The Spill Won't Make A Difference
I got my laugh yesterday, and proved my point that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico isn't going to get Americans to rush away from an oil based economy.
One of the folks I see regularly; who I believe would live on tofu and sprouts; was almost giddy with excitement over the possibility of us moving to alternatives to oil.
So I asked how she got to work. (Here answers in italics)
The answer was "my car".
Why not take the bus?
I live in the country; the nearest bus stop is 2 miles.
Why not ride your bike to it?
I have a lot of stuff I have to bring, and what about the weather?
Why not have hubby drop you off?
He doesn't leave for work until 6:30, he'd have to go 90 minutes early.
Why not move closer to the city, so you would be able to get a bus or train easier?
We like it where we are.
And therein lies the problem. Even the tofu crowd likes their houses in the 'burbs where public transportation is hard to use due to time and distance. You're not going to get rid of cars; the biggest oil users; until we figure out how to get to work from our little acre in the country.
They love the idea of electric cars until you remind that they have to be recharged, which is going to require more power plants. "Hydrogen!" they proclaim, until they realize the only economical way to hydrogen is through drilling for natural gas and cracking that, since getting it from water uses 4 times more energy than you recover.
Don't even get into the longer distance transporation of people and goods. Then you need trains, semi-trucks and aircraft. There isn't a good alternative for them other than oil based fuel.
One of the folks I see regularly; who I believe would live on tofu and sprouts; was almost giddy with excitement over the possibility of us moving to alternatives to oil.
So I asked how she got to work. (Here answers in italics)
The answer was "my car".
Why not take the bus?
I live in the country; the nearest bus stop is 2 miles.
Why not ride your bike to it?
I have a lot of stuff I have to bring, and what about the weather?
Why not have hubby drop you off?
He doesn't leave for work until 6:30, he'd have to go 90 minutes early.
Why not move closer to the city, so you would be able to get a bus or train easier?
We like it where we are.
And therein lies the problem. Even the tofu crowd likes their houses in the 'burbs where public transportation is hard to use due to time and distance. You're not going to get rid of cars; the biggest oil users; until we figure out how to get to work from our little acre in the country.
They love the idea of electric cars until you remind that they have to be recharged, which is going to require more power plants. "Hydrogen!" they proclaim, until they realize the only economical way to hydrogen is through drilling for natural gas and cracking that, since getting it from water uses 4 times more energy than you recover.
Don't even get into the longer distance transporation of people and goods. Then you need trains, semi-trucks and aircraft. There isn't a good alternative for them other than oil based fuel.
Labels: BP, economy, Oil Spill, public transporation
posted by Crazy Politico at 5:06 AM
2Comments:
LOL! Good one CP!
The funny thing is she didn't really get the idea that she is part of the problem.
Post a Comment
<< Home