The Political Discussion Thread

[SoulReaver]

and I daresay that such widespread numbers of charging stations would be highly tempting targets for any terrorist with an EMP weapon

so far no EMP bomb strong enough to cause damage on such a scale

on the other hand good ole fire's still very effective on fuel & the more fuel the better

[Womble]

and I daresay that such widespread numbers of charging stations would be highly tempting targets for any terrorist with an EMP weapon

As opposed to the safety of conventional gas stations, which can be blown up with a match?

[Womble]

For portable use, such as vehicles, the bottom line is energy density. How much energy can you store in the vehicle's energy storage.

Actually, the bottom line is use case.

For most people, a car is needed primarily for daily commute and occasional getaway. An average USA daily commute is 30-40 miles. Current EVs are more than capable of covering the needs of 90% of urban users. Energy storage becomes an issue primarly in areas where infrastructure is lacking. You can resolve this with more energy storage - or with better intrastructure.

The middle of American nowhere is problematic for electric cars primarily due to being an underdeveloped, borderline Third World territory. You can support leaving it that way, or you can support developing it. The choice is yours.

[Annoyed]

Actually, the bottom line is use case.

For most people, a car is needed primarily for daily commute and occasional getaway. An average USA daily commute is 30-40 miles. Current EVs are more than capable of covering the needs of 90% of urban users. Energy storage becomes an issue primarly in areas where infrastructure is lacking. You can resolve this with more energy storage - or with better intrastructure.

The middle of American nowhere is problematic for electric cars primarily due to being an underdeveloped, borderline Third World territory. You can support leaving it that way, or you can support developing it. The choice is yours.

Why spend money developing the infrastructure when we already have vehicles which can deal with it? Wouldn't that money be better spent researching better energy sources or storage?

As I've said over and over, the technology to replace petroleum will eventually exist. Just as the technology now exists to replace incandescent lighting (LED). How much Mercury is being dumped into landfills as a result of the enviro's impatience, pushing us into CFL's which are now being discarded?

When better technology is developed, it will naturally replace petroleum. The enviros should be focusing on developing that better tech, rather than behaving like impatient children, pushing to force a solution which doesn't yet exist.

[Gatefan1976]

How did you afford a 60 inch plasma?

[Womble]

Why spend money developing the infrastructure when we already have vehicles which can deal with it?

Why spend money on cars when horses work fine?

Those vehicles you already have are going to wear out soon. What would you rather replace them with, more of the same or something better?

Wouldn't that money be better spent researching better energy sources or storage?

No, it wouldn't be, since you are convinced that current energy sources don't need replacing.

As I've said over and over, the technology to replace petroleum will eventually exist. Just as the technology now exists to replace incandescent lighting (LED). How much Mercury is being dumped into landfills as a result of the enviro's impatience, pushing us into CFL's which are now being discarded?

Enviros? Fluorescent lamps overtook incandescent ones in the 1950-s. Was there a huge eco movement pushing them? I don't recall.

When better technology is developed, it will naturally replace petroleum. The enviros should be focusing on developing that better tech, rather than behaving like impatient children, pushing to force a solution which doesn't yet exist.

"Naturally replaced"? There's nothing natural about new technologies replacing old ones in a world where everything is technology. Every new invention fought an uphill battle against retrogrades trying to strangle it at birth. It's just retrogrades never had so much political power before.

[Annoyed]

How did you afford a 60 inch plasma?

They have these things called jobs. You get one of them, and they pay you money. Some of that money is yours to spend as you wish.

What does that have to do with the discussion at hand?

[mad_gater]

As opposed to the safety of conventional gas stations, which can be blown up with a match?

probably why most gasoline is stored underground and is very difficult to get to to light up with a match

and don't forget there's also a big yellow glowing ball of fire in the sky that also puts out much stronger EMP's on occasion in the form of occasional coronal mass ejections

[Annoyed]

Why spend money on cars when horses work fine?

Cars are a marked improvement over horses; they do the job better.

Those vehicles you already have are going to wear out soon. What would you rather replace them with, more of the same or something better?

They are? Automobiles can last 10-20 years or more with proper care. But the enviros would be perfectly happy relegating them to the junk pile and forcing their owners to buy new ones by banning the fuel they require. For most people, a car is their second largest financial commitment behind their house. You think you can sell the idea of forcing the population at large to discard something that cost $20-30K? This is a democracy. The first politician that seriously pushes that idea is going to get run out on a rail. But you can ask the Yellowshirts in France about that.
The way this will happen is this: Something new will be developed; a better fuel source or storage medium will come along and be available on the market. If it does the job better, faster & cheaper, it will gain foothold, and parallel infrastructure will be implemented (if needed for the new energy source, it may not be), providing energy for both types. But in any case, it will take 30 or more years to switch over, as all of these gasoline powered vehicles aren't going to wear out any time soon.

But the enviros want it NOW, regardless of whether it's technically and economically feasible. They're behaving like impatient children. Which is one of the reasons I call that idiot from NY "the Kindergartner"

No, it wouldn't be, since you are convinced that current energy sources don't need replacing.

Whether or not you or anyone else thinks they need replacing is irrelevant for one simple reason: There isn't an equivalent replacement available at this time. See the above comment about children.

Enviros? Fluorescent lamps overtook incandescent ones in the 1950-s. Was there a huge eco movement pushing them? I don't recall.

You are speaking of industrial use, in factories and such. I'm speaking of far more widespread use in homes, which began at the behest of the enviros.

"Naturally replaced"? There's nothing natural about new technologies replacing old ones in a world where everything is technology. Every new invention fought an uphill battle against retrogrades trying to strangle it at birth. It's just retrogrades never had so much political power before.

See above. Or do you mean to say that the population hasn't had the power to resist the desires of the elites before?

Sure, wealthy people can afford to change cars easily. Most folks can't. Or do you propose the govt. provide replacement equivalent vehicles for those that can't? Where do you think the strong level of opposition to this BS stems from? Again, talk to France's yellowshirts.

[Gatefan1976]

They have these things called jobs. You get one of them, and they pay you money. Some of that money is yours to spend as you wish.

What does that have to do with the discussion at hand?

It's called adoption of technology forcing down prices, that's what it has to do with the discussion at hand.
The same will happen to EV's

[Womble]

probably why most gasoline is stored underground and is very difficult to get to to light up with a match

and don't forget there's also a big yellow glowing ball of fire in the sky that also puts out much stronger EMP's on occasion in the form of occasional coronal mass ejections

And yet somehow all our electronics keep on working. That's because solar radiation doesn't produce the kind of EMP that can cause serious damage to electronics.

Cars, including electric cars, are made of metal, and while they're not a full Faraday cage, they have more than reasonable EMP protection. An electric car in a metal garage is much better shielded from EMP than a gasoline car outside.

[Annoyed]

probably why most gasoline is stored underground and is very difficult to get to to light up with a match

You can actually put a cigarette out by dunking it in gas. The combustion temperature is below the flash point of gasoline. It's just not hot enough.

[Annoyed]

RCSD parents, students, educators to rally in Albany


Never mind their fictitious claim the state owes 86 million. The state doesn't owe them a dime. They just think the state should cough up whatever money they want.

I've got a better Question: Aren't these students supposed to be in school? Aren't their teachers supposed to be in class too?
Who gave them the pass? Or are they just blowing the day off? If someone did give them a pass, that is highly improper as this is a political issue and the district has absolutely no business involving its students or employees.

If they are blowing the day off, what punishment will apply?

[mad_gater]

And yet somehow all our electronics keep on working. That's because solar radiation doesn't produce the kind of EMP that can cause serious damage to electronics.

Cars, including electric cars, are made of metal, and while they're not a full Faraday cage, they have more than reasonable EMP protection. An electric car in a metal garage is much better shielded from EMP than a gasoline car outside.

also here in the states gas is far more economical than electricity....my sister and her now ex-hubby once lived in a place that had fully electric-powered heating (likely electricity powering an enormous heating coil then fan-forced through the air vents) and their electric bill was astronomical as a result....eventually necessitated them moving to a more affordable place with more economically priced utilities

maybe it's different in Israel but that's the thing.....environmentalists seem to think "one size fits all" when spouting off when that's quite clearly not the case

[SoulReaver]

You can actually put a cigarette out by dunking it in gas. The combustion temperature is below the flash point of gasoline. It's just not hot enough.

alrite how about you give it a try & come back tell us how that worked