[quote=AN][quote=ocrenter]I don’t think a quantity and time limited consumer centric incentive will recreate the Big Oil monster. And what is your proposal on how to fight people like the Koch brothers pledging and planning millions of dollars to fight alternative energy source?
Lithium mining will likely keep up with demand, if it doesn’t, then like you mentioned, market forces will work that out.[/quote]
Whether the subsidies size will be as big as the oil industry will remain to be seen. What I’ve seen in the past though is, once you’re on the government gravy train, you’ll get lobbyists to help you keep them coming.
I don’t propose anything because I don’t want to fight the Koch brothers anymore than I want to fight any other billionaires. They have the right to use their money however they see fit. Just like I do. Just because you don’t agree with how they spend their money doesn’t deminish their right to their money. Same can be said about any other people, rich or poor. George Soros also pump millions into causes that I don’t care for. But it’s not my place to dictate how he use hois money.
Whether Lithium mining will keep up or not remain to be seen. Time will tell. But I don’t want my tax dollar going toward crony capitalism. I rather that money go toward the poor who really need help. Of course market forces will work itself out. So, why waste tax dollar trying to manipulate the market?
I’m pretty sure the tax subsidies that oil company uses to buy their equipments are the same tax subsidies that other companies like GE take advantage of as well. Not to mention small businesses as well. It’s just that those rigs are very expensive, so their subsidies are big. That’s the problem with government trying to manipulate market. There will be unintended side effects. Not to mention the the fail investments of companies like Solyndra. This is why I want to roll back subsidies not add more.
I like to pose some questions for you. How quickly do you want us to stop drilling? After we stop, what will replace jet fuel, diesels for heavy machinery, what will replace plastics, lubricants, and other products that we current depend on that is made from oil? Do you lump coal and natural gas in with the same group as oil as well?[/quote]
Your first paragraph is contradicted by your second paragraph. Again, who doesn’t love the banner of fighting crony capitalism? But under that exact banner, the end result is the status quo and solidifying of the established entrenched energy monopoly. You mentioned you want to roll back subsidies, I agree with you, but the billionaires have a bigger voice in government and they will make sure government will bend to their will. Why do you think congress agreed french fries and kitchup are vegetables?
I don’t want to stop drilling. I want enough market place support for nascent tech until they become self sustainable and they will bring the current energy monopolies to their knees.
Solar is a great example. Prices have come down just absolutely dramatically. Solar use to be President Carter’s pet project in the White House. Reagan ripped that thing out and ridiculed it. Now solar makes so much sense that even red blooded republicans are for solar energy. How did this happen? By not having any subsidies and allowing the electric companies to run the show while telling the public we are protecting them from crony capitalism?
