The American Constitution

[RSL]

who support your beloved Donald.

Sorry, Omer. "Donald" is a long way from being my "beloved." I don't like his personality. I often wish he'd shut up. But I'll tell you this: he's exactly what we need at the moment. The Democrat coup attempt during and after his election is a clear case in point. It would have been a lot more effective against a Bush or a Romney. Against Donald it's a dud. For the first time since this crap started in the sixties we actually may see some national malefactors end up in the slam. We might even see Hillary questioned under oath. That's called "progress." Donald must be a progressive.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

...  Recent stirs about London no longer being a "British" city...

You mean Londonistan?

[OmerV]

Sorry, Omer. "Donald" is a long way from being my "beloved." I don't like his personality. I often wish he'd shut up. But I'll tell you this: he's exactly what we need at the moment. The Democrat coup attempt during and after his election is a clear case in point. It would have been a lot more effective against a Bush or a Romney. Against Donald it's a dud. For the first time since this crap started in the sixties we actually may see some national malefactors end up in the slam. We might even see Hillary questioned under oath. That's called "progress." Donald must be a progressive.

Just what we need?

I think we can all agree that our air is better than it was in the past, and as photographers having clear vistas is a good thing. So what to make of some of the EPAs standards rollbacks which will allow coal plants to emit more pollutants. And do we really want oil wells in our compositions of previously pristine landscapes?

I don’t see how that’s better.

[RSL]

Frankly, Omer, when we can get India and China to rein in their pollution, THEN I’ll worry about our coal plants and oil wells. With fracking and horizontal drilling it takes damned little surface presence to generate the kind of oil production the U.S.A. now enjoys. Stuff like that pales in comparison with the crooked political stuff that’s gone on with some of our recent (I define “recent” from the viewpoint of view of 89 years) Democrat administrations. Yes. Trump, or someone like him, is just what we need at the moment, before the left pushes the United States into the kind of socialist disaster we see in Venezuela. Would I prefer somebody who’s smoother? Damn right. I’d love to see Nikki Haley as our first female president. But for the time being, Trump’s doing what has to be done.

[Alan Klein]

Just what we need?

I think we can all agree that our air is better than it was in the past, and as photographers having clear vistas is a good thing. So what to make of some of the EPAs standards rollbacks which will allow coal plants to emit more pollutants. And do we really want oil wells in our compositions of previously pristine landscapes?

I don’t see how that’s better.

Many rollbacks were needed.  Many I disagree with.  I think Obama instituted too many that were not required or created more problems than they were worth.  So now the pendulum has swung and we may be getting too many reversals.  However, despite the rollbacks, we're not going back to poisoned air or water.  Also, most of the new oil production are not from wells but from underground fracking.  Also, where wells are being dug, there aren't very many people to see them.  Also, we're getting to a point where we won;pt have to depend on Arabs for our oil.  Being oil independent like that would save a lot of American treasure and blood fighting wars in the Middle East.  They could all go to hell, then.  How much is that worth? 

[James Clark]

Rob, as I'm sure you're fully aware, NAZI translates as "National SOCIALIST German Worker's" party. In spite of the unfortunately successful attempts of our news media to hang that label on the right, in fact it's just another left-wing socialist title.

Gosh Russ, the DPRK and the PRC must really give you fits.  Hell, DPRK has both “Democratic” AND “Republic” in the name, and as you’re so fond of pedantically pointing out, they mean significantly different things.

In reality, course, you’re likely not bothered one iota because you’ve got one of the absolute worst cases of confirmation bias I’ve ever seen, at least as far as your online persona goes. Carry on.
 

[James Clark]

Many rollbacks were needed.  Many I disagree with.  I think Obama instituted too many that were not required or created more problems than they were worth.  So now the pendulum has swung and we may be getting too many reversals.  However, despite the rollbacks, we're not going back to poisoned air or water.  Also, most of the new oil production are not from wells but from underground fracking.  Also, where wells are being dug, there aren't very many people to see them.  Also, we're getting to a point where we won;pt have to depend on Arabs for our oil.  Being oil independent like that would save a lot of American treasure and blood fighting wars in the Middle East.  They could all go to hell, then.  How much is that worth?

All fair points Alan.  I think you’re understating the impact of fracking, but these are exactly the kind of trade offs that need to be discussed scientifically and rationally, not politically. 

[RSL]

...these are exactly the kind of trade offs that need to be discussed scientifically and rationally, not politically.

And you actually believe that's possible? If so, where? Certainly not in the "news media." Certainly not in Congress, which is where the work should be done. Too busy with preparations for impeachment.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... these are exactly the kind of trade offs that need to be discussed scientifically and rationally, not politically. 

That is like saying that matters of war and peace should only be discussed by soldiers.

[Alan Klein]

All fair points Alan.  I think you’re understating the impact of fracking, but these are exactly the kind of trade offs that need to be discussed scientifically and rationally, not politically. 

There are some unknowns regarding fracking's long term potential problem.  But much of the research and evidence so far is that there are not major issues.  Meanwhile, America has become the largest oil producer in the world, even beyond Saudi Arabia. The USA has driven down the cost of oil for everyone in the world.  It's cheaper for everyone to live and eat in the world, quite an accomplishment.  While we can study these things scientifically, it all comes down to politics because government regulation is politics that affect individuals and companies.    And regulations take away someone's freedoms.  So finding the "right" balance is difficult.   In any case, wouldn't it be nice to tell the Saudi prince to go shove it?  Of course, Europe would have to buy  oil from Trump which many Europeans might find just as odious. Meanwhile the Germans are building an oil pipeline to their friends the Russians.  What a crazy world. 

[OmerV]

Frankly, Omer, when we can get India and China to rein in their pollution, THEN I’ll worry about our coal plants and oil wells. With fracking and horizontal drilling it takes damned little surface presence to generate the kind of oil production the U.S.A. now enjoys. Stuff like that pales in comparison with the crooked political stuff that’s gone on with some of our recent (I define “recent” from the viewpoint of view of 89 years) Democrat administrations. Yes. Trump, or someone like him, is just what we need at the moment, before the left pushes the United States into the kind of socialist disaster we see in Venezuela. Would I prefer somebody who’s smoother? Damn right. I’d love to see Nikki Haley as our first female president. But for the time being, Trump’s doing what has to be done.

So we need to catch up with China and India in bad air quality? 

You know very well that fracking is not without problems, one being the pollution of underground water.

Russ, if the right concentrates on the past it will be buried, and it knows it. It’s only at Donald’s ego pep rallies where the specter of Clinton raised.

Many rollbacks were needed.  Many I disagree with.  I think Obama instituted too many that were not required or created more problems than they were worth.  So now the pendulum has swung and we may be getting too many reversals.  However, despite the rollbacks, we're not going back to poisoned air or water.  Also, most of the new oil production are not from wells but from underground fracking.  Also, where wells are being dug, there aren't very many people to see them.  Also, we're getting to a point where we won;pt have to depend on Arabs for our oil.  Being oil independent like that would save a lot of American treasure and blood fighting wars in the Middle East.  They could all go to hell, then.  How much is that worth? 

Obviously oil and natural gas are the main energy fuels we have now, but conservatives are mistaken if they believe the majority of US citizens don’t care about pollution. Rather than constantly thinking about the wars of oil, we need to give younger generations the room to create their future that will hopefully be better than our present. The EPA rollbacks are all about keeping dirty industries relevant, but to who’s benefit?

Too late for old guys like us and not good enough for our children.

[Rob C]

Isn't that one of the main arguments for Brexit?  It seems you're conflicted.

No, no conflict in my position.

Brexit can only affect people moving legally from fellow member states; the problems of illegal migrants have nothing to do with it; don't you see the difference? It's those illegals camping at Calais, waiting to hitch a ride across the sea to England, that have rightly scared the shit out of so many Brits. But they are not European migrants; they are from Africa and the Middle East, places with no stake in the EU venture. It was the illustration of a zillion marching refugees that the Brexit camp cleverly displayed on its bus that created the fear (all of them decidedly non-whites), the blind belief that it was all Europe's fault, when the truth is that Europe is fighting the same bloody battle, too! It's as much victim of migration as is Britain, only far more so.

Those illegals will still be turning up and waiting there at Calais, UK membership of Europe or not. Is that more clear than I have been able to make it already? Brexit will not alter that in any way.

Jobs of European member nurses and doctors in Britain are under threat. What happens when or if their fear of local attack because they can't speak with some goddam regional British accent or another comes to a head, and they go back home? There has already been a murder in England of a Pole for no reason other than his being Polish. May promised them job security after Brexit; as with St Trump and Nuclear Deals, that could vanish at the change of leadership. When morality goes out of a nation's character, the evil rises unchecked, and baby, is there evil!

That's the true colour of the rabble for which Boris is standing holding a banner.

[RSL]

You know very well that fracking is not without problems, one being the pollution of underground water.

I'm still waiting for a genuine demonstration that that's true, Omer. I see our "media" and our Democrats pushing that idea, but that's about all. James Clark says we need to approach this stuff scientifically. but that's exactly what our "media" and our left-wingers are avoiding. They're into "the big lie," which originated with guess who (a national socialist). It's effective. I'll have to say that. After all, you believe it, and I've always considered you to have both feet on the ground -- well, at least a foot and a half.

[LesPalenik]

There are some unknowns regarding fracking's long term potential problem.  But much of the research and evidence so far is that there are not major issues.  Meanwhile, America has become the largest oil producer in the world, even beyond Saudi Arabia. The USA has driven down the cost of oil for everyone in the world.  It's cheaper for everyone to live and eat in the world, quite an accomplishment.  While we can study these things scientifically, it all comes down to politics because government regulation is politics that affect individuals and companies.    And regulations take away someone's freedoms.  So finding the "right" balance is difficult.   In any case, wouldn't it be nice to tell the Saudi prince to go shove it?  Of course, Europe would have to buy  oil from Trump which many Europeans might find just as odious. Meanwhile the Germans are building an oil pipeline to their friends the Russians.  What a crazy world. 

1. Any drilling has certain earthquake and oil spill consequences. Fracking with its high pressure techniques more than regular drilling.
2. The Nordstream pipeline is built for natural gas, not oil. Financed 50% by Russia, 50% by EU countries. Same gas as it is now carried by the pipeline through Ukraine.

[OmerV]

I'm still waiting for a genuine demonstration that that's true, Omer. I see our "media" and our Democrats pushing that idea, but that's about all. James Clark says we need to approach this stuff scientifically. but that's exactly what our "media" and our left-wingers are avoiding. They're into "the big lie," which originated with guess who (a national socialist). It's effective. I'll have to say that. After all, you believe it, and I've always considered you to have both feet on the ground -- well, at least a foot and a half.

Ha! There are times when I can’t tell if I have five or seven fingers:  (Marc Chagall self portrait)

[RSL]

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, Omer. I get into the same configuration from time to time.

Speaking of the Lone Ranger, and getting way off topic: we used to have a pawn shop in Colorado Springs that called himself "The Loan Arranger."

[Rob C]

Fracking, drilling or otherwise, all of those sources are finite.

The sensible thing to do is to create alternatives. The oil folks know this, and some have hedged their futures as moneymakers by investing in alternative ventures. Some see that as nothing but cynical manoeuvring, but I don't agree: they are thinking ahead. The problem is, they are taking too long in the middle ground. There has to be a push to move faster.

China and India are red herrings. I would be highly surprised if China were not beavering away at alternative technologies, and one day coming up with the solutions that those who sat on their thumb will then have to buy from them. Wait, sanctions! That'll fix 'em.

If you are on a sinking ship, you don't stop closing down the bulkheads because some sections of hull are already flooded: you do your damndest to keep the entire structure afloat. You attend to the wet bits if and when you make port. If you just give up, you die.

[RSL]

True, Rob. But nobody has a clue about how long the fuels we now depend on will last. According to Jimmy Carter we were on the verge of running out of fossil fuels back in his day. We now have a lot more than we had then. At the moment the only alternative to fossil fuel energy that seems possibly accessible is nuclear. We’re not there yet. In fact we’re not even close. There may be another alternative nobody’s thought of, but at this point we can be sure neither wind nor solar is that alternative. In the end, human ingenuity always has prevailed. It’ll do it again this time.

[Alan Klein]

True, Rob. But nobody has a clue about how long the fuels we now depend on will last. According to Jimmy Carter we were on the verge of running out of fossil fuels back in his day. We now have a lot more than we had then. At the moment the only alternative to fossil fuel energy that seems possibly accessible is nuclear. We’re not there yet. In fact we’re not even close. There may be another alternative nobody’s thought of, but at this point we can be sure neither wind nor solar is that alternative. In the end, human ingenuity always has prevailed. It’ll do it again this time.

I'm working on converting water to gasoline. Would anyone like to invest in my company?

[RSL]

The problem with wind and solar, outside the fact they’re left-wing icons, is that neither is a method of storing solar energy. Fossil fuels are such a storage method. It’s storage that we need. We need a fuel that’ll let us, like the train they call the City of New Orleans, be gone five hundred miles when the day is done. You can’t do that with an “electric” car. We’ve made amazing progress in battery storage since I was a kid, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared with what we need. The energy’s there in solar, but it’s intermittent. We can forget about wind unless we can come up with a better method of accessing it than the bird blenders we now have. People will only put up with the desecration of our prairies and the killing of birds for so long before they rebel. If we come up with a really good way to store energy we probably can use nuclear to generate it. Somewhere down the line we’ll figure it out.