America Hits the Debt Ceiling

[Kuya]

It's a strategic weakness, political destabilization in those areas results in spiking prices and attempting to diffuse political destabilization in those areas results in war and propping up tyrannical regimes and earning the enmity of the local populace, not to mention some of the revenue goes towards funding Islamist organizations.

That sounds pretty stupid, considering where most of the US's oil actually comes from. And even stupider when you consider that if you don't want to fund islamists then you would have to cut off all economic activity with the Muslims countries.

[zoobernut]

I know what you're talking about actually. There are places where basically the car drives into what looks like an automated car wash. Halfway through the conveyor the bottom of the floor opens up and robots slide the battery packs out of the bottom of the car and slide the new one back into place. It's not a bad idea in theory but there are so many different battery types being used atm.

Well yeah obviously that system is dependent on a standard battery type and connection but so many other things between car companies is standardized why not batteries? They already use the same fuel type right now and except for the Standard vs. English thing bolt sizes and threads are standardized too.

[notorious bum]

Man I love to drive, as long as it's not all city/traffic driving 1hr doesn't bother me. Have a buddy whose wife has to drive 2hrs though, and that would be a bit boring in traffic. On the other hand I absolutely hate Public Transportation in NYC though. So slow and inconsistent. Not to mention people annoy me.

Meanwhile, in good ol' Tampa Bay, we got buses that run every hour; always late when you need them on the weekdays and always early when you're off on weekends, which amounts to missing it by 10-15mins and waiting another hour lol

[*Shinzon*]

Meanwhile, in good ol' Tampa Bay, we got buses that run every hour; always late when you need them on the weekdays and always early when you're off on weekends, which amounts to missing it by 10-15mins and waiting another hour lol

Same way in NYC with the buses. I absolute despise it.They say they run every 20-25 minutes, yet you're waiting almost 40 minutes for one to arrive. Keep in mind this is a stop that 2 separate lines use but both travel in the same general direction. The subways are more efficient and on time more often, but then you're crammed into a sardine can or you can wait 10 minutes for the next train which might not be any better. OH! and one I love, the subways and the buses never arrive/depart at the same time. So when you're getting off the subway stop the bus you need is just leaving and the asshole driver won't wait. Like I said I hate it. I can totally understand the reasons people hate to drive though and why public transportation works for them and why it helps keeps less cars on the road, but it disgusts me and at the same time I completely understand the tons of people who rather drive into the city and deal with no parking. I'd rather walk TBH.

Edit: Derail, my bad.

[archibaldcrane]

As a car-driving LA denizen, I love the subways in NYC and SF.

We should probably steer this back to the Debt Ceiling though.

[Kuya]

You are also less likely to die with pubic transportation.

[*Shinzon*]

You are also less likely to die with pubic transportation.

Well that's an entirely different topic, one about the farce that is driver education in this country and the amount of shitty drivers who can just walk into the DMV and get a license. That's a topic dear to my heart but probably a bad idea to start talking about in this thread. Back on topic, I saw last night's daily about the subject and basically every pundit implied the same thing, they're just gonna raise the tax limit because the country hasn't instantly collapsed now that we're at the ceiling.

[tyven]

does anyone know how many tax paying americans there are? i did a quick goggle and learned nothing.

[archibaldcrane]

does anyone know how many tax paying americans there are? i did a quick goggle and learned nothing.

Income-tax-paying?

Or any taxes?

[AoE]

Didnt someone make a water powered engine, then got disappeared and dead? Conspiracy?

Tom Ogle

[tyven]

Income-tax-paying?

Or any taxes?

BOTH? if not both income tax

[archibaldcrane]

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/2009/...ome_tax.03.gif
That's 71 million households that don't pay, not sure how many actual people it encompasses, and it only counts federal income tax, not payroll taxes for social security and medicare (which more people pay).

[tyven]

thats a lot of people that dont pay the taxes

[aurik]

Most of those people are poor as shit, so keep your envy in check.

[Andalusian girls]

That sounds pretty stupid, considering where most of the US's oil actually comes from. And even stupider when you consider that if you don't want to fund islamists then you would have to cut off all economic activity with the Muslims countries.

A brilliant retort but sounds are oft deceiving, Saudi Arabia is the cradle and shelter of Wahhabism and the income the country derives and our association with them is based almost entirely off of petroleum, the invasion of Iraq and the initial protection of Kuwait likely would have been ignored if oil was not present, our only real interests in the region were safeguarding Israel and maintaining access to oil prior to the September 11th attacks.

It is true we only get 16% of our oil from the Gulf states, or as much as we get from Canada, but ensuring our Canadian supply line does not carry the same moral compromises and strategic detriments as ensuring that the Saudi royal family maintains their tyranny.

[Skjie]

It is true we only get 16% of our oil from the Gulf states, or as much as we get from Canada, but ensuring our Canadian supply line does not carry the same moral compromises and strategic detriments as ensuring that the Saudi royal family maintains their tyranny.

Hey now. You keep us out of this. Americans aren't supposed to know Canada imports more oil than OPEC to the US.

[Synbios]

I don't care - Even WITH those subsidies the oil companies are STILL dicking us over at every turn. So FUCK THEM, cut the damn subsidies and let them raise their prices to the consumer. I already know that will happen, and I don't give a shit because when it DOES happen maybe this country will start getting serious about automobile fuel efficiency, curbing emissions from cars, and using mass transportation.

Totally agree with everything you said here, except for the damn myth about us and Libya - we are NOT at war with them and we NEVER WERE.

You can claim semantics all you want but when we fired cruise missiles at them we declared war. I guess I could revise my statement that the Noble Peace Prize winner decided to fire missiles on another country that has done 0 to attack the US.

[Synbios]

Except all that does is cut your reliance on foreign oil, the same can be achieved with Diesel now. Point is even the newest electric cars get 170miles on a charge take forever to charge and don't work for long distance trips. If you want fuel efficiency, you have that option but people don't want to consider it. Diesel can be made right here, and electric plants are exactly clean. Also until the US gets a more advanced state-to-state and city-to-city rail line people will still need cars to do a lot of their travel. It's silly to blame the auto industry for something that is out of their control.

The problem with electric cars is that while they don't use up oil in the form of gas from a gas pump, you have to remember that it takes some form of power to recharge the cars. Just because you're plugging into into a wall outlet doesn't mean oil isn't being consumed to produce the car. Not to mention the energy expended to manufacture the battery powering the car.

[Headspace]

The problem with electric cars is that while they don't use up oil in the form of gas from a gas pump, you have to remember that it takes some form of power to recharge the cars. Just because you're plugging into into a wall outlet doesn't mean oil isn't being consumed to produce the car. Not to mention the energy expended to manufacture the battery powering the car.

All that happens now anyways. Electric cars dont eliminate the need for oil. Just drastically decrease it

K-ROLD

[archibaldcrane]

The problem with electric cars is that while they don't use up oil in the form of gas from a gas pump, you have to remember that it takes some form of power to recharge the cars. Just because you're plugging into into a wall outlet doesn't mean oil isn't being consumed to produce the car.

Only 2% of the US electricity supply comes from oil powered plants.
http://www.clean-coal.info/drupal/fi..._USA_04-05.jpg