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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AuntieMel on January 31, 2005, at 13:34:08
While I must say I still think the whole Iraq thing a diversion from real problems and poorly thought, and I am still not a Bush supporter, the pictures of the voting yesterday were heartwarming.
What courage these people have, not only to vote, but to allow themselves to be filmed doing so.
I hope for all concerned that this is one time others can look at me and say "I told you so."
Posted by gromit on February 2, 2005, at 0:40:05
In reply to Iraqi vote, posted by AuntieMel on January 31, 2005, at 13:34:08
All things considered it seemed like it went pretty well. It should shame us in the U.S., they came out to vote despite the very real possibility they could be killed. What was the percentage of voters in our last election? I've heard that more people voted for the American Idol than President, I hope that is not true but it probably is.
I'm with you though, I hope that I am proven wrong too.
Rick
Posted by 64bowtie on February 14, 2005, at 2:16:06
In reply to Re: Iraqi vote, posted by gromit on February 2, 2005, at 0:40:05
1. 2 hours on the House of Saud on PBS giving a history of the "Deal with the Devil" whereby the House of Saud promises all the oil we want, as long as we provide our military security; we provide them security, act as a worldwide police force, they provide us all the oil we want. 3 time now we have been guilty of voting against the Saudis. Reprisals include The 1973 oil embargo and the shot across the bow known as 9/11. We're not doing very well. Our latest outrage is that the world price of oil is about $50/barrel and we are buying it much less from the Saudis as they stick to our agreement. Yet the oil companies are reselling the Saudi oil to Japan at full price, while we are only using 30% Saudi oil domestically, and providing the rest from our own wells, but claiming they are stuck with that terrible $50/barrel. They are claiming poverty while salting away fortunes.
2. 2.5 billion people who never used to have a car are starting to buy cars like hotcakes and want oil like we want oil. We are 240 million trying to compete with 10 times as many people with no protection agreements and no feeling sense of what low priced gasoline feels like as we do. While in Junior College a million years ago, I pumped Super Shell at $0.349/gallon (35 cents a gallon). I have a lingering longing for 35 cent a gallon gas. The Chinese and Hindus don't care about my longings.
3. Do you really think Bush wants Bin-Laden's head on a platter??? Really! Wrong! Bush still owes the Saudis for his personal business failures that miraculously ended with him making a $10 million 'killing' and several hundred USA investors as big losers. Do you really think he wants to p**s off his benefactors??? If he does, he'll soon be dead or permanently disabled! I vote for disabled! It plays better and builds sympathy among those who 'religiously' listen to that right-wing-circus-act Rush Limpbaugh!
3. The onset of new poverty among American Blacks is leading us dangerously toward a racial civil war. I feel it as I ride the bus to the office. I listen carefully to rhetoric. Its getting dangerous. $10/gallon gasoline wil be the spark plug!!!
The next 18 months to 2 years are going to be troublesome.....
Rod
Posted by AuntieMel on February 15, 2005, at 15:03:12
In reply to In one weeks time..., posted by 64bowtie on February 14, 2005, at 2:16:06
and a rant.
First the factual errors?
No way is 70% of our oil from domestic production. Even my wildest (damp) dream doesn't have the business picking up. We were not even at 70% local in the late 70s/ early 80s *before* we cut back local production and hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost.
Granted, we don't import as much from Saudi as we used to but we do get a lot from Mexico, Canada and Venezuela - and we are the buyer in the Iraqi oil-for-food program.
And I wouldn't worry about the Saudis - we may not be getting as much from them, but you can bet it's selling to someone - or the price would drop.
Bush's business mostly did business with Mexico. The bailout (if I recall) was from friends of dad.
I firmly believe that the Saudis want Osama dead, but keep it very low key so they don't have riots in their own streets.
China is rapidly ramping up their own exploration. There's lots of oil over there. I've made several trips over there - to different oil fields - and they are really busy. They are also competing on our own turf - in the Gulf of Mexico they have ships competing for seismic shooting. They win hands down on price and up to date equipment, but the safety record isn't good enough for the majors yet.
There is a serious limit to how many in China can get cars. In Beijing you have to be a company driver, drive a taxi, or know someone really high up in order to be able to drive. Even then the traffic jams are horrendous.
Now the rant:I remember those days you're talking about. Back then I used 29 cent gas. But that was 1972 and if you adjust for inflation you'll find it still is about that price.
Compare that gallon of gas to a gallon of milk. Milk costs a little more, I think, but they are close.
Then think of what it took to get that gallon of milk to the store - raise the cows, milk them, pasteurize the milk and add a bit of vitamin d, package and date it and ship it. And there's absolutely no risk involved - the government buys the leftovers.
Then think of what it takes to get that gallon of gas. Hiring a crew to shoot the seismic data, a processing company to put it in a form it can be understood, and then an interpreter to decide which locations to propose drilling. You're already a couple of million out. Now hire a drilling rig and the service companies to keep it running. Not cheap either.
Millions spent on an educated guess that maybe there's oil there. Who would spend that kind of money on a maybe if there wasn't a payout? Not me.
But - at this point we only have oil and a rig. From there it has to be pipelined or shipped to an area where there is a refinery. And refined according to each state or regional area's demands (all gas is not created equal) and then trucked or pipelined to a final destination. This isn't cheap either.
This is the end of the thread.
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