To: hmaly who wrote (138373 ) 7/30/2001 6:06:28 PM From: tejek Read Replies (2) | Respond to Ted Re..Harry, just because its there doesn't mean we have to use it. <<<<<<< I doubt it because if gas prices keep going up, new alternatives will be viable. The sooner we run short of gas, the sooner we will change over, which just may save gas for the future generations in the long run. Al Gore wrote books about alternatives. His chance to give alternatives came last summer, when the shortage hit. All he had to do was pass a major tax hike on gas, and give incentives to alternatives. He didn't do it. Instead he sold out his principles for votes and emptied the reserve. And I told you then, it was the wrong thing to do, didn't I? I favor the big bang theory. The likely way I see, is if the demand keeps on rising, and reserves keep on falling, until production can't keep up with demand. That plus, say a war in the middle east, will shoot the price through the roof, which will keep the price up long enough, and people will get disgusted enough, to give alternatives a fighting chance. We need capitulation; a realization that alternatives will be better at any price than the illusion of cheap gas. Cheap oil has been able to fight off all of the alternatives so far. Now it certainly is possible that there is a cheaper alternative than cheap oil; but I haven't heard of it. Fuel cells, if they can get the volume, have a chance, but its a slim one. I would liken it to rubber. Before WWII, rubber was used exclusively. But because supplies were sporadic, the Gov. paid Goodyear to come up with a non rubber alternative for their military vehicles; which resulted in vulcanized rubber. Now rubber is a small percentage of tires as a cheaper better alternative was found. Necessity often is the means of invention. The Reps. are out of step with the country and the world.<<<
