tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post4758896163467056117..comments2023-10-19T10:55:19.914-07:00Comments on Robert Bonomo's Blog: The End of the Republic?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-47209356784996993412010-06-01T03:44:56.642-07:002010-06-01T03:44:56.642-07:00>The biggest threat to our economic prosperity ...>The biggest threat to our economic prosperity is the potential for oil demand to outstrip supply.<br />expand existing & build new public transportation:<br />Metro trains inside a city<br />Commuter trains to and through suburbia<br />Regional trains beyond<br />Inter-Urban and Inter-City trains doing what their names imply<br />Trams/Streetcars/Lightrail in medium density and greater metropolitan areaLamont Cranstonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-62535971570656723312010-05-29T07:46:18.508-07:002010-05-29T07:46:18.508-07:00Generals?Military coup?Arms clamour?Maybe Chillean...Generals?Military coup?Arms clamour?Maybe Chillean style executions at the stadium?Jeez, man, whatever you are smoking, it must be a really good stuff.......This is US, the greatest and most progressive country in the world, not Taiwan,Paraguay or Russia.Jeez.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-63321431857024691432010-05-29T03:18:03.585-07:002010-05-29T03:18:03.585-07:00Have you all forgotten the magic of plankton in th...Have you all forgotten the magic of plankton in the waters of the Middle East that produce those mighty oceans of oil?Andronikynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-56673302349903882642010-05-25T04:22:57.996-07:002010-05-25T04:22:57.996-07:00Contempt for our "democratically-elected"...Contempt for our "democratically-elected" leaders? Love of the military? Do you really want the end of Democracy, and a military take-over of the US?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-17315802322523834532010-05-16T05:59:14.277-07:002010-05-16T05:59:14.277-07:00There will be 3 stages to this unfolding financial...There will be 3 stages to this unfolding financial crisis:<br /><br />1. The initial shock waves started in America in 2008. Those shock waves hit every part of the financial sector across the globe. America has been recovering ever since while the rest of the world's major economic regions have yet to play their part in this crisis separate from events in America.<br /><br />2. The Crisis then moves to Europe, who now has to contend with not only the rumblings of a superpower, but it's own homemade problems that have been stewing for years in the form of the ill-conceived and hastily thrown together European Union. When the wold becomes volitile, Europe simply cannott adjust in a timely and orderly manner due to its poor demographics, rigid institutions and lack of revenue streams. <br /><br />3. Number three we have yet to see materialize, but it will take place in China. Last but certainly not least, China is the text book example of a bubble that is about to burst. This will expose China's REAL economic strength separate from a fancy manipulation of the books.<br /><br />The conclusion is: America will once again come out the winner, IRONICALLY. The earthquake that started in the USA broke a few windows and crumbled a few facades, but in Europe and the rest of the world, it devastated [or will devastate] whole structures, knocking down confidence that once flourished in regions so much so that talk of challenging America became not if but when.<br /><br />The old adage that if America sneezes the rest of the world gets sick has never been more true. As it turns out, this financial crisis will peel back the rotten layers of the onion to expose the true strength of nations economic might and resilience. As it unfolds we are beginning to see that the 21st century is shaping up to be once again an American one. The recent unexpected rise in the Dollar is symbolic of this. Contrary to premature and grossly erroneous predictions of America's decline, this financial crisis will right the ship once again in favor of the country that many have written off too many times only to see them standing on top of the hill waving at everyone below.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-58208314013479583392010-05-15T18:18:45.261-07:002010-05-15T18:18:45.261-07:00Stillmeadow,
One word:Profit. If supply is to me...Stillmeadow,<br /><br /> One word:Profit. If supply is to meet demand this one would significantly go down.Hence the oil producing countries /OPEC/quotas.Rates of extraction are kept artificially low to sustain the ridiculous prices of 1.75 euros per litre, for example in Athens,Greece today.Thanks God it is still 2.80$ per gallon/3.754l/ in New Jersey.God Bless America.Charles Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-85732550918911651152010-05-15T16:36:39.219-07:002010-05-15T16:36:39.219-07:00Charles Lee,
You dismiss Peak Oil by stating &quo...Charles Lee,<br /><br />You dismiss Peak Oil by stating "Published reserves will supply the world for 40 years". Just one problem, reserves are not the same thing as rate of extraction. It does not mater how large the reserves are if you can't pump them at a rate to keep up with demand, and at an affordable cost to boot.Stillmeadownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-1961931403949028172010-05-13T18:40:51.796-07:002010-05-13T18:40:51.796-07:00Very interesting comment. I fully agree with you c...Very interesting comment. I fully agree with you conclusion, while it is more romantic to dream of revolution, better to let Peak Oil and overwhelming debt rid us of the banksters and their lackeys. Greed usually sets to good a trap, even for the folks with PHD's from MIT. They will want more and more, even as all hell is breaking loose, and that will be their undoing. <br /><br />We have a Constitution, and a Republic, and for as corrupt as it is, almost completely, the wake up call will not only rid us of the usurers and war mongers, but hopefully by activating the populace through that wonderful gift our forefathers gave us, the chance to go to the ballot box every two years.<br /><br />If the coming mess can rid us of banker thieves, war mongers, and weak-kneed journalist and at the same time, make it patriotic again to think, but not just about Britney Spears, it will be all for good. I hope for a bloodless renaissance of the Republic, even if I did seem a bit pessimistic in the piece above.<br /><br />Thanks again for your thoughtful response.Robert Bonomohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12180418871868488980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-75083819156842542702010-05-13T11:50:31.492-07:002010-05-13T11:50:31.492-07:00I suppose peak oil could be a fantasy if no more c...I suppose peak oil could be a fantasy if no more cars or petrol based industry were added to the world economy. But that ain't gonna be so. I don't argue with what's above, except that neocons are motivated more in service towards their own interests vs. those of Israel. Since both happen to align then advancing Israel is still a mutually beneficial project for both factions, even though I fully agree that it isn't beneficial for the US as a whole. Most of all, I see a recurring problem of sunken costs behind this sort of criticism. These costs have become the built-in limitations against our ability to take on the proactive kind of changes needed to deal with real global challenges. The world system we've constructed today is essentially dependent upon several assumptions in order to provide its wide range of benefits to many people in the US and elsewhere. Petroleum remains the linchpin for energy and money is the central determinant for gaining access to the political realm. As such, those who want to participate in our world system are left with no other options and must pursue the same patterns of consumption and consolidation of social power. Obama is a great example of one who certainly knows enough about the world to see its crucial flaws, but has little capacity to effect systemic changes and must conform like anyone else. And he's the President of the baddest nation to ever sit on this earth! The frightening thing to me is not that no one will stand up to ensure the US addresses serious global challenges in an effective manner, but that probably no one can. The structure of our global system largely prevents worthy changes except in cases of reaction to severe crises. It's not that the media won't cover peak oil, but it doesn't make any sense to do so according to the limitations of business models in mass media journalism. Increasing awareness about peak oil at large isn't worthwhile to the NYTimes since the average individual has almost no influence over society's use of oil. Increasing awareness and acceptance of peak oil among high level industry and business managers would be more effective, but those few individuals are not the target audience of large media outlets like NYTimes. So I condemn the media for failing to bring up more critical issues and at the same time forgive it for not having the freedom to do so. It is very interesting and requires a good deal of abstract thinking to see how much freedom has been unconsciously surrendered during our march into modernity. We have achieved an incredible wealth of benefits for humanity, no less this machine I'm typing on right now, through the application of technological processes. And those processes could not have been achieved without organizing systems around an energy source such as oil or the financial markets which push and pull capital towards innovative places. But in the same moment, taking those roads has closed off other choices and left us with many new burdens. Unfortunately our emphasis on the benefits of modernity has left us considerably deaf to its downsides. This isn't surprising since most incentives point toward the positives to be gained through modernity. When thinking about the sunken costs of our world system that prevent fresh and independent approaches, and stop short meaningful reforms, it's hard to avoid coming to any other conclusion than some kind of revolution. But anyone who's been near violence knows what that kind of power can and can't achieve, and at what tremendous cost. I may just end up hoping for a non-human factor like peak oil to force change in our current system than rely upon any minority activism. When rising energy costs and reduced access to even core benefits of modernity touches more people, then the time for new revolutionaries will be in trying to maintain and guide their immediate communities through such changes without having to draw new battle lines in the sand. Sand and what's underneath it is being fought over too much already.Acadamnicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15669226205030982304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-64957397607941210402010-05-06T07:46:04.139-07:002010-05-06T07:46:04.139-07:00Peak Oil is a big fantasy as Global Warming , Napo...Peak Oil is a big fantasy as Global Warming , Napoleon.<br />Published reserves will supply the world for 40 years without a single extra barrel being discovered.Your article is a total nonsense.Charles Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-73642953072022966782010-05-05T06:24:36.525-07:002010-05-05T06:24:36.525-07:00Peak Oil is true and frightening. But Israel throu...Peak Oil is true and frightening. But Israel through AIPAC, NPAC and neocons, has been able to manipulate the United States into invading Iraq on their behalf. We are fighting a proxy war for Israel in Iraq? What have you been smoking?Craig Shermannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-91616420012300640822010-05-04T06:14:46.979-07:002010-05-04T06:14:46.979-07:00I can't comment on much of the article as I am...I can't comment on much of the article as I am not familiar with many of its claims. I disagree with the notion of their being an attempt to capture Bin Laden.The Bush Administration had no interest in finding him. As for Peak Oil and it being kept out of the main stream media I fully agree with the artice on those points.Tony Macnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-715990029157220962.post-10643515701522473312010-05-02T12:12:11.158-07:002010-05-02T12:12:11.158-07:00what a powerful quote by FDR, & perhaps more p...what a powerful quote by FDR, & perhaps more poignant today, as there's no president (in sight) with the resolve to challenge a corporate/economic industrial complex. i'm presently reading 'the shock doctrine' by naomi klein; it's profound(ly scary) & enlightening. much of your article reminded me of it. it's baffling how the US media manage to stifle the various national debates we should be having, and articles like this are a necessary rupture of that absurd silence. in the 1st half of the article i might have focused more on the particular yet compatibile interests of the corporate behemoths in Iraq & those of AIPAC, as i think that's how these collusions have been historically forged and maintained.leigh anthonynoreply@blogger.com