Stabilty with world hunger?

The usual copout. Yes it is all I think the average apathetic American can say. Doing something about it is NOT an option.

FYI. I was born and raised in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming and Montana and don't knock Russia either, its a very beautiful place.

 

Well it is factually documented that communism is corrupt and doesn't work.

If your talking of oil futures? You may get some sympathy from me. The problem with capitalism is monopoly. In simple terms, I can charge as much as I like for a good or service because I can. With oil, it is the basic building block of most if not all major economies. As such it is also a major strategic product for all countries. The problem is that if oil, specifically gas, diesel and home heating oil were reasonable priced, not twice as much as I paid last year and three times as much before the Katrina Excuse, then there would be an economic boom and the government, as well as energy producers, would see dollars but not piss off the average person at the pump. Very similar to the capital gains tax being low or lowered....the same effect more revenue due to greater investment....low taxes...high revenue and economic success. What we are seeing is the ugly side of capitalism squeeze the cow for every last drop of milk and killing it in the process.....like what state, specifically Democrat state governments do to their tax payers, very selfish and stupid economically.....As far as the Green environmentalists are concerned, until built in obsolescence is done away with you simply have no leg to stand on....Green products are crap and they wear out just as fast if not faster wasting energy and resources.....Green stuff is just a hair brained marketing scheme designed to make the guilty and the "feel the need to do somethings" feel more guilty and buy new stuff....new green stuff that is....more armor for the junk heap. So if futures could be better controlled, tax the oil futures only and not the consumers at the pump...price may be better moderated by actual consumption rather than investment speculation and more refineries or modern efficient ones built and less restriction on oil drilling, their might be some relief at the pump. It also would be nice to not see some cow squeezing bastard get a 400 million dollar golden parachute....Ah but we tread in dangerous waters as the ambulance chasers and activist judges would have to be controlled.

Convenient use of the word lazy versus the necessity to get many things done, sometimes too many, that all have to be done in a timely manner. Once again it is not your choice to tell others what to do. A walk to the store might be nice at 70 degrees in Naples but not in -20 degrees in Boise Idaho in mid winter. If you feel strongly then do it yourself or with like minded folk and feel whatever it is that you get out of it and be satisfied that you saved the planet.

After cutting down two trees and bucking them up, I won't feel like walking to the store and hauling back a cart full of groceries.

Add to that text messaging, cell phone, make up, coffee coolata and three bites to get to the center of a tootsie roll tootsie pop

Danger Will Robinson Danger!

 

Nuclear power.

Didn't "Satsop" round Ya'll go belly up cuz regulation changes, new technology, and extra costs (occured during the lenght of time it took to build) made 4 out of 5 of the facilities go under? 2.25 Billion down the drain in 1970 dollars?

Smart move

 

Sure leave it to you to go change your avatar and ruin my punchline

 

I forgot capitalism was perfect, corruption free and Enron was in the right all along.

Jeez, you really are one paranoid puppy aren't you!

1. I'm not TELLING you what to do, I am suggesting an alternative. I'm sorry that you are so insecure about the way you live that you consider any suggestion that there might be an alternative a threat to it (should I expect you to turn up at my door with a bunch of musket toting militiamen any day now?) but really, take a chill pill.

2. Look at what I just said, I carefully separated laziness from necessity for you, what I said was that people often drive because it is convenient but not necessary' they are therefore being lazy. Hell, if it is an Idaho winter then go nuts, you can drive your armoured snow buggy with the gucci gatling anti-theft system for all I care, I'm sure it's pretty necessary in minus 20 and could hardly be called laziness. On the other hand, it isn't like that all the time one would assume and if it is I might suggest you picked the wrong place to live.

3. As for saving the planet, I'm no tree hugging crusader. All I am doing is suggesting a way in which people might be able to reduce their use of various fuels, get some exercise and feel better into the bargain. We are going to have to make some big decisions about the way we live our lives pretty soon, might be easier if you start thinking about it now. Adapt or perish as the saying goes.

4. You seem awfully worked up and that appears to prevent you from thinking clearly when you read a post (see points 1, 2 and 3). Might I suggest (N. B. I didn't say tell, I know how much that would have bothered you) that next time you read a post that makes you froth with revolutionary zeal as it appears to be some sort of instruction to change your way of life you might want to hop up, put on a jacket, grab the shopping list and go pick up the bread, milk and eggs from the shop (or some other minor chore). Who knows, on the way you might have a think about it and think:

Who knows, maybe you will even think:

The possibilities are endless.

 

I believe people can cut down in their usage of virtually everything. We combine trips all the time, and have a running grocery list picked up on the way home.
I think a major portion of the problem is (as with many other things) pressure from outside sources.
One can see what he needs to do, and how best to do it (hunter/gatherer thing), but often enough, the option for quick/efficient is off the table.
The reasons (for delay/nonsense) come from all different directions. Even though this is not your plan/wish, since you are "behind the wheel", you ARE blamed.
I have seen waste, and it appalls me, but that is an "Old School" train of thought.
Governments need to lead by example instead of "Do as I say, and not as I do." People see frivolous waste here, and "Monkey see, Monkey do".
I think that may be the root of all EVIL.
Nothing "Pi$$es off like being lectured about waste by people (who think they're Royalty), we have many Kings & Queens here, Who take golf junkets to Japan to discuss how they're going to increase your taxes to give themselves a raise.
POLITICAL REFORM, and not just words this time out.
Term limits (prevents Dynasties)(Whoever the 14th)
Punishment for inaction/corruption (removed from office/revoked pensions)
Same rules (no immunity)(jail-time)
No perks (pay from your own salary)
No gifts (Come on people- A gift is a BRIBE !)
Equal time for debates, TV/balloons/yard signs/cotton candy etc. for candidates to address the issues. (this is the only way to prevent)....Money BUYS !
Smaller Government (no touchie-feelie issues) infrastructure/economy/defense.....that's what taxes are supposed to provide, and the only things we don't get enough of.

 

Hi Stefan, why the rush? unfortunately - that's the way things are here. I'd prefer to slow down a bit so I could have proper time to do everything I want and or need to do daily but, can't afford to slow down-or i'll rick falling behind completing my tasks.

I don't mind rain either and getting wet bothers me not-however, the State of Texas, and the City of Corpus Christi, have some of the world's worst drivers. A few months ago, a man who led a large group of cyclers, was hit and killed by an idiot driving while putting on her makeup. Several months ago, a popular local radio disc jockey, was run over by another person who was "multi-tasking" while driving her car. This gal was driving and yakking on her cell phone. Apparently she was not paying attention, and hit this guy and the companion he was riding with. Just recently, he was finally rels==eased from the hospital. Luckily, both people have recovered suffeciently enough to go back to work.

It never fails here in Corpus Christi, that at least 2-3 times a week, someone manages to drive their car into a building of somekind. They either: "lost control hit the gas pedal instead of the brakes, or have some other lame excuse at to why they and their car, ended up inside a store, or someones house (which happened about 2 weeks ago)

Anyway, i'd still rather drive a car-because I can always try to avoid someone by defensive driving. I'd rather be the one who calls the shots-instead of someone driving a long bus.

 

Umm, yeah riiight. I guess this is a case of being a "displaced person?"

I just want to add that, Otto is a very fair man, and im glad for it-otherwise, opinions could not be spoken here. Its MY opinion that apparently a VERY few folks here (speaking about Americans only) that for some reason like to think that Russia, is a much better place to be than that of the Country of their birth. I respect that but, I do NOT condone it-and never would do or say anything against my Country. I guess that some people cannot stand the fact that I love my Country, and will stand up and defend it when and however necessary.

In closing to this posting, my country has given to me so much because of the sweat and blood from our Soldiers and Veterans. I greatly appreciate that and that I find it interesting that there are a few here that do not seem to be aware of that fact and or might not care about that. To me, that, is very disgusting.

 

America's biggest business?

It's government.
Federal, state and local taxes are "greater" than the revenues of any single industry. For the first time in U.S. history, the number of workers in the public sector-18.6-million surpasses the number in the entire manufacturing sector. If this keeps up, pretty soon we'll have more people redistributing wealth than creating things.

Revenue in billions as of 1991

Government 1,700+
Health Care...1,000+
Farming (almost) 500
Automotive (almost) 300
Computers 100+

Source?

by Stephen Moore Institute For Policy Innovation. 250 S. Stemmons. Suite 309, Lewisville, Texas 75067

not unlike watching a close family member dying of "Nanny-cancer".

If we don't speak up (with our freedom of speech), why did we fight for it?

 

Dangerous premise there Carl, to love ones country so much that one will support it no matter what

 

Stefan, you don't know me either. No, I do not agree with everything Bush and his admin/ does but, nobody can say that im not loyal either. I might be called many things but, never labled a scuzzy traitor either.

More in a few days as I got to close for the weekend. ;-))

 

I know Carl, was just suggesting that blind loyalty was not necessarily a good thing

Anyhow, back on topic.

 

Do you want the fife or the drum?

I found a bale of tea big enough for Fatso Kennedy

Youth is wasted on the young....inexperience and the Art of idealism....Anastasia screamed....Beautiful country, unfortunate about the Bolshevik child killers.

Stefan so many words for such a slight disagreement

Cheers

 

What can I say, I wanted to see if I could wear out my new keyboard before the weekend

 

Most recent manifestation of that was the number of Chinese ex-pats in the west who rigorously defended the Chinese government's policy in Tibet. There was a demonstration of 'loyal' Chinese today in Manchester...same day as reports of SA dockworkers refusing to unload 77 TONS of Chinese arms bound for Zimbabwe.
Anyway, sorry for wandering off-topic.

 

This is the beauty of Capitalism. The market drives the price. Really it does. As pertaining to food, what is it worth to you? If you want to live then I could charge a very high price and you would have to pay it. If you didn't want to pay it then you would either die or grow/kill your own. Those are your choices.

Feeding the world? yeah we could do that. Are we morally obligated to? No. Please refer to the ants and the grasshopper. I am not saying that all starving people are lazy, all I am saying is that once people expect something they stop working for it.

Making ethanol... nice idea but it still needs some work. While I hate saying this Brazil seems to do a better job of it then we (USA) do. Ethanol is nowhere near as efficient as oil. I do think we should move away from oil or drill our own. Turn they hydro plants up to full, build, more and remove the fines and crap on nuclear.

Dishonest people will ruin any good idea.

I love ridding my bike. Now that we live in South Carolina everything we need is walking/riding distance from the house. We like ridding the bikes down to the store. Great fun. Back in New Mexico it was around 7 miles to the store, that makes for a long ride/walk, but we started doing all our shopping for two whole weeks, so that we had to go less.

Man-Caused global warming is not real.

Overpopulation is subject to ingenuity. Yes we could go off like rabbits and fill the earth up with people (literally), but without immigration I think we would have trouble growing our population at all. This brings me to something I was thinking about earlier.

Assuming evolution is real, are we not obligated to the species to practice selective breeding to produce better humans. Should we make laws to get this done.

I think I am done for now.

 

Your Hellary pic is disturbing, or is that the point?

Good questions. Moral obligation goes hand in hand with guilt.
Are the Saudis obligated to supply oil, the Japanese to supply cars, the French to supply wine, the Swiss to supply Army knives, Wisconsin to supply cheese curds, Microsoft to supply computer operating systems,?
In a word.....no.
Lets make a deal.
Since when is farming free? Everything has cost, so row/sail yer boat over here, (wouldn't want to waste any oil now), and we'll sell you Potato's, corn, rice, beans & wheat at our cost.
That's the best we can do.

er is it they not only want free, but delivered as well? How about spoon fed to go with that?

 

What of the government of this country? I really get the impression that they can do no wrong in your eyes. I look at the country I have been living in these last 4 decades and frankly I find it far from what it could be.

To be frank its nauseating. Like a dog licking the hand of its master after a good beating.

I'm through with this discussion.

 

You forgot one, the people who have the food and are hoarding it get to die. It usually happens in a food riot where hungry people burn down palaces and kill off the elite or force them to flee.

That's the beauty of revolution and a large part of the instability of what this thread is about.

Capitalism works to a point but when it goes too far you are going to have problems.

 

This is one hot potato....Please read : Biofuels Under Attack as World Food Prices Soar. By Marlowe Hood (AFP) sun april 20/08, 5:36 AM...
I would also ask the people in the know: How is oil formed?.. It is becoming harder for me to believe that it is just decomposed living matter. Could oil be a naturally reoccurring resource?