

The Environmental Endgame (book):

http://books.google.com/books?id=8PnclYI...

(which I happen to be reading)

argues that traditional neoclassical economics

are flawed, because they are based on "metaphysical"

assumptions; and therefore inadequate to properly

assess environmental cost and benefits.  It says that

economics is *not* a science, it merely uses mathmatics

which are based on Newtonian physics.

Answer 5

yes it really does

Answer 6

oil companies just want to make more and more money, no matter how it effects the economy. they're all so selfish, they already have millions of dollars and instead of using that money to find better sources of energy, they just want to raise gas prices. it's sick.

Answer 7

http://www.ozenergy.net

Read this page, there is baffling information that makes you wonder how the government can get away with not backing renewable energy! There are also some great books about this subject.

Answer 8

Just some comments:

You are obviously confusing national government and national economy.

The economy is not what powers the government. It is what supplies the basis for taxation by the government to give to the economy the desired orientation (if any) by allocating spendings and applying different taxations.

The government is put in place for voters in a democracy, not by the economy.

Scientists are generally not economists (a very limited number of them are nevertheless also economists but this is extremely rare).

Economists might have fear for the economy based on data and parameters (some which can be supplied by scientists).

The {national} economy (assuming it´s the US one) does not make it harder for alternative sources to advance. The US is an advanced economy with a large financial and technological potential. Your quote might only apply to least developed countries.

It´s rather the market and its tendancy toward short term profits which makes it difficult to make major long term shifts like toward sustainable energies.

This is the reason why in Europe we saw the necessity to incentivize renewable forms of energy in order to launch a market which at some point will become mature.

People in "concentrated solar power" for example that they have to build 20 large plants "at losses" to become as competitive as coal. And since no market entity can absorb this cost and the uncertain return on investment linked, it is the government task to provide the finance for it (thinking that at some point in the future when the technology is mature it will contribute to the economy).

This is just like a kid costs money until he starts working and then pays to raise the next generation.

Now speaking very clearly, the government has the power to intervene on energy markets and it does it all the time. The question then is what the aim is of shaping this market (maximum tax income? short term economic advance? long term advance? export of technologies? energy independance? reduced geostrategic risk? environmental benefits? climate protection?)

Renewable energies does not mean less income. Don´t forget that it reduces external costs (e.g. pollution and reliance on foreign sources) which are not taken into account in the price. A price is not a cost. And don´t foreget it´s money paid to foreign countries which is shifted toward domestic jobs...

Answer 9

yes.

Answer 10

Yes and it doesnt help that America let a Texas oil man occupy the whitehouse for the past seven years, either.

Answer 11

Our government makes it harder yes. Just look into what happened to the EV-1 which was an electric car that's no longer available. Big business, corporate monkeys and lobbyists are running rampant in our government helping make the rules that make THEIR lives easier, often to the detriment of the public and of course, the environment.

Big corporations don't do anything unless they're required to. Look up how hard they fought to put in things like seatbelts... now they're standard equipment thanks to safety laws and folks like Ralph Nader. Corporations will fight with their big money and tell us higher mileage is impossible in cars, yet we know they've been able to make cars that get easily 100mpg... yet we can't buy them? Oil companies wouldn't approve... and well, they're not required to make them to those standards so why should they? Some say consumer demand would say differently but I have a hard time believing that folks WANT to spend as much as they are on gasoline.