<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Dilbert takes on foreign oil]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Michael Boydston http://www.grist.org/article/fungible/ Sun, 19 Feb 2006 08:04:42 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/fungible/1 but about Dogbert's argument . . .

I understand that oil is fungible, but doesn't Dogbert's argument ignore the effect of (hypothetical) reduced American demand on prices?  That is, Dilbert uses less oil, so America uses less oil, so total world demand for oil is less than it would have been otherwise, so the market price is less, so all sellers of oil (including the countries that hate us) make less money?  

]]> but about Dogbert's argument . . .

I understand that oil is fungible, but doesn't Dogbert's argument ignore the effect of (hypothetical) reduced American demand on prices?  That is, Dilbert uses less oil, so America uses less oil, so total world demand for oil is less than it would have been otherwise, so the market price is less, so all sellers of oil (including the countries that hate us) make less money?  

]]> Comment #2 by Bart Anderson http://www.grist.org/article/fungible/ Sun, 19 Feb 2006 08:15:03 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/fungible/2 Fungible -- not really

Problem is -- just because Scott Adams calls oil "fungible" does not mean that it is so... or that oil will be so in the future.

A good part of World War II was concerned with the struggle for access to oil.

Many of the political tensions in the world today are about access to oil.  These tensions are increasing, not decreasing.

The key concept is that any country or economy that bases its well being on supplies of a resource owned by another country is putting itself into a vulnerable position.

For a productive way of dealing with oil dependence, see:
Japanese putting all their energy into saving fuel - Wash. Post (also posted here.

One reason for emphasizing the national security aspect of oil addiction is that this idea has the support of many in the intelligence and military communities.  


]]> Fungible -- not really

Problem is -- just because Scott Adams calls oil "fungible" does not mean that it is so... or that oil will be so in the future.

A good part of World War II was concerned with the struggle for access to oil.

Many of the political tensions in the world today are about access to oil.  These tensions are increasing, not decreasing.

The key concept is that any country or economy that bases its well being on supplies of a resource owned by another country is putting itself into a vulnerable position.

For a productive way of dealing with oil dependence, see:
Japanese putting all their energy into saving fuel - Wash. Post (also posted here.

One reason for emphasizing the national security aspect of oil addiction is that this idea has the support of many in the intelligence and military communities.  


]]> Comment #3 by odograph http://www.grist.org/article/fungible/ Sun, 19 Feb 2006 08:38:30 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/fungible/3 A+

Excellent post Bart, you hit all the notes.

]]> A+

Excellent post Bart, you hit all the notes.

]]> Comment #4 by Wells http://www.grist.org/article/fungible/ Sun, 19 Feb 2006 13:46:13 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/fungible/4 Enough posturing

Thanks for the link to Oil Drum. I will place it above Gristblog as a forum worth my time and effort. Enough with your mental masterbation posing Hybrids as futile, Roberts. Demonstrate your mental sterility about hybrid potential if you so choose, but don't try to convince readers that you're just posing an honest debate. Who's paying you to come up with this crap?    

]]> Enough posturing

Thanks for the link to Oil Drum. I will place it above Gristblog as a forum worth my time and effort. Enough with your mental masterbation posing Hybrids as futile, Roberts. Demonstrate your mental sterility about hybrid potential if you so choose, but don't try to convince readers that you're just posing an honest debate. Who's paying you to come up with this crap?    

]]> Comment #5 by David Roberts http://www.grist.org/article/fungible/ Sun, 19 Feb 2006 16:50:35 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/fungible/5 Wells,

just above, I say the following:there are good reasons to reduce U.S. oil use ... we would reduce our vulnerability to geopolitical manipulation and arguably provide an enormous stimulus to the economy.

Since I advocate reducing U.S. oil use, I also advocate for the manufacture and purchase of fuel-efficient cars. I don't happen to think it will do much to deny terrorist-sponsoring regimes oil money, but it will do wonders for U.S. health and security in a world of increasing geopolitical tension over oil.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

www.grist.org

]]> Wells,

just above, I say the following:there are good reasons to reduce U.S. oil use ... we would reduce our vulnerability to geopolitical manipulation and arguably provide an enormous stimulus to the economy.

Since I advocate reducing U.S. oil use, I also advocate for the manufacture and purchase of fuel-efficient cars. I don't happen to think it will do much to deny terrorist-sponsoring regimes oil money, but it will do wonders for U.S. health and security in a world of increasing geopolitical tension over oil.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

www.grist.org

]]> Comment #6 by odograph http://www.grist.org/article/fungible/ Mon, 20 Feb 2006 00:19:30 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/fungible/6 lede

If you believe "we would reduce our vulnerability to geopolitical manipulation and arguably provide an enormous stimulus to the economy."

... then I think you buried the lede.

]]> lede

If you believe "we would reduce our vulnerability to geopolitical manipulation and arguably provide an enormous stimulus to the economy."

... then I think you buried the lede.

]]>