I've seen reports of some electrics that look downright slick...and they go from 0 to 100 mph in something like 3 (yes, THREE) seconds and top out at over 200 mph.

The downside??  They cost about a million bucks a copy and carry only 2 people and a bowling bag.

 

If I can find it, I'll send you the link.

 

Along with that we should pursue energy alternatives. and we should renew our nuclear electric generation program, just as those darlings of the environmentalists the Scandinavians and French are doing.

 

Once battery technology does allow practical electrical cars, we will need all of the clean, safe, reliable electricity that we can generate to keep them on the road! 

And we cannot stop other nations from drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, and doing so closer and closer to our shores.  Do any of you think that Castro or Chavez or Putin or the Chinese will be MORE environmentally conscientious than we will?

 

And use your heads for something other than hat-racks regarding electric cars!  Just imagine that practical electric cars were available TOMORROW, and everyone traded in their internal combustion models ASAP.  Do any of you think you will be able to re-charge them for FREE???  We will need the exact same ADDITIONAL amount of electrical energy as that petroleum energy which we are replacing!!!  Just WHERE would we get it???

 

The same nuts who are against drilling are against nuclear power plants, coal-fired power plants, and natural gas fired power plants!!!  (Also, all but the nukes are NON-renewable, fossil fuels as well!!)  And we already have black-outs and brown-outs every time we turn around WITHOUT everyone charging up their vehicles!!!)  Don't suggest hydro-electric...that's bound to get somebody's knickers in a knot because it will endanger the "habitat" of a minnow or two.

 

In fact, don't suggest ANYTHING until you actually "run the numbers" and actually realize how much energy being produced from petroleum that your idea must replace! 

 

 

There are over 3500 oil tankers, and the Valdez is small compared to some of these tankers, cruising the oceans of the world loaded with oil.  There are 1000's of offshore oil rigs throughout the world some in much harsher environments than we have in the USA and they manage to work.  Are there accidents yes, that is the nature of the beast.  Will there be oil spills yup.  Will oil refineries continue to catch fire, yup.   Will fuel storage facilities have accidents yup.  Will coal mines have cave ins yup. Will trucks carrying gas get into accidents and explode, yup.  Will natural gas tanks catch fire, yup.    If we listen to the environmentalist we will never get out of bed in the morning and start our cars.  An oil spill, contrary to popular belief, will not be the end of the world.

 

There are about 1,717 producton platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.  We don't hear reports of  major oil spills from them do we, and they are in the path of hurricanes for 6 months of the year.  California has platforms off its shores and believe me if they leaked an eye dropper full of oil there, the rest of the world would hear about it.  While there is always the risk of a spill we can't live with "the sky is falling" mentality all of the time.

 

This economy can not sustain itself on $4-5.00 a gallon gas for even 12-18 months.   To much is impacted by this sudden rise in gas.

 

 

 

 

.308 and Ernie I think you both miss the point.  The point is not to drill every last drop of oil out of the U.S.  The point is to start drilling now while we as a nation work on alternative fuels.  Whether that be Wind, Nuclear, Bio-fuels, fuel cells, solar, Natural gas, etc.

 

The point is not to just tie our hands and put our economy into the crapper by not drilling.  I don't see how it can be put any clearer than it has.  Do it all and do it now and stop this petty bickering and arguing.  Doing as Obama originally suggested and just sit here and suffer with High Oil prices, while we attempt to develope alternatives just ain't gonna cut it.