Politics

[Doug Hamilton]

I would say there is also a good deal of inherent optimism that we can invent ourselves out of any bind given enough resources, and substantial enough government interventions can soften the blow in the meantime. Personally, I take a quite dismal view toward this sort of problem solving.

In Washington (state) the liberal left is trying to ban the use of natural gas and is insisting on electric heating and cooking stoves. They are also trying to demand electric cars in order to phase out gas engines. Same with lawn movers and chain saws. Meanwhile, the same people are demanding that the dams that provide hydroelectric power be removed from the rivers. No coal is allowed to be transported through the state by rail, so there can not be any coal powered plants. Certainly no nuclear power will be allowed. There are probably some things that I'm forgetting.

They do have some wind farms but so far the equipment uses more energy to build than the equipment can produce during its lifespan.

Where is the "clean" electric energy supposed to come from? We'll just pass the laws to require the technology to be created, then invent our way out of the issues.

I think I see a little problem here.

 

[Dirtdart]

Let's not forget...a true Liberal is still a Capitalist.

A leftist is a Communist/Socialist.

We often use the terms interchangeably, but we should not.

A democrat is a liberal is a progressive is a socialist is a communist all in training.

 

[tarbe]

In Washington (state) the liberal left is trying to ban the use of natural gas and is insisting on electric heating and cooking stoves. They are also trying to demand electric cars in order to phase out gas engines. Same with lawn movers and chain saws. Meanwhile, the same people are demanding that the dams that provide hydroelectric power be removed from the rivers. No coal is allowed to be transported through the state by rail, so there can not be any coal powered plants. Certainly no nuclear power will be allowed. There are probably some things that I'm forgetting.

They do have some wind farms but so far the equipment uses more energy to build than the equipment can produce during its lifespan.

Where is the "clean" electric energy supposed to come from? We'll just pass the laws to require the technology to be created, then invent our way out of the issues.

I think I see a little problem here.

The leftist commie wants you starving in the cold/dark. You are much easier to control that way.

These people have no understanding or love of liberty for the masses.

Liberty is messy, scary and a threat to them.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Interesting discussion on this video. I am guessing this chick in the TikTok video won't make the sandwiches!

 

[flying sailor]

Interesting discussion on this video. I am guessing this chick in the TikTok video won't make the sandwiches!

What a beaach!

 

[WAB]

I would say there is also a good deal of inherent optimism that we can invent ourselves out of any bind given enough resources, and substantial enough government interventions can soften the blow in the meantime. Personally, I take a quite dismal view toward this sort of problem solving.

I lived this first hand on the ULSD regs. I was one of the refining reps on the cross industry task force. We told them that it would cost billions and permanently increase diesel costs above that of gasoline. They simply would not believe us and instituted the regs, even in the face of the EMA choosing a trap technology that did not need ULSD. The result, it cost billions and permanently increased the cost of diesel above the cost of gasoline. The arrogance and disregard for science is infuriating.

 

[ActionBob]

I have yet to meet a leftist who understands root-cause analysis or the necessity of positive cash-flow!!

Tim if they did, they would not be leftists.

 

[VertigoBE]

The arrogance and disregard for science is infuriating.

It has only gotten worse. The things supposedly “smart” people believe to justify the Energy Transition….

Building vast solar and wind fields in South America, that will drive water based electrolysis, to produce green H2. Then finding a fatal source of CO2 to combine it and produce green e-ammonia. Shipping this stuff to Europe, then cracking it back to H2 and CO2 ( with what heat? Coal??? ) and using the H2 to run a local converted gas fired power plant to produce electricity, while shipping the CO2 back to South America.

Granted, I took a most extreme scenario, but there are people really believing this all makes sense.

 

[Altitude sickness]

It’s obvious that the politicians really do not know or care if the pet environmental technology works or not. It makes them appear to care and drives simpletons to vote for them.

Now the true Greenie cares. But obviously is willing to destroy an economy for a phony small step towards utopia

 

[WAB]

Bob mentioned ethanol production in a previous post. IMO ethanol makes no sense. There was a time that engine technologies realized some emissions benefit from 10% ethanol. Those days are long gone. Now we sacrifice global food production on the environmental altar. To put it in perspective, last year roughly 36 million acres of farmland were used in the production of ethanol. 36 million acres of potential food production used to offset oil production, of which we have no shortage!

 

[ActionBob]

Bob mentioned ethanol production in a previous post. IMO ethanol makes no sense. There was a time that engine technologies realized some emissions benefit from 10% ethanol. Those days are long gone. Now we sacrifice global food production on the environmental altar. To put it in perspective, last year roughly 36 million acres of farmland were used in the production of ethanol. 36 million acres of potential food production used to offset oil production, of which we have no shortage!

And it takes a good bit of diesel fuel and natural gas to produce it. I believe it issd to be about a wash ner energy wise but ybe technology and efficiency has improved some.

 

[WAB]

Bob mentioned ethanol production in a previous post. IMO ethanol makes no sense. There was a time that engine technologies realized some emissions benefit from 10% ethanol. Those days are long gone. Now we sacrifice global food production on the environmental altar. To put it in perspective, last year roughly 36 million acres of farmland were used in the production of ethanol. 36 million acres of potential food production used to offset oil production, of which we have no shortage!

Oh, and if you really want to get your underwear in a knot, calculate how much energy we consume to produce corn on 36 million acres!

 

[Altitude sickness]

Back to the Copper production article I posted. Politicians decree we will be “net zero” by 2035.

Net Zero itself is a joke. But that’s another topic.

So they send down the declaration from on high that the Minions will be forced into EVs by 2035.

So who in the business world makes decisions without ALL of the supporting data? Wouldn’t you first ask if it’s possible.
1.Will the electric grid produce the demand by then.
2. Is there even enough of the elements required to build them.
3. Are we going to loosen permitting nightmare to allow mining of the elements.
4. Are we creating another situation where our enemies control the supply of our energy source.

We all understand creating “Stretch Goals” but not impossible goals the are not measurable or attainable.
Of course a business would do this. But we are lead by lawyers that get elected to office. And have never had to produce one iota of wares.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Back to the Copper production article I posted. Politicians decree we will be “net zero” by 2035.

Net Zero itself is a joke. But that’s another topic.

So they send down the declaration from on high that the Minions will be forced into EVs by 2035.

So who in the business world makes decisions without ALL of the supporting data? Wouldn’t you first ask if it’s possible.
1.Will the electric grid produce the demand by then.
2. Is there even enough of the elements required to build them.
3. Are we going to loosen permitting nightmare to allow mining of the elements.
4. Are we creating another situation where our enemies control the supply of our energy source.

We all understand creating “Stretch Goals” but not impossible goals the are not measurable or attainable.
Of course a business would do this. But we are lead by lawyers that get elected to office. And have never had to produce one iota of wares.

 

[Red Leg]

Strieff's latest weekly war update from Ukraine. As usual it is well worth reading and represents far less of an academic slog than ISW's updates. As usual his observations about the war and the US response largely mirror my own which no doubt adds to my appreciation of his work.

Putin's War, Week 116. Russian Offensive Stalls, Ukraine Discovers Wild Weasel, and Blinken Plays Guitar

redstate.com

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Strieff's latest weekly war update from Ukraine. As usual it is well worth reading and represents far less of an academic slog than ISW's updates. As usual his observations about the war and the US response largely mirror my own which no doubt adds to my appreciation of his work.

Putin's War, Week 116. Russian Offensive Stalls, Ukraine Discovers Wild Weasel, and Blinken Plays Guitar

redstate.com

It seems this latest Russian offensive has made little gain and the Ukrainians are holding, whether or not it seems in spite of the lack of supplies, I'd think this will only shore up more as supplies come in. Perhaps the situation will turn back the other direction.

 

[PARA45]

Interesting discussion on this video. I am guessing this chick in the TikTok video won't make the sandwiches!

I have a good friend who married this Southern Lady, and she was actually pleasant to be around, well dressed, well mannered, etc, etc. After six months of going out, she claimed that because of her Southern background, she couldn't live in sin with him anymore, and they either get married, or she would leave him. I told him, let her go, don't do it, I said it so many times until I was blue in the face. They got married, and within a couple of months, the claws and fangs came out. She doesn't do laundry, cook, clean, nothing. Oh, and he doesn't get any either. She wants to quit working, so she can be a housewife. Even though she works from home, and she still doesn't do sh*t around the house! He complains every chance he gets, he is miserable, she has gained over 80 lbs. I've said to him to get out while you can. But unfortunately, he is afraid of being alone. Those bieatches know how to manipulate and play the game to get what they want. Thankfully they can't have kids. I listen to him, but I don't offer any more advice, he is a grown man, and if he wants to be miserable, then deal with it.

 

[Red Leg]

Also, that whole armor assault thing takes on a whole new perspective when your opponent suddenly has adequate artillery munitions again. It must be terribly unsettling for the Putin allies and Russian apologists in the Freedom for Me but not for Thee caucus.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/comments/1cv1dg1

 

[sgt_zim]

The inmates are running the asylum.

Magic Monetary Theory Goes Primetime

Modern Monetary Theory was interesting back when it was dismissed as a fringe curiosity, but more like terrifying now that it's being taken seriously

www.racket.news

 

[Ed Lally]

The underground economy is enormous and untaxed. A consumption tax would capture the unpaid tax on thea