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re: Obama's Farewell Address and what you will remember him for.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 3:32 pm to TeLeFaWx
Posted on 1/12/17 at 3:32 pm to TeLeFaWx
quote:
Fair point. Oil is a globally traded commodity. I think my sentiment would more be appropriately explained along the lines of "dependence" on foreign oil and I conflated the concepts. My fault. However, I still contend that if the United States had a pro-oil and gas economic policy the last 8 years, our dependence on foreign oil would be much much smaller.
Maybe. When the government subsidizes something, you get more of it. That's why farmers grow so much corn. If the government subsidized the oil and gas industries, oil and gas prices would be lower, but enough to make our "dependence" on foreign oil much, much smaller? I'm skeptical. The Saudis have flooded the international oil market with cheap oil for the last few years. That did far more to slow down domestic oil production (particularly shale) than anything Obama ever did.
As for the gas industry, I don't like fracking. I'm not an environmentalist, but I'd kill anyone who fracked land near enough to me to cause any problems. And if I feel that way about my land, I assume most other people feel that way about their land. If you want to frack, find places that aren't anywhere near peoples' homes, then I couldn't care less. If you bribe politicians to get permission to frack near my land despite my objections, then I won't just kill you, I'll kill your entire family.
quote:
Not a communist. Just a petroleum engineer that believes our tax policies, off shore moratoriums, and our regulations have had a terrible impact on our energy use in this country.
A petroleum engineer? Now your perspective makes more sense. It's a shame you entered an industry that's in decline. I'm an electrical engineer (with a MS in Power) who figured it wouldn't be a good idea to pigeonhole himself. I've got experience working with solar, wind, coal, and gas (no nuclear, unfortunately). It's nice to not feel the need to lobby for government subsidies to keep the industry I work in from dying.
I don't see this "terrible impact on our energy use". That's probably because I'm not a petroleum engineer.
3
Posted on 1/12/17 at 3:40 pm to Papplesbeast
Actually, I do see one terrible impact. There aren't nearly enough nuclear power plants and that's entirely because regulations make it cost prohibitive to build a nuclear plant in the US. I know France has had some issues with its nuclear plants recently, but about 75% of their electricity is generated by nuclear plants. I wish the US was more like France in that respect.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 3:44 pm to Papplesbeast
quote:
As for the gas industry, I don't like fracking. I'm not an environmentalist, but I'd kill anyone who fracked land near enough to me to cause any problems.
This is where me-centrism issues really fricking annoy me.
If that's how you feel about fracking, you should be outspoken and active against the practice regardless if it's 5 miles from you or 500.
This post was edited on 1/12/17 at 3:45 pm
Posted on 1/12/17 at 4:05 pm to Papplesbeast
quote:
Maybe. When the government subsidizes something, you get more of it. That's why farmers grow so much corn. If the government subsidized the oil and gas industries, oil and gas prices would be lower, but enough to make our "dependence" on foreign oil much, much smaller? I'm skeptical. The Saudis have flooded the international oil market with cheap oil for the last few years. That did far more to slow down domestic oil production (particularly shale) than anything Obama ever did.
I mean, they didn't really cut production and let the global oil glut happen. And that lowered prices because US production was so high. The US "flooded" the global market with our production lowering the prices to what they are at now, the Saudis stayed pretty constant.
quote:
As for the gas industry, I don't like fracking. I'm not an environmentalist, but I'd kill anyone who fracked land near enough to me to cause any problems. And if I feel that way about my land, I assume most other people feel that way about their land. If you want to frack, find places that aren't anywhere near peoples' homes, then I couldn't care less. If you bribe politicians to get permission to frack near my land despite my objections, then I won't just kill you, I'll kill your entire family.
Most fracing happens well outside of people's home, and it's perfectly safe. Fracing has been happening for 70 years, and people have survived. I think oil companies need to be liable for the consequences of cementing wells poorly, and poor disposal wells, but the science behind fracing is very safe, has happened for years in the middle of cities and near water supplies, and nothing has happened. I don't think you should be able to ban fracing because you have an irrational fear of it.
quote:
A petroleum engineer? Now your perspective makes more sense. It's a shame you entered an industry that's in decline. I'm an electrical engineer (with a MS in Power) who figured it wouldn't be a good idea to pigeonhole himself. I've got experience working with solar, wind, coal, and gas (no nuclear, unfortunately). It's nice to not feel the need to lobby for government subsidies to keep the industry I work in from dying.
The effective tax rates on oil and gas companies are some of the highest in our country. Oil and gas companies don't need "subsidies", and most "subsidies" they do get are nothing like corn subsidies. I know that is an example you mentioned earlier and it's a completely inapplicable analogy. It's the most traded commodity in the world, it doesn't need any help in order not to die. At least not now. Most people are uneducated on the subject, so don't feel bad, but start here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/energysource/2012/04/25/the-surprising-reason-that-oil-subsidies-persist-even-liberals-love-them/#2d241a6f1e86
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