In defense of wind, ethanol
Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- This is in response to the letter in Sunday's paper that called wind energy and ethanol "idiotic solutions to our oil problem." The writer says and I quote, "I know absolutely nothing about energy or the best way to gain independence from foriegn oil providers but that wind power and ethanol are bad solutions." (I paraphrased there).
First of all, if she has no knowledge of energy or how to fix the problem, how is she qualified to comment on any possible ideas to do so? These (and other) alternative energy sources provide us with the ability to be less dependent on oil and the mostly unfriendly countries that have it. They also create good-paying jobs, new markets for our products, put a lot of money into the local economies and are a lot more environmentaly friendly.
True enough, these alteratives are not the total answer, but they are a good start and that beats doing nothing at all. As for tax credits and subsidies that gouge the American taxpayer, I should point out the huge tax break given to big oil by the current administation and the fact that the oil companies have asked for (and think they deserve) ANOTHER ONE! The writer reminded me of something my dad told me once. It is better to say nothing and be thought to have little or no knowledge of a subject than to speak and remove all doubt. -- Eric Millis
First of all, if she has no knowledge of energy or how to fix the problem, how is she qualified to comment on any possible ideas to do so? These (and other) alternative energy sources provide us with the ability to be less dependent on oil and the mostly unfriendly countries that have it. They also create good-paying jobs, new markets for our products, put a lot of money into the local economies and are a lot more environmentaly friendly.
True enough, these alteratives are not the total answer, but they are a good start and that beats doing nothing at all. As for tax credits and subsidies that gouge the American taxpayer, I should point out the huge tax break given to big oil by the current administation and the fact that the oil companies have asked for (and think they deserve) ANOTHER ONE! The writer reminded me of something my dad told me once. It is better to say nothing and be thought to have little or no knowledge of a subject than to speak and remove all doubt. -- Eric Millis
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Pariah wrote on Aug 24, 2008 12:04 PM:
These are the things that are possible of we would just stop thinking of global warming, oil use, energy policy, in terms of Right vs Left, they are NOT they are very real problems confronting us all irregardless. "
Pariah wrote on Aug 24, 2008 12:03 PM:
They just had a documentary on energy last night, I believe it was, where they talked about just how much energy actually strikes the earth; the numbers are mind boggling. Now of course it cannot all be harnessed at once for obvious reasons I won't go into here, but the fact remains, if captured efficiently, would power our world. This is but one solution. As Flim Flam has said there is hydrogen, wind, nuclear, and more. All of them together are more than enough to pull us away from oil forever as a fuel source if we were really serious. Think of it true energy independence! Nonpolluting energy independence; it would make us stronger than ever, not to mention National Security interests. "
FlimFlam wrote on Aug 23, 2008 3:18 PM:
It was an exaggerated generalization to make a point on how wrong the fringes are. I can't find a quote for far lefties saying they are only in favor of mud huts either. That was never the point.
I have a feeling however that it was pointless to even respond but here's to hoping you get it this time. "
Peggy wrote on Aug 22, 2008 8:39 PM:
FlimFlam wrote on Aug 22, 2008 9:24 AM:
We absolutely can not allow them to drill until we have alternatives heavily invested in and locked down. If we let them drill first we will see none of this. "