tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3541746302550046670.post1146570857767435516..comments2023-04-15T04:08:20.569-07:00Comments on THE FIRST AMENDMENT - NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT: SPEAKING OF THE CLIMBING COST OF LIVING . . .Dirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04794945973074374935noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3541746302550046670.post-86005560599192569992008-05-01T16:23:00.000-07:002008-05-01T16:23:00.000-07:00I'm very disturbed by the increasing call for prod...I'm very disturbed by the increasing call for producing ethanol. It is damaging to the environment, and it is driving up food costs across the board. Increased dependence on ethanol will not solve our economic problems, and in fact, will only increase them.<br><br>Promising news is that licences have been granted for new nuclear power plants, and I believe that we will begin to build new plants soon. <br><br>Great entry, and I think it's important to get a grip NOW on the craze for ethanol.<br><br>Beth<br>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3541746302550046670.post-71650989483793061532008-05-01T18:49:00.000-07:002008-05-01T18:49:00.000-07:00Dirk, first, thanks for posting this. I just read...Dirk, first, thanks for posting this. I just read through again, and I don't know which part makes me more angry. Fromthose who keep telling us- the regular people, to do more to conserve - to those in washington who cry on behalf of the working poor to demand lower costs at the pump- when they darned well know that the oil companies pay exhorbinant *Sp!* amounts in taxes and we pay enough per gallon in taxes too- washington is not only rolling in manure- but billions in tax dollars too! Then there are the "greeny" washington elite listening to environmentalists long enough to tell you and me what we need to do without to save the planet- but then the Kennedys and algores won't hear of it to cut their own wasteful ways, or don't want their lifestyles effected in any way! Then, there's the Nancy Palosies who invent Bible verses when it's convenient to use a little religion, to tell us not to harm creation- instead we're to worship it?! They throw Jesus out of our public areas- they disallow God- but expect us to worship NOT HIm, but His creation?!! I'm sorry, I know this is the National Day of Prayer and all- but looking at all of this, and what else is going on with our "Elected" elites- I think we Are deserving of jugement. I hope not, but ..... Anyway, thank you Dirk- thank you for your posting all of these to keep us all informed, and thank you mostly for you- my Christian brother! God Bless- CarolynAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3541746302550046670.post-79018047140031976762008-05-01T19:02:00.000-07:002008-05-01T19:02:00.000-07:00There are solutions for all of our problems, but u...There are solutions for all of our problems, but unfortunately we as citizens don't have the fortitude to help ourselves. Apathy has hit our nation and we just sit here and take it knowing full well that no one is going to help. To blame environmentalists for gas prices is absurd. It isn't an evironmentalist that is making over $10 Billion profit every quarter. Our politicians allow this to happen because, well, they get paid handsomely by the oil companies so they can run for reelection. When was the last time a politician on either side of the aisle actually stood up and fought for his or her citizens best interest. I don't have that long to wait for an answer to that because I will be trying to collect my social security before you can give me a clue, but then again we are spending all of the cash we don't have on wars and not on our country.<br><br>AllisonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3541746302550046670.post-37195556189998038232008-05-02T05:56:00.000-07:002008-05-02T05:56:00.000-07:00As a biochemist and environmentalist I don't entir...As a biochemist and environmentalist I don't entirely agree with your assertion that environmental concerns/regulations are the main driver of higher gas prices, or that without them we'd be better off. As far as being able to drill in places like ANWAR, I don't argue that we shouldn't but I would argue WHEN. Drilling in ANWAR would hardly put a dent in balancing our oil needs, despite what people think. All it would do is bring the cost of gas down for a few years....we're not talking $1 a gallon either. I would rather see that kept in reserve for use in the airline industry (which has no viable solution for oil) and for all the other petroleum based products we use, so we are not paying $1 per garbage bag. To use it for automobiles is short sighted and it would be depleted quickly.....OPEC has to sell oil, that's all they have....we don't. It could also be a real competitive advantage to american industries if they had access to a cheaper supply of oil (i.e. the airline, farm,plastic ect. industries) <br><br>I agree with you on the whole ethanol farse.<br><br>I think hyrogen as a fuel is a much better way to go. The greatest advantage of hydrogen is that you can employ several methods to derive and harness it ( most likely it would come from natural gas) however all you really need is water and any energy source to break the H-O bond. This could come from solar,wind,hydro,coal,geothermal sources.....this kind of flexibility is exactly what we need to spur inovation. <br><br><br><br>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3541746302550046670.post-62174301376934206172008-05-02T21:37:00.000-07:002008-05-02T21:37:00.000-07:00Unbelievable, isn't it? The only way we can d...Unbelievable, isn't it? The only way we can decrease our reliance on foreign oil is to drill it ourselves but the do-gooders won't allow that to happen. Something has to give. I just hope that it is soon.<br><br>SheilaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3541746302550046670.post-1992921205799574982008-05-04T11:03:00.000-07:002008-05-04T11:03:00.000-07:00I certainly agree. I'm writing my own take on this...I certainly agree. I'm writing my own take on this ethanol fiasco, so watch for an alert on my political journal soon.<br><br>LarryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3541746302550046670.post-33849041012933934212008-05-05T07:56:00.000-07:002008-05-05T07:56:00.000-07:00I don't think I am going to be too popular bas...I don't think I am going to be too popular based on some of the other comments and while I don't consider myself a tree hugger I am concerned about the environment. I am opposed to nuclear power for one huge reason, there is no room for error. A mistake will cost us more than most are willing to pay. Chernobyl was 100% human error, we all know how that ended. TMI & Peach Bottom are jokes. I live in the hot zone of both and I can tell you it is not a good feeling knowing the employees are SLEEPING on the job...literally. Until we can produce a plant that doesn't rely on humans I think we are fooling ourselves into a false sense of security. I know engineers at TMI and they have told me way too much.<br><br>I don't believe the blame lies solely with the environmentalist. Our politicians will favor whomever is greasing their palms and lining their pockets. If the environmentalists are paying more ~ that is the way they will vote. We as humans, not liberals or conservatives have to start changing our ways. WE have to be willing to make sacrifices to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. That means everyone. How many people do you know who have made any effort to change their lifestyles to reduce this dependence? Everyone wants to complain but few will do anything and have the "let someone else do it" attitude.<br><br>There has to be a middle ground, finding our own oil sources without destroying everything around it. Believe it or not, I am NOT a liberal...I have been a card carrying republican since I was 18. There is good & bad in each party, to blame the liberals for all of our problems is sillly. It is just that OUR problems, each of us regardless of our political party choice.<br><br>And the ethanol issue is a money game....our (farm) grain prices have increased almost $2 in a little over a month.<br>LisaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3541746302550046670.post-5208017727026465882008-05-05T14:41:00.000-07:002008-05-05T14:41:00.000-07:00It's sad and it's scary.. if it keeps going like t...It's sad and it's scary.. if it keeps going like this, some of us will not be able to survive. -Missy http://journals.aol.com/ma24179/MISSYZSTUFFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3541746302550046670.post-32283597568330343872008-05-07T22:02:00.000-07:002008-05-07T22:02:00.000-07:00I read every word of this out loud to my husband. ...I read every word of this out loud to my husband. Wow. This is really scary stuff. We don't know how much longer we can hold on with things like this either. We make the choice between gas and milk all the time. Sometimes the milk has to wait so we can put fuel in the tank to get to work. <br>LisaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3541746302550046670.post-2822852614866358432008-05-11T00:55:00.000-07:002008-05-11T00:55:00.000-07:00Someone needs to realize that in the U.S., the com...Someone needs to realize that in the U.S., the common child of 2 working parents, honest people who pay taxes, dont' spank, don't drink, who believe in God, and live their lives as they should are going hungry. In mid America, DAILY, i see those who have to choose between eating or filling their tank. Many are standing in food banks for bread and boloney as they rob Peter to pay Paul to keep the lights on and the heat on. Hungry Americans. For full time working parents.<br><br>i think it is a travesty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3541746302550046670.post-87163975192008914342008-05-12T14:54:00.000-07:002008-05-12T14:54:00.000-07:00Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happ...Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Dirk, Happy Birthday to you!!! I hope you have a wonderful day ;)<br>Hugs, RobynAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com