In , Robert Morein wrote :


"Lionel" wrote in message
...
Robert Morein wrote:

I am American.
The others are not dishonest. They are ignorant. It's simply that the
country has fallen into a state of self-delusion. It's true that there
is a lack of responsibility at the top. But don't forget that
self-delusion is not solely the province of Americans. Take China, for
example. That country has the opportunity to build an economy from the
ground up that would not be oil based.

How ?
Do you know exactly how many *billions* dollars USA have invested in
Chinese industry and infrastructure ?
I bet that more than 80% of the US money invested in China are the money
of your future pensions...
Why the US investors (and the others...) haven't chosen an other type of
energy ?

Lionel, I'm not excusing what individual industrialists do, but this is an
issue where governments must set national policy. You might think that
industrialists are always against energy conservation, but this is not
always true.

Obviously.

For example, Henry Ford has publicly advocated a high
gasoline tax, because it would enable his company to sell energy efficient
vehicles.

It's time no ?
The ratio power/motor volume is usually ridicule in the common US
engine production.

Also, please do not think that becaue I mentioned China, that I am trying
to dilute the responsibility of the U.S. I, for one, am ashamed that the
U.S. has not signed the Kyoto accords.

USA are today world economical leaders. If this situation is full of
advantages today it is also full of responsabilities. IMHO it is the
responsability of all highly developped democratic countries.

Furthermore, I pointed out the dire consequences for the U.S. of current
energy policy, for the U.S. itself. Whatever fault I find in China's
policy does not change the consequences for the U.S. of our own policy.

The Chinese government still has substantial central planning power. They
choose to allow a rapid expansion in their automobile fleet, because they
are worried about political stability. They feel forced to buy the loyalty
of each class on whatever terms they can get.

They simply have no choice. There's 1.5 billion inhabitants in China.
Who can guarantee today to 1.5 billions people that the economical
competition will be suspended since they will have built a strong
economical model based on "soft" energy ? ;-)

Moreover it is well known that today high priced energy penalizes more the
countries with high economical growth than the others. Compare economical
growth of USA with China or India and you will better understand today US
energical policy...
Why do you think that US army is in Iraq today ?