Rice Panic - Page 3 - Political Forum

Calvin-X · 04-22-2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzTeK

I don't see how it has anything to do with Republicans. It just seems to be part of the Bush/Cheney strategy to do everything the worst possible way. Don't blame the entire GOP for the morons in the White House atm.

Wow, just wow...

Sooo you are blaming President Bush personally for this, but ...

Quote:

Indeed, and I hate to be part of it. Here in Austria we have, as I shortly indicated, a couple of local programs (the Eastern Styria Energy Region is one) where biofuels are produced from used vegetable oil (kindly sponsored in large part by McDonalds btw

) which allows my home city of Graz to power the entire public transport buses with this alternative fuel. That's the way to do it. Biofuels of the third generation (essentiall using any and all forms of organic stuff, hopefully mostly waste which the amount of that's thrown away every day is staggering) are also promising.

But the current biofuel craze out of palm trees or corn is a catastrophe on every imaginable level, starting environmentally but also economically and even energetically.

It's a terrible shame the EU has not halted their goal for upping biofuel % in the Union. Thankfully some countries like Germany have done so, which is the only right thing to do.

across the ocean the EU is doing the same stuff.

THis indicates to me that there the cause is something shared by both America and the EU. I put the blame on enviromentalists.

Furthermore, assuming that those who you disagree with are stupid or evil is the sterotype of a closed mind, FYI.

AzTeK · 04-22-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calvin-X

Wow, just wow...

Sooo you are blaming President Bush personally for this, but ...

And Cheney, yes. You know damn well the president is supposed to be a check on congress and vice-versa. Bush had the power to stop this yet he didn't. Of course he's responsible. If I'm not mistaken, Bush even pushed for it, so it's not as if he was some innocent bystander caught in the fray.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calvin-X

across the ocean the EU is doing the same stuff.

THis indicates to me that there the cause is something shared by both America and the EU. I put the blame on enviromentalists.

I already said the EU is just as wrong as the US. Where's the problem? But still you have to put this into context. Unfortunately there is no sole player in the EU to blame since our system is a bit more complicated than that of the US, but still as I pointed out, some countries like Germany are taking measures to address the problem.

The EU's goal is 10% biofuel by 2020, the US goal is 15% biofuel by 2017. That and taking into consideration the US consumes 33% more oil than the entire EU obviously makes the problem more US-based than EU based, eventhough as I pointed out a couple of posts back, the EU is of course also to be blamed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calvin-X

Furthermore, assuming that those who you disagree with are stupid or evil is the sterotype of a closed mind, FYI.

Evil is a very subjective term, appart from me never using it in this debate. And if it makes you feel better in any way, I generally don't use the word stupid in a debate. George W. Bush Jr. is the sole exception to that rule. And I'll never take that back, appart from the long list of fuck-ups by him just listening to him speaking in public should make clear what I am referring to. It's no assumption.

What you think about my mind or about me is up to you, keep it to yourself in the future for I don't care.

Wheeldog · 04-23-2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Americans hoard food as industry seeks regs*-*-*Breaking News, Political News & National Security News - The Washington Times
Federal market regulators say the soaring price of most commodities over the past year reflects increased demand rather than investor speculation.

Rice 122%

Wheat* 95

Soybeans 83

Crude oil 82

Corn 66

Gasoline 41

Gold 37

Sugar 30

Coffee 24

Milk 5

Live cattle -7

Lumber -14

* On the Chicago Board of Trade

If you think almost everything is getting more expensive you are right. Everyone is beginning to feel the pinch, but those at the lower end of the income scale are really being hammered. For the more affluent families it may mean not being able to take that vacation to Europe or Hawaii, but for poorer families it can mean that there is literally less food on their plates. So far the U.S. has been free of food riots that have hit other countries, incuding our neighbors, Mexico and Hati. However, there are areas of simmering tension in many urban ghettos. The LA Watts riot in 1965 was triggered by a relatively minor event (a misdemenor arrest), but it released an explosion of frustration and racial tension that had been building a long time. Nothing really has changed. The rising cost of living coupled with declining jobs in lower income communities is primed for a chain reaction of violent disturbances.