Here Is What A Part Of Your Iraq Investment Could Buy

[Strelnikov_]

Using $180 billion to eliminate oil demand in the United States.

In general, I feel Lovins work/proposals (other than the hypercar) are viable, except for one big flaw. He assumes leadership that will act in the best interest of the majority of the population.


How to Live Without Oil
By Amory B. Lovins
Newsweek International

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8769620/site/newsweek/

. . .

Oil may now be poised to repeat that history. With prices exceeding $50 a barrel, the world's oil habit now costs $4 billion a day. Some experts warn that output will soon peak and prices will reach $100, but nobody really knows for sure (94 percent of reserves are owned by governments, which generally keep the data secret). Fortunately, it doesn't matter: With cheap oil-saving technologies and alternative fuels already at our disposal, the sooner we get off oil, the sooner we'll start making bigger profits.

. . .

Modern aerodynamics, tires, engines and materials can cheaply double or triple the efficiency of 18-wheel heavy trucks and jetliners, too. Boeing's new 787 consumes 20 percent less fuel per passenger mile than its predecessor. Retooling the U.S. car, truck and plane industries would require a $90 billion investment. That may sound like a lot, but spread over a decade, it's worth about three weeks of U.S. oil imports a year. Other countries' retooling would typically yield at least as handsome profits in both money and security.

Once the United States has saved half its oil, it can cost-effectively replace an additional 20 percent with advanced biofuels, and the rest with saved natural gas. Biofuels (based on woody, weedy plants—not corn) will need a $90 billion investment, too, but they'll beat $26 oil, revitalize farming, protect topsoil better and preserve food crops' land and water. Harvesting biofuel crops, carbon credits and wind power all from the same land, much of it now unproductive, can also double or triple net farm and ranch income. Again, details will differ in other countries, but the opportunities are broadly similar—even in Japan, which lacks the Great Plains but is 70 percent forested and could substainably harvest both fiber and biofuels there.

Eliminating oil demand in the United States would thus require a $180 billion investment, half for efficient vehicles, half for advanced biofuels. By 2025, that would save $155 billion every year, create a million new jobs, save a million current jobs and generate 26 percent less carbon emissions. Benefits in Europe, Asia and Latin America are proportional or better. Even oil-exporting countries could benefit: oil may well ultimately be worth more for its hydrogen content than for its hydrocarbons.


And $300 B spent on the Great Leaders adventure so far.

[FloridaPat]

1. As long is oil is priced in dollars, the world is stuck with an agressive

USA. And if it every gets priced in another currency, our economy collapses. Apparently there are a lot of articles about how our government is better off with high oil prices because more dollars come in to support the amazing national debt the repubs have gotten us into.

[sintax]

2. We could do so much

just cut military spending in half, which would mean about 400 billion per year for a variety of healthy and smart projects.(the actual War Department's budget is around 800 bill).

Another solution for the betterment our lives is the stripping away of subsidies for toxic farming aka agribusiness and put those monies into entirely organic, which actually produce more per acre as new results from David Pimentel prove. In this way organic food need not be so costly and for only the elite.

In short transfer the US from a culture of anomie and death to a culture of enchantment and life. Big project.

Big problem with Lovins work is that he operates within essentially the same constructs of our current industrial system which is which is far too energy intensive. We need entirely new modes based on radically different lives and livelihoods.

The hydrogen economy is just a pipe dream and all biofuels are net energy losers.

But yes let us get on the path to change-Fast.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. Who knew that "defense" during peactime could cost so frigging

much.... when I say peacetime, I mean prior to 911, as I am sure it was huge then as well.