Obama sets Congress a climate change ultimatum. - Polidicks

seems like obama just wants to accelerate the climate catastrophe

[QUOTE=yawmwen;39575997]seems like obama just wants to accelerate the climate catastrophe[/QUOTE] Doing nothing will accelerate it. He's trying to decelerate it.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;39576025]Doing nothing will accelerate it. He's trying to decelerate it.[/QUOTE] drilling out more greenhouse gasses will certainly accelerate it. [editline]13th February 2013[/editline] especially when those greenhouse gasses will simply seep into the atmosphere if they don't get burned immediately.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;39576079]drilling out more greenhouse gasses will certainly accelerate it. [editline]13th February 2013[/editline] especially when those greenhouse gasses will simply seep into the atmosphere if they don't get burned immediately.[/QUOTE] Pretty sure that drilling everywhere is the more conservative opinion. The more liberal opinion (not heard much in this country) is that we should improve and eventually move on to other energy sources.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;39576079]drilling out more greenhouse gasses will certainly accelerate it. [editline]13th February 2013[/editline] especially when those greenhouse gasses will simply seep into the atmosphere if they don't get burned immediately.[/QUOTE] Doesn't it say in the source that his plan is to wean us off of oil and gas and move us on to cleaner alternatives?

I'd jizz my pants if we started using rail for errything again, always wanted to be a conductor.

[QUOTE=Last or First;39576150]Doesn't it say in the source that his plan is to wean us off of oil and gas and move us on to cleaner alternatives?[/QUOTE] he wants to tax oil and gas drilling to put into a fund for new energy alternatives. how about we instead just take the oil subsidies away from those companies like exxon and use them to fund green energy research instead

[QUOTE=imptastick;39574944]I hope he means vertical drilling for natural gas, a lot of places are drilling at angles and causing serious problems in some communities. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LBjSXWQRV8[/media][/QUOTE] NOW NOWHERE IS SAFE FROM FIRE!

[QUOTE=yawmwen;39576575]he wants to tax oil and gas drilling to put into a fund for new energy alternatives. how about we instead just take the oil subsidies away from those companies like exxon and use them to fund green energy research instead[/QUOTE] Sadly, or perhaps not sadly, is that exxon and many other energy companies (oil and natural gas) are quite pro green energy. It doesn't seem like it because they produce oil and natural gas and are quite adamant about US cars not quite being as efficient as European counterparts, but the heads of these companies aren't stupid. They know that oil has a limited economic viability and that it will cease to be as cheap and easy to acquire in the future for refinement. Green energy, while it is expensive and often not as efficient as fossil fuels in energy production, is still in its infancy. However the ones making the greatest strides in vehicle efficiency and green tech tend to be the energy companies themselves, so as to maintain their grip on the market long into the future.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;39576575]he wants to tax oil and gas drilling to put into a fund for new energy alternatives. how about we instead just take the oil subsidies away from those companies like exxon and use them to fund green energy research instead[/QUOTE] I don't think the president has the ability to do that, though.

They are going to do the old run around and make it look like they are "solving climate change" but in reality this is going to do nothing. With a failing economy and world war 3 on the horizon this should not be an "Ultimatum" leave that to Jason Bourne. Taxing oil and Gas drilling is not the answer just decrease the demand for the products by introducing new and innovative technologies like hemp production and make everything from plastics to houses, from gas and other natural resources and stop ruining the atmosphere and drinking water with toxic chemicals. I mean seriously people if you are still close minded about hemp production you are just an idiot that listens to to much CNN/MSNBC. Hemp will improve even the most desolate soil and turn it into lush land after only 1 plant cycle. In turn you can grow even more food or hemp on said land. over 30,000 products can be made from hemp and its still illegal. Realize that the people in power are using your fear and ignorance to line their pockets with your hard earned money. HEMP IS RENEWABLE, OIL IS NOT.

[QUOTE=crazyjames;39577178]With a failing economy and world war 3 on the horizon this should not be an "Ultimatum" leave that to Jason Bourne.[/quote] Have you by any chance taken a university-level politics course? World War 3 is hardly 'on the horizon'. [QUOTE=crazyjames;39577178]Taxing oil and Gas drilling is not the answer just decrease the demand for the products by introducing new and innovative technologies like hemp production and make everything from plastics to houses, from gas and other natural resources and stop ruining the atmosphere and drinking water with toxic chemicals. I mean seriously people if you are still close minded about hemp production you are just an idiot that listens to to much CNN/MSNBC. Hemp will improve even the most desolate soil and turn it into lush land after only 1 plant cycle. In turn you can grow even more food or hemp on said land. over 30,000 products can be made from hemp and its still illegal. Realize that the people in power are using your fear and ignorance to line their pockets with your hard earned money. HEMP IS RENEWABLE, OIL IS NOT.[/QUOTE] Hemp production will be the deciding factor against climate change? What the hell am I reading?

[QUOTE=Megafan;39577128]I don't think the president has the ability to do that, though.[/QUOTE] well that's the problem. it makes it really convenient for the president since he can talk all he wants about wanting to fight climate change, but he can then say "well i don't have the power to do much". it's a systemic problem with american politics in general. each side can make the claim they want to do something and then complain they are being stonewalled by the opposition. in the mean time big business interests seem to cash out from our government most of the time. if our political system is not inherently corrupt to its very core, it is incredibly easy to see why someone looking from the outside would perceive it that way.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;39577213]well that's the problem. it makes it really convenient for the president since he can talk all he wants about wanting to fight climate change, but he can then say "well i don't have the power to do much". it's a systemic problem with american politics in general. each side can make the claim they want to do something and then complain they are being stonewalled by the opposition. in the mean time big business interests seem to cash out from our government most of the time. if our political system is not inherently corrupt to its very core, it is incredibly easy to see why someone looking from the outside would perceive it that way.[/QUOTE] Well the president's been making a lot of egregious moves with regards to drone strikes and the like, but when it comes to legislation, I can see a decent argument for "Congress is blocking progress via inaction", but not one for "the President is blocking progress trying to be made by Congress". Largely because he doesn't have the legislative powers to do that, legally speaking. Other than vetoing of course, but he hasn't done that much when it comes to high-profile legislation.

[QUOTE=Megafan;39577199]Have you by any chance taken a university-level politics course? World War 3 is hardly 'on the horizon'. Hemp production will be the deciding factor against climate change? What the hell am I reading?[/QUOTE] Yes with the current plans to invade 35 African countries, and the fact China and Japan are having high tension over land, North Korea testing its 3rd nuke, France invading Mali and a host of other conflicts we are closer than ever to the next world war. I actually laugh that you don't know the powers of hemp its really sad that people are so misinformed about it.

[QUOTE=Megafan;39577272]Well the president's been making a lot of egregious moves with regards to drone strikes and the like, but when it comes to legislation, I can see a decent argument for "Congress is blocking progress via inaction", but not one for "the President is blocking progress trying to be made by Congress". Largely because he doesn't have the legislative powers to do that, legally speaking. Other than vetoing of course, but he hasn't done that much when it comes to high-profile legislation.[/QUOTE] my point is that everyone seems to have someone to blame for why there is no progress while business interests continue to rake in tons of money. it's true to say that there is inaction in the legislature, but it also seems true that this inaction isn't caused by the fact there are just two parties, but because those parties are using the system to justify their inaction at the expense of everyone except the elite.

[QUOTE=crazyjames;39577287]Yes with the current plans to invade 35 African countries, and the fact China and Japan are having high tension over land, North Korea testing its 3rd nuke, France invading Mali and a host of other conflicts we are closer than ever to the next world war. I actually laugh that you don't know the powers of hemp its really sad that people are so misinformed about it.[/QUOTE] If sending advisory troops to a country is the same as 'invading' in the way that you're using it, the US has already conquered most of the world. Typically when you invade a place you're trying to get rid of the government there, but if you're assisting the local government with a problem then that's more of a 'coalition' thing. Especially considering that the people they're fighting in these countries are essentially rebels (although not necessarily terrorists), how would World War 3 even come about from that without nations engaging in warfare with, I don't know, other nations?

[QUOTE=IPK;39575375]Fun fact: Climate change is completely neutral and unavoidable,sadly this seems to be forgotten[/QUOTE] I don't know, he seems pretty aware of that: [quote]adapt to the dangers of a warming world[/quote] Keyword there being "adapt".

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;39575331]Honestly, I'm not that comfortable with Obama's current attitude of "Well, fuck all y'all, I'll executive order everything I want". I realize it's necessary because Congress is the worst group of do-nothing assholes on the planet, but the executive branch has essentially no limits on it's power nowadays.[/QUOTE] Nowadays? This thing goes back to the "olde tymes" which gives this small irony that President Washington has more personal power and less accountability than the British king and prime minister he fought against.

[QUOTE=crazyjames;39577287]Yes with the current plans to invade 35 African countries, and the fact China and Japan are having high tension over land, North Korea testing its 3rd nuke, France invading Mali and a host of other conflicts we are closer than ever to the next world war. I actually laugh that you don't know the powers of hemp its really sad that people are so misinformed about it.[/QUOTE] Japan and China have been fucking around with land issues for a long time, same with Japan and Russia. Heck, we here in Estonia and Russia are fucking about with borders a bit, doesn't mean they're any closer to invading us. North Korea won't do shit, basically their only pillars of support are Russia and China, who are themselves tired of NK's bull. Also France invading Mali? Nice critical reading skills there buddy. Also troop deployment in 35 countries to fight extremists and militant rebels is also not a plan to invade.

[QUOTE=Persecution;39574624]What are you, ten?[/QUOTE] Mentally, yes. But what's your problem? If you're not happy with what I said, it's not my problem. I didn't wake up with the sole purpose of satisfying you and your much more mature ways of joking.

Isn't encouraging natural gas drilling the opposite of solving climate change?

[QUOTE=draugur;39574707]I have an idea Obama. How about you buy me a nice new car so I can stop driving my POS 20 year old car that gets 10 gallons to the mile. The only reason we have this problem is because you practically have to take out a housing loan to buy a new fucking car in this country.[/QUOTE] Where are you buying cars? [editline]13th February 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=imptastick;39574944]I hope he means vertical drilling for natural gas, a lot of places are drilling at angles and causing serious problems in some communities. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LBjSXWQRV8[/media][/QUOTE] Fracking needs to be better regulated yea, but I highly doubt fracking directly caused this, maybe pressure from overflow. Fracking runs at like 10x the depth of water wells so it's rare that it would directly connect with ground water unless the concrete pipe shell broke or they didn't go deep enough. Again, better regulation could fix this.

[QUOTE=Kopimi;39575358]To be fair you can get a used car on craigslist for like 2 grand and under[/QUOTE] High MPG cars for $2000 are going to be complete death traps, like the Honda CR-X or Geo Metro.

[QUOTE=Kopimi;39575358]To be fair you can get a used car on craigslist for like 2 grand and under[/QUOTE] Yeah but guess how old it is though? Old cars are cheap as fuck, they also pollute more and get terrible gas mileage.

[QUOTE=draugur;39581770]Yeah but guess how old it is though? Old cars are cheap as fuck, they also pollute more and get terrible gas mileage.[/QUOTE] yea if you want a fairly new car used you are looking at 5-10 grand.

[QUOTE=crazyjames;39577287]Yes with the current plans to invade 35 African countries, and the fact China and Japan are having high tension over land, North Korea testing its 3rd nuke, France invading Mali and a host of other conflicts we are closer than ever to the next world war. I actually laugh that you don't know the powers of hemp its really sad that people are so misinformed about it.[/QUOTE] So from what I gather by listening to you. Hemp will: - Improve Soil (somehow) - Replace Oil (somehow) - Purify Water (somehow) - Prevent WW3 (somehow) Hmm, magical cure-for-everything plant indeed.

[QUOTE=A B.A. Survivor;39581181]Isn't encouraging natural gas drilling the opposite of solving climate change?[/QUOTE] It technically pollutes far less in other aspects than crude oil does. It still releases carbon dioxide when burning, however. There's really no catch-all good answer to this problem. Currently-known fossil fuel resources at current consumption rates are only going to last for another few centuries, with consumption rates only rising considering that industry is flourishing in East Asia and beginning to sprout up in Africa. Technologies to capture carbon emissions only eliminate one side of the problem - fossil fuels are still non-renewable, and they're going to run out eventually. Meanwhile, many of the alternative sources have a host of problems. Wind technology is unfavorable in urban areas, solar panels themselves are highly inefficient, geothermal plants are terribly expensive to maintain, hydroelectric dams cause massive dislocations and water distribution issues, and as far as nuclear power goes, there's no effective form of long-term storage of radioactive waste and decommissioned nuclear reactor parts. And this is all ignoring the fact that it takes fossil fuels to build these things. But the optimist in me says that there's a light at the end of this tunnel - probably because I'll be dead before any of these problems end up affecting me.

i think the most interesting idea is making roofs out of solar materials for houses. this wouldn't work with apartment buildings as well, but with houses you could potentially offset enough power usage with the solar panels that only a small amount of electricity would need to be generated to supplement. of course that would require some great engineering teams to design, as well as a ton of money from the federal government to implement.

[QUOTE=areolop;39575275]because $20,000 is "nothing " that's double my untaxed income[/QUOTE] My point isn't that cars aren't expensive (though compared to Denmark your stuff costs nothing), but rather that you should have some other means f transportation making the car obsolete. Instead of driving 10km, take the bus or your bike - cheaper and much better for the environment. Right now public transport isn't - to my knowledge - all that great in the US, and the people I know who's been over there have told me that bike parths are vritually non-existent, so fix that up instead f making cars cheaper.