At 05:56 30/08/2003 -0400, you wrote: (KH)
(BMcC)America has already been so desperate that it has virtually written off any continuing friendly relationship with Europe except with this country. This is already an historical change of immense proportions. It has happened because America knows that there simply won't be enough energy in the world that can supply the whole of the existing developed countries --America, Asia and Europe -- much beyond the next ten years or so. From then onwards, it will be downhill for many developed countries.[snip]
Now here's what I "don't get": If Bush et cie (Oops -- sorry for the Francophilism there...) are *consciously* *desparate* about oil, WHY IN THE BUSH DON'T THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE MPG AVERAGE OF AMERICA'S CARS? Why in the bush don't they clamp down on
SUVs, and start pushing fuel efficient cars?
As every parent and teacher says about every disobedient child: "I don't understand."
For two reasons (in non-Aristotlian order of importance):
1. For the same reason that the Bush administration did not speak openly about the real reason for the invasion of Iraq. He does not want to mention oil; that would be giving the game away and also giving too much ammunition to the Wahhabis in their control of SA oil production and control of prices via OPEC;
2. He would not be doing the already-bankrupt American car industry any favours in the massive re-tooling operation that would would required and, besides, he might be opening the door to the Japanese (who cleaned up in America with their small car invasion once before) and Chinese car industries.
I will also quote you feedback I've received privately from Dr Michael Benfield, not of this list:
<<<<
Interesting speculation, but your 20- to 30-year timescale is far too long -- unless the US are prepared (and able) to exclude the rest of the developing nations, as well as the developing ones, from the oil trough. The more likely scene is that land and air transport prices will start to rise rapidly quite soon (at 1973 equivalent, a barrel should already cost circa $80-$100 today), with a plethora of 'unpleasant' socio-economic side effects.
>>>>
Keith Hudson
Keith Hudson, 6 Upper Camden Place, Bath, England, <www.evolutionary-economics.org>
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