Debate For All

Oh well I'll just have to batten myself down inside a Tiger I and hope for the best then.

 

Nah - their mobility would beat you!

Sorry guys - that was a bit low...

 

Roel,

In the USA, a vehicle is a must. Because of the geographical size, travel is the only way to get to anywhere. You either drive, or you fly. For over 10 years, I traveled 35 miles one way just to get to work ech day.

Because of its vastness, most Americans never even leave the country. We have mountains and swamps, beaches (with lots of scantily clad young beauties) and flatlands; desert and fertile plains. We have big cities of millions and small towns of only 50 people.

Only about 10% of Americans even have a passport! Last check, almost two thirds of Congress did not have a passport! Little wonder why Americans don't see eye to eye with most foreigners. Most of them don't care what is going on elsewhere because there is so much to attend to right at home. America offers most Americans all they will ever need or want.

Probably the biggest thing America offers that attracts so many people from other places in the world is quite simply opportunity. With so many people coming to the USA, it is little wonder we have all the unique problems facing us that no other country has in history. We are a nation of "mutts" as one actor put it (quite correctly I must say), and even with our problems, I know of no other place in the world I would rather live than right here.

My trips to England, France, Belgium, and Africa really made me appreciate what we have here, and what we do not have.

:smok:

 

That's good because I'm glad yo live there and I don't. LOL

I have never beent tot he states so it is unfair of me, sorry.

But if I had the chance I would emigrate to Norway.

 

To be fair -
I've only been to the USA for 2 weeks. Saw much of New Jersey.
Nice to visit - but would rather not live there.

I'm just too used to England & the English!
Interestingly, my second choice of where to live would be Germany - I've only been there for 2 weeks, but I loved it.

 

GP -

Oil Reserves. Texas has 25% of USA oil reserves. Add in offshore Gulf of Mexico and it's almost 50%.

Estimated oil yet to be found is 3 trillion barrels.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/natu ... df/ch3.pdf

http://www.scaruffi.com/politics/oil.html

Note: The estimation of reserves is fraught with politics and guesswork.

:smok:

 

And sadly this is why we get the rest of the world disliking America.
As a generalisation( ), Americans are a bit too wrapped up in America to even realise that other nations have different cultural ideals / models.

Just like Britain!
I come from a town that is ~1/5 'Asian' (Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi).
Mind you, we are small enough to absorb & incorporate such an influx better.

Incidently (genuinely curious) which problems?

 

From the cia factbook.

Oil - consumption:
19.65 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA
Oil - imports:
NA
Oil - proved reserves:
22.45 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Proved reserves, what you are quoting is estimated, recently the estimations from some companies was lower than stated. i don't try and pretend to be a all knowledgable oil magnate but from all the figures I have found at current rates there is not that much. in the states. In the world maybe. Your words were Texas can provide oil for decades, maybe but maybe not. I would imagine your oil is being not used too much to plug the gap between the oil in the middle east running out and new oil production coming up to strengh, as we do.

But witht he way it is being burnt in the US does it matter.

 

Greg - Britain produces a fair bit of Oil via the North Sea, yet we have to import loads due to the chemical mix of North Sea crude oil (it is too 'light' - doesn't contain enough of the heavier oils like petrol).

I wonder if the USA is similarly placed - does its crude fulfil the full range of oil needs from parrafin & lubricants down to the sludge you make roads with?

 

Not sure Ricky but about 40% of our oil is used to produce gasoline. Not sure if that is by design or necessity.

GP - that's just it. No one knows. I lived in the Permian Basin for four years and got to know a number of the oil magnates there. It was their opinion that there was no oil shortage, nor would there be one save a "man created shortgage".

Who knows!

:smok:

 

But surely the oil will run out, one day.

It would surely make sense to use the oil we have more wisely than to run through it at whatever pace we choose then sit around saying
"Ooops, I though we had more than that"

Alternative sources of energy are being developed:

1) wind/sunlight/tidal for electricity (except some people think windmills look ugly, so object! How blinkered are you? I agree to environmentally sensitive use, but surely a view with windmills is better than smog?

2) gas (often methane or hydrogen or a mix) for cars.

and so on.
However, these won't make a much money as oil...

 

I'm not saying you shouldn't have a vehicle, because of course in a country the size of Texas you can't get around using one. It's just that recent numbers (don't have a source on that ) showed that about two-thirds of the world's oil is being used up by one-twenty-fourth of the world's population: Americans. Because all nations use oil, all we be affected when it runs out and this is not going to take very long. Conferences like the one in Kyoto estimated the earth's resources to last for maybe another century, but less is more likely. Therefore I'd just wish that the greatest users would start getting more responsible with it - wishful thinking of course...

Being stuck with your face to America will make you unaware of the larger picture; your use of resources, energy and atmosphere affects the whole world, just like it does anywhere else, but the largest user should carry the greatest responsibility.

Whooo Greg, you wanted off-topic posts and you got them...

 

I just got back from a lovely holiday there. I travelled around Bavaria and went to Regensburg, Nurnberg, Bamberg, Munich and the Alps around Berchtesgaden and Konigsee. I also went to Salzburg and Werfen in Austria (and saw the castle in Werfen which they used in the war movie Where Eagles Dare with Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton.)

I'm planning on going back. I know Germany very well (my girlfriend is from Hamburg) but mainly the north and the Rhineland areas. It was my first visit to Bavaria and I loved it, especially all that lovely beer in big one litre glasses in Regensberg.

 

Good comment. That's what travel is all about. Personally I take each country for what it is and adapt to everything (yes, even food :lol: ). I don't think anything has ever irritated me about any country I've been to. I just go with the flow. Best thing to do.

 

My favourite place in Germany has to be Paderborn.

Just wonderful.

Ahem.
Yes, Americans can have cars.
but-

1) efficient cars
2) don't use them if you really don't need to! To visit someone an hour away, yes. To pop down to the shop that is 15 minute's walk away, no.
3) Built pavements! To draw from my experience (again, and fully admitting how narrow it is) I was at someone's house in New Jersy somewhere for dinner. He and I went to the local wine shop to by something to go with the meal. We drove. We had to - there were no bloody pavements, and the shop was across a railway line spanned only by a 1-car-wide bridge with no pavement!

 

Incidentaly the food in Germany can be classed as bland but it didn't bother me. I'll eat what the locals eat no problem. Sausage and sourkraut with sweet mustard. Not exactly exciting but I was happy with it. Ok, I'll shut up about food now and get back to Tiger tanks. :smok:

 

I went to Germany about four times, two of which I can remember. The first thing I do when I get there is eat their sausage, it's delicious!

Ricky, I completely agree with you on the car thing. At least it should be encouraged to walk or cycle in one way or another; pavements are one step in the right direction which should have been made a long time ago...

 

Spot on. I love the sausage there too and could eat them every day but some people I know would say it's bland when it isn't. It's great. I'll eat anything. Oooops, sorry I was supposed to stop talking about food! :roll:

 

From you link.

How long will it last?
Using these data (estimated reserves: 800 billions of barrels, world consumption: 76 millions per day), it looks like planet Earth has have oil for about 10,000 days, i.e. about 27 years. Assuming that consumption does not increase... If consumption increases an average 5% a year, then we have oil for about 15 years. But the US Geological Survey estimates the amount of oil that is still to be found at about 3 trillions, three times the oil reserves known today (it is not clear if "all" that oil can actually be pumped to the surface and therefore used).

If the current reserves will last 27 years and the estimated oil yet to be found is 3 times greater, that is 3x27=81 years. That is in the world not US.

All your data and mine shows the US as having 22 billion barrels as I said earlier.

As America has shown it is enough for them for now.

LOL

PS Texas only has 20%.

 

Well, let's go there together and have a Currywurst then. I can't wait!

D'oh!! This was about food again!