wow this is an interesting thread, all about 'truths' and 'facts' about oil supply, demand, control, and consumption. it amuses me how ignorant some americans can be to the world, such as with international petrol prices, yet still moan about the costs like someones gonna feel sorry for them. you spread capitilisation to the rest of the world, then when china and other growing nations use oil, driving global demand up, and oil prices, they're the bad guys. ask yourself, if your business had control of a valuable resource that is drying up and everyone wants, what would you do?
sure we can try to blame happenings in iraq and iran, but thats a whole other story (which may also have a slight bit to do with america). dont think im anti-american though, coz im not. the US did of course bring us the mighty v8 of course, and lots of other great stuff to which im thankful.
i read a book recently on the topic of oil called 'the last hours of ancient sunlight' by thom hartmann, which suggested oil is being consumed at triple the rate at which it is being found, and estimates of how much is in the ground (excluding Tradewind's miraculus US oil reserves) at about 30 years worth at current useage. of course, as other developments become more cost effective as petrol/oil goes up, this length of time will increase. i forget the exact figures but these are near enough 'right' (if i can use the word).
this is all not sounding very nice for us on this forum with our v8's, but i have come to accept the fact that on my budget, my would-be daily driver will now become a weekend cruiser. this looks to be the way its going for those of us in the "real" world, except for well off people who dont have to look at the price at the pumps.
i might suggest considering moving to mexico, where fuel is cheaper and you can even fill up with straight methanol from the pump (iv heard). it would be great, you could even wind the boost up some more quite safely.
moving countries is a little extreme though, so we may instead see the death of americas love affair with big blocks and suv's, and people will drive round in electric or hydrogen powered cars, thinking they're saving the environment (find out what the byproducts of electricity and hydrogen are and you'll see what i mean) but they're not. looks like we're gonna have to either walk, ride a bike, buy a motorbike/scooter/small car, or take the bus to work. shock, horror, americans, welcome to the real, "real" world.
ps. i live in new zealand, a small pacific island below austraia (but not part of it. lol), where fuel is currrently over $1.70 a litre. a country without nuclear power, without the worlds biggest oil reserves under our mountains, and without a media controlled by corporations, telling us what they decide to be the truth.
um, thats the end of my rant. cheers.
