Bart Senior wrote:
World fuel consumption [demand] is exceeding supply.

That's true, but it's somewhat of an artificially constructed political
situation. At any given moment, producers could (if they wanted to) step
up production to exceed demand. But it's doubtful that they could
sustain it because demand is ramping up even with prices going up faster
than inflation. So why go to the trouble, especially when it puts you
and me (and all of the US) literally over a barrel?


... Oil
reserves will run out in our lifetimes.

Depends on how well you take care of yourself

... Scientists are now
saying we will run out of fossil fuels before they have a
significant impact on global warming.


???
Which "scientists" are saying this? All but the paid shills are saying
that our burning fossil fuels most likely have already had significant
impact on the global climate.


Get a clue. Every bit of mineral oil in the ground or under
the sea, that can economically be extracted--will be extracted.
No matter where it is. The entire world economy depends on
it. You depend on it.


That is exactly right.

If you really want to save the Artic, the solution is to push for
legislation to develop and commericially market hydrogen fuels.


I dunno if hydrogen is closest on the horizon.

Here's an important point: there are already off-the-shelf substitutes
for fossil fuels. You could run your car on renewable methane tomorrow
afternoon if you wanted to. Here's the problem... it's more expensive.
So are all the current or forseeable alternatives.

Why don't you put up a big solar panel and run your car off solar
generated electricity? Because to get enough energy to drive very far or
very fast, you'd spend thousands on soalr panels & fancy batteries,
that's why!

Etc etc etc.

Until gasoline gets at least twice as expensive (and I'd be tempted to
say 5X), there is no substitute.

Consider that from the prespective of geological time the
life of Artic oil fields will be very short.


Agreed again.

Even if nothing was done to clean up damange, which would
not happen, Mother Nature would solve this problem all by herself.
The fact is there would be a clean up when we are done extracting
this oil.


Yeah, but once the species livng there are wiped out, they're gone.
Kaput. How are you going to "clean up" extinct species?


There is nothing on the ocean that can long survive--no ship,
no mining structure, and no mineral oil spill that Mother Nature
won't clean up herself in a very short time. On land it takes a
little longer.


Now here I disagree. Prince William Sound has still not recovered fully
from the Exxon Valdez spill. It is not at all easy to "clean up" a
petroleum product spill. The best you can do it containerize it and put
it someplace that's already ruined.


If you want to be concerned about the environment, be concerned
about toxic chemicals and radiological contaminants--you will
find those closer to home--not in the Artic.


Agreed again... with the caveat this is not a good excuse for trashing
the arctic.


Let them pump all the oil and natural gas they can out of there

Naw, let's wait until it will be even more valuable.

In five years oil prices will be sharply higher, and you will be
mad at whoever is in office

Most likely a Republican, if they reap all the campaign contributions
that Wall Street is sure to shower on them when President Bush's Social
Security plan goes through...

But wait, I digress... agreed again. A good post Bart, thanks.

Here's one added thing... if you think that fuel prices will get high
enough for sailing ships to once again take over the world's commerce,
that ain't gonna happen. As Phillip Bolger pointed out a long time ago,
cargo ships are mortgaged, and they earn by the number of cargos they
deliver... as long as motor ships (or steam ships) can average faster
per ton/mile, they'll do the carrying.

Regards
Doug King
because fuel prices will be too high.
People will have bigger concerns--like how to stay warm.