Checking Facts
Cpt mik seems to think that the USA has less GDP per capita than Australia and he chastised Rodney after Rodney crafted some well thought out replys. So I checked on the Energy Information Administration website for their published statistics up to 2002 (admittedly a little dated - but the latest published until later this year). USA per capita GDP was $32,100, 34% higher than Australia. Total energy consumtion in Btu per GDP for USA was 10,575 Btu, 13% less than Australia. In other catagories, particularly consumption of carbon intense products (petroleum, natural gas, coal) Australia consumes more both in terms of per capita consumption and per GDP. Furthermore, the relative consumption from the USA seems to be steadily declining while Australia's is rapidly increasing when you examine the trend. For perspective, Canada is pretty much in the same league as Australia except that they consume far more energy per capita and per GDP in terms of total Btu. So cast your stones mik; don't worry, the USA will continue to do the heavy lifting. Your economy is a pipsqueek compared to ours and we are more energy efficient. Also, we will come to your aid if you ever need it. Australia is consistently in our corner so there are no complaints from us on that account. Also, for all of us that think conservation is the best answer, you're right. Western Europe in general has a better handle on that compared to us ... but you still need to put it in perspective. There is no free lunch. Prosperity is only earned through the exploitation of natural resources, and no, exploitation is not necessarily a dirty word. Neither is profit. If you think that government needs to be run isolated from the interests of businesses and corporations, then you must also be saying that our representative form of government is unwanted. I don't think that is what most of us have in mind. Personally, I like the oil companies. They provide a service I need at a price I can afford and I can share in their profits to boot if I desire. I want them to maintain a good relationship with the White House! Don't get all hysterical about them raping the land. We dictate how good their custodial activities are through our own consumptive behavior and the regulations we impose. It's our choice at the filling stations and the ballot box, not theirs. I saw tidal and wind energy suggested. Good ideas and they can probably be put to more and better use, but there is also plenty of opposition (no - not by the oil companies, you conspiracy goofs). Stu, you mentioned the use of a dam involved in harvesting the tides. We know how much environmentalists love dams! Wringing our hands over the price of gas or competition in China is not going to get us anywhere. We have to adapt to it and I'm sure we will. There are some brilliant minds born every day that are constantly seeking new innovations and opportunities. Some of the old ideas, like gasahol, simply don't work well for a number of reasons. But nothing is ever going to remain the same. I guess that's enough flag waving! It's all in fun. I never said I was a genius so if my interpretations are wrong, I'm listening! *box
Cpt mik seems to think that the USA has less GDP per capita than Australia and he chastised Rodney after Rodney crafted some well thought out replys. So I checked on the Energy Information Administration website for their published statistics up to 2002 (admittedly a little dated - but the latest published until later this year). USA per capita GDP was $32,100, 34% higher than Australia. Total energy consumtion in Btu per GDP for USA was 10,575 Btu, 13% less than Australia. In other catagories, particularly consumption of carbon intense products (petroleum, natural gas, coal) Australia consumes more both in terms of per capita consumption and per GDP. Furthermore, the relative consumption from the USA seems to be steadily declining while Australia's is rapidly increasing when you examine the trend. For perspective, Canada is pretty much in the same league as Australia except that they consume far more energy per capita and per GDP in terms of total Btu. So cast your stones mik; don't worry, the USA will continue to do the heavy lifting. Your economy is a pipsqueek compared to ours and we are more energy efficient. Also, we will come to your aid if you ever need it. Australia is consistently in our corner so there are no complaints from us on that account. Also, for all of us that think conservation is the best answer, you're right. Western Europe in general has a better handle on that compared to us ... but you still need to put it in perspective. There is no free lunch. Prosperity is only earned through the exploitation of natural resources, and no, exploitation is not necessarily a dirty word. Neither is profit. If you think that government needs to be run isolated from the interests of businesses and corporations, then you must also be saying that our representative form of government is unwanted. I don't think that is what most of us have in mind. Personally, I like the oil companies. They provide a service I need at a price I can afford and I can share in their profits to boot if I desire. I want them to maintain a good relationship with the White House! Don't get all hysterical about them raping the land. We dictate how good their custodial activities are through our own consumptive behavior and the regulations we impose. It's our choice at the filling stations and the ballot box, not theirs. I saw tidal and wind energy suggested. Good ideas and they can probably be put to more and better use, but there is also plenty of opposition (no - not by the oil companies, you conspiracy goofs). Stu, you mentioned the use of a dam involved in harvesting the tides. We know how much environmentalists love dams! Wringing our hands over the price of gas or competition in China is not going to get us anywhere. We have to adapt to it and I'm sure we will. There are some brilliant minds born every day that are constantly seeking new innovations and opportunities. Some of the old ideas, like gasahol, simply don't work well for a number of reasons. But nothing is ever going to remain the same. I guess that's enough flag waving! It's all in fun. I never said I was a genius so if my interpretations are wrong, I'm listening! *box
