Tuesday, September 30, 2008
America’s dependence on foreign oil has negative effects on two major fronts. First, it hurts America financially. The increase price of gasoline is hurting Americans and our economy: many are losing their jobs and cannot afford to spend money to help our economy. Oil prices seem to be skyrocketing daily with seemingly no end in sight. I believe that America should not pour money into foreign countries. A mind-boggling example of this is Dubai. Dubai has the ability to build almost imaginable buildings such as an indoor sky slop, the world’s biggest mall, an underwater hotel, and countless others. Yes, an underwater hotel! We spend more than $700 billion a year in oil or nearly $13 million worth per hour. This links our economic security in the hands of foreign countries, many of which we have "rickety" or unstable relations with (i.e. Hugo Chavez). We need to create energy on our land, so America can be investing in America. I believe this can be done and can be advantageous to our environment. The second major threat that oil poses is to our environment. Many people are skeptical about the existence of global warming and about what causes it. Some believe the that we are just going through a natural change in climate, there actually is no (reliable) evidence that points to global warming, and other "excuses."I believe, from empirical evidence, that carbon dioxide increase (from combustion of gasoline, deforestation, and from industries) is a huge factor in creating the global warming crisis. This issue is linked with the presidential race. America needs to chose a presidential candidate who supports efforts to decrease our dependence on foreign oil. These candidates should fiscally support new ways to develop energy and to support federal caps on greenhouse gas emissions. Natural gas, hydrogen power, solar energy, biofuels, and fuel cells are ways that, if funded and further developed, can help America end its dependence on oil. The following youtube video is a great! It touches upon almost all the major issues this blog will focus on.
10 comments:
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I agree that finding new energy resources is of the utmost importance. Cars need to move to electricity or hydrogen fuel and plants need to stop using oil to generate energy. Basically the country needs to decrease its dependency on oil dramatically (not just foreign oil, but all oil). The massive amounts of CO2, whether it is causing Global Warming or not, cannot be helping the environment, and this country should be doing everything in its power to prevent disasters created by CO2. Like you have stated the environment is a dire issue, not only in this country but the world as well, and everybody should be informed of the consequences of our current path.
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Caitlin, thanks for the post, there are many reasons why we haven't fully transitioned to renewable fuels. In the case of biofuels, many believe that converting so much food (corn, soy) to fuel will cause a huge rise in food prices (bc less supply). Powering cars with wind and solar energy has yet to be proven effective. Hydrogen yields clean, effective ways to power cars. The major setback is lack of funding. We will only sees these operated in the commercial realm when an increasing in funding allows them to be perfected and introduced into the marketplace. Also, I hadn't heard about major oil companies buying new technology to benefit their business. This can a topic for a future post.
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Since I am blogging on this issue as well, I would like to share my observations with you. Firstly, gas and oil prices do not always increase daily, but they are most certainly extremely inflated. Your use of our dependence of foreign oil is compelling, but, by itself, that section seems to suggest that America rid itself of only foreign oil, not all oil, which seems to be your intended message. Also, you mention natural gas as an alternative energy source, but natural gas is a non-renewable fossil fuel that also contributes to global warming. So, can you clarify your intended positions on oil dependence and natural gas? Thanks.
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Tommy,
Ok, forgive me for my lack of clarification. There is an indisputable growing trend for increasing oil prices as time increases. This is obviously due to an increase in demand (as people increase, the need for oil does as well) and lack of supply (too much oil drilling=less amount of oil available/hard to reach oil=increase price). Although natural gas is not a renewable fuel, I view that natural gas can be a stepping stone for to end our dependence on foreign oil, make us more environmentally friendly, allow for search for new energy sources. We have to transition to renewable fuels. I don't believe we can just wake up one morning to biofuel gas stations and cars that do not accept oil. Once we rid our dependence on foreign oil, we are able to look for other fuel sources. America has huge natural gas resources, so we will be putting money into our country. I believe that this will give us the needed financial resources to invest in renewable resources. Also, natural gas is much more environmentally friendly than oil (and coal) experimental evidence shows that it produces less nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide. I should have clarified in my post that I don't believe natural gas is the best means for cleaner and renewable resources, it seems like the only fitting one for the transition. -
Really great argument, I have one question, though. Wouldn't cutting off our oil consumption in the Middle East just hurt our relationship with them more? They're kind of like the bully on the playground. As long as we keep money invested in them, we have a pretty safe standing. Stop paying them, and our future could be unsure.
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Wood,
I definitley agree with you that it is important to transition. The U.S. does not have the money right now to devote to testing for renewable resources that may not be as effective. We have to gradually phase out the use of oil and other fossil fuels, and remember its not just fueling cars, it fuels so many sectors of American industry. And I think its a great idea to try and invest as much in our own nation as we can. We have more than enough problems than to be concerned with not funding other nations as adequately as we usually do. You spoke of choosing a presidential candidate that will help this crisis, what are the platforms of each in relation to energy?
Thanks!
Britney -
Not only will investing in America ween us off foreign oil, but it would boost the American economy greatly! Since oil is definitely linked to the economy, switching from oil to renewable fuels would stimulate more jobs and increase American companies' revenue. Instead of Saudi Arabia getting billions of dollars from us, the U.S will circulate its money within its own country. Also, is it true that America has plenty of oil within its own country? Could we use that as a temporary source until we switch to renewable fuels?
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That video was amazing and it challenges a lot of my views on renewable energy. So where do we go from here? Who will be willing to stand up and say that we screwed up and start to make a difference?
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Your suggestions for renewable resources are innovating and probably where the future of this country lies. I was born in Venezuela country who has to deal with the burden of having Hugo Chavez as a president. Even though I hate the man for his socialist views and the great damage he has caused. Can the U.S. blame the relations only on how crazy he is? What would the U.S. do if another country tried to tell them how and at what price they should export their natural resources?
Wood,
You make good suggestions for renewable resources to replace oil such as solar energy, geothermal energy, windmill, and natural gas, but I have a few questions. Haven't scientists already developed cars that can run on other kinds of fuel and if so why are they not being used yet? I have heard before that major oil companies buy out new technology and inventions made to conserve oil so that it will not harm their businesses. Is this true and if it is shouldn't the government do something about it since we are obviously facing an energy crisis.