Quote from libertad:
Bush wants to drill offshore today? Why not 7 years ago ? Why is there no energy policy ?
Anwar drilling has been on the Republican agenda for a long time. In an early form, it was proposed that essentially Alaskan oil would be sold to Japan in exchange for an increased allotment of middle eastern oil delivered to US east coast in Japanese hulls. It couldn't pass muster primarily for environmental reasons and the fact that Alaskan oil is reserved for US use. The Republicans gladly sell off US resources if the price is right.
While US politicians continue to alienate Latin American oil producers, the Chinese are busy investing in the development of oil projects in the region insuring greater access to support China's growth plans.
The "national energy policy" issue comes up everytime we experience another energy price shock. In the end oil interests benefit by policies which insure that spot market pricing is never replaced by long term pricing contracts. All participants in the oil production chain understand this. There are no economic incentives in place to mitigate the risk of long term supply contracts.
Todays mantra's of "cap and trade" and the fixation with "carbon footprints" are setting the stage for a new batch of regulations that will most likely double retail power rates exclusive of any price increase in underlying energy commodities. While I have no problem with clean air and water, it's painful to watch our regulators get behind policies with no real understanding of the follow on economic impacts. Regulatory costs killed our nuclear power industry. Regulatory impacts continue to shape our power future. Maybe we all need to drive "electric" vehicles? Wake up folks - You've got to plug 'em in someware.
(Sorry I'm getting on my soap box now - the engineer in me is coming out)
Quote from libertad:
....Developing countries problems , particularly the non oil producing smaller ones basically have no real economic base......Poligomy is still widespread today by the fathers making the $200 per month....and one would be pressed to find a 17 year old girl without a child....
People (Labor) is old school economic power. In developed economies extended families were replaced by governmental support systems. Our out of control medical costs and underfunded retirement plans will probably drive us back toward extended families as well.
Quote from libertad:
What is the answer....
Make the world yours....not theirs.....live where you want to....trade where you want to.....do what you want to.....
And construct your life such that you could care less about these blithering liars and two faced idiots....Their biggest problem is going to be themselves and having to look in the mirror each day ....clearly not knowing who the hell they are....
Great Advice! I think one of the things that draws us all to markets and trading is the opportunity it represents to live as free a life as possible. The biggest challenge in constructing a life free of "these blithering liars and two faced idiots" is navigating the maze of traps they set for the rest of us. I can easily imagine a round of congressional regulation as an over-reaction to the "speculator" issue which kills market access for the small spec.
Great Post libertad! Your coments on Perot and Bush are right on the money.
BR,
FreeMarketRider