If the U.S.A is the greatest country in the world and we all (even President Bush) agree that we need to end?

Question

our dependence on foreign oil, then with all the great scientists and resources this country has, why then haven't we been able to come up with a non-petroleum, non-pollution emiting, engine to put in cars (i.e hydrogen). Also, why hasn't the government stepped in to force auto makers to build only non-petroleum based vehicles by a certain date, as they did with seat belts in the 70's?

Answer 1

ok

IF THE usa  is the greatest country in the world

then WHY CAN THEY NOT GET IT TOGETHER TO HAVE AT LEAST THE SAME TECHNOLOGY AS 300.000 YEARS AGO,,http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/esp_ba...

they did not use petroleum ,why cant we have that technology

And if we are so free why cant we talk about it in Yahoo????? Translated Sumerian texts by Sitchin say it was a space port

but any links to Sitchin,that  I have tried to post ,in Answers were blocked in the preview.

So Free society is an absolute lie,

If the production of Ethanol is so destructive to the Environment ,and produces so much Carbon (more than the worlds industry put together )And if it is so hard on the workers as well as on the land ,and if it raises food prices ,causes riots and Famine ,

(they just blocked me from  posting  links to relevant texts that i have in my page,  )

The maybe silly question arises,WHY .ARE THEY GOING THRU WITH IT.

Why do they insist on holding on to this primitive engine

Could it be relevant ,Who owns the motor industry ,and the Oil business ,and who are the presidents are

And that they are all related http://www.huffingtonpost.com/_93356.htm... businesses and the People,and the control

When the profits run out, the focus will change

When will people realize that the tops of the pyramids float and connect to other tops by blood,rather than being emotionally or morally linked to their masses below.

Voice of  reason you are unreasonable

lets see how free you feel when you are chipped,although by that time you will not be the administrator any more to determine your feelings or reasons

Answer 2

If you take a deeper look at the US Government, you will see that a large number of Senators and Representatives are tied to the oil industy one way or another.  The oil industry puts more money into DC by way of lobbyists and campaign donations than any other industry.  In order to keep the money flow coming in, legislation remains pro-oil.

This does not mean that the government is solely to blame.   The USA as a society has been spoiled for many years.  We do everything to excess but the time has come to change our habits.  We have to reduce our use of energy and our government.  We need to become self sufficient in many respects.  Our government was set up by means of the Constitution to provide a few items for the Republic.  We the people need to take responsibility for our lives and our pursuit of happiness.  Quit relying on the government so much and demand the government be cut down to size.  

This year I began carpooling for the first time.  I collected water from my gutters to store in a 250 gallon tank.  I use this water to water plants and a small vegetable garden.  We installed programmable thermostats and utilized fans and opened windows instead of using our AC all the time as well.

I changed my habits due to necessity but I should have changed long ago because it was the right thing to do.  I believe that the US citizens will enact change by this means.  Necessity will force a majority of Americans to conserve demand changes in government policies over the next 5-10 years.  Our capitalist society demands that the consumer dictate changes so we as the consumers are the catalysts.

Answer 3

Well first of all we are not the greatest country in the world. I am an American, and proud to be one, but as with any country we have our good points and our bad points.

I think we need to end our dependence on oil period. We haven't made progress because many people aren't convinced that we need to; the government hasn't forced automakers to do that because GM, Ford, etc. don't have the money or drive to do so.

Answer 4

yea, and who killed the electric car?

wow go tuba, you on a roll tonight! :-)

and excellent post from nickel as always.

i agree with all of that.

Answer 5

"why then haven't we been able to come up with a non-petroleum, non-pollution emiting, engine to put in cars (i.e hydrogen)"

Because that's not realistic.  Oil infrastructure is in place, the logistics to sell / purchase it, transport it, get into pumps, and get it into cars.  That's a lot!  You can't change that overnight, and when you do try to change it, anyone would realize you will spend all this money to wind up back where you are.

Hydrogen satisfies your requirements, but are you aware that the hydrogen tank is huge?  It's only feasible for 2 seaters with no trunk, that's how big the tank is.  The technology is a long way from being ready for commercial use, Honda estimates it will be another 10 or 20 years before they are ready.

Forcing seat belts for safety is a lot easier than forcing different ways of producing cars.  Keep in mind that the current method works.  Changing the system could very easily jeapordize our entire industry, and as I said before, we will only wind up where we are now.

Answer 6

There are already a number of alternatives that have been created but the bottom line is cost effectiveness.  It would be a daunting task to make a switch in just a matter of a few years. Adding seat belts was grandfathered in and was only a tiny expense compared to this.

Answer 7

We have E85.  which is non-petroleum

Answer 8

This is extremely naive, but solution exist nevertheless

There is an extremely naive view in the US which is to say that "the market will solve everything". Just ask Chile how the market reacted when Argentina cut the natural gas pipe on them...

So basically you can have high energy prices for a good reason (environment and energy independance) or for a bad reason (geostrategic uncertainties, scarce supply, etc...)

But has done the following step:

- cut research funds for the National Renewable Energy lab

- pushed for more subsidies for oil than renewable energies

-  opposed mandates for fuel efficiency

- stated that the energy supply should never be a restriction in the lifestyle of US citizen (clear message against energy efficiency in the state of the union)

- send more resources on attempts to control foreign oil than on attempts to reduce the dependance on oil

Answer 9

Seat belts was an easy issue to rectify, there was little to no anti-seatbelt  lobby..Gasoline combustion engines in another story. Our entire automotive, pertrochemical, and plastics indusrtries are all based on the consumption of crude oil and they have lobbying groups in Washington to look out for their interests..

They buy up new technology patents ase they are filed and presented, then bury the results in order to keep from spending the billions of dollars in research and developement to implememnt them.

Personally, I would prefer the US imports NO foreign oil and allow the prices to skyrocket. Our government and industries would be clamoring all over each other to perfect new, cleaner, and more efficient technologies...

E-85 is a poor alternative and it's production should be halted or changed dramatically. The corn which is being used to make ethanol is removed from the food and feed markets causing the price of those products to increase rapidly as the supply drops. The only reason it is slightly less expensive than gasoline is because the government subsidises farmers to grow corn (for fuel in this instance). If not for the subsities, the cost of the corn would definitely exceed the cost of refining oil.  Sweetgrass and sugar cane are far better fuel crops from not only because they produce more gallons per acre but they also can help poor countries like Haiti to give their economy a boost or even give our county's tobacco farmers something healthier to grow.

Edit: regina, you are half right, the continued use of petroleum is intended to line the pockets of oil companies and all the middle agents who have their slice of the pie before it is served to us. Cancer cure is a totally different story. Many scientists, laboratories, and government-funded agencies are actively seeking the cures for many cancers since finding cures would mean  big contracts and lots of sales for those groups to make huge profits. In the meantime, we are paying for that research every time we buy a drug that is already on the market. (and also to give lawers half of the settlements to people sueing them because the FDA rushes new products to market)

Do you think certain drugs that cost 50 bucks a dose actually cost anywhere near 50 bucks to produce, no. That money is paying to research new drugs...The pharmacuetical companies are taking no risk since WE are paying for their research but they stand to make HUGE gains if they succeed.

Answer 10

Because we are a free society where the government does not dictate personal choices such as what type of car to buy or what type of fuel to use.

And we do not all agree that we need to end our dependence on foreign oil, I for one don't agree so this makes the use of all, incorrect.

Answer 11

call me a skeptic, but maybe because we're too busy filling the pockets of oil tycoons....just like why haven't we found a cure for certain kinds of cancer?

Answer 12

1) The assertion that the USA is the "greatest country in the world" has become so soiled that I doubt it is any longer defensible.

2)  Bush only finally abandoned his denierism last year after all the money laundering Neanderthals who had bribed him to take that position originally had already reversed themselves.  Eight years of precious time have been lost, and I have zero expectations that his obstruction of the enforcement of environmental laws will not continue.

3)  Hydrogen powered cars are a red herring.  According to the experts who work with them the concept itself has 5 serious flaws that have to be overcome before a car could even be designed, and solutions are a minimum fifty years away.  Bush killed funding of all of the products that were ready for the showroom floor and some that were already there, and diverted all the money to this Turkey.  Dig into it and I have no doubt that more sooner than later you'll uncover a name like Enron, Halliburton, or Blackwater.

Answer 13

What makes you think the USA is the greatest country in the world?  It is hated and feared by very many people. Big and powerful isn't necessarily great.  And yes, you ought to be using your own oil, not fighting other countries so you can get theirs and save yours. Try to convince your government to join in with the efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases - whether of not your country is greatest is is certainly way ahead in pollution. Sorry, but you did ask.