I beg your pardon?
Academic research has no merit in the private sector? I'm sorry - I'm pretty sure we are in the Science forum here...
Respectfully, I vehemently disagree. Academic research is directly applicable to the private sector, and directly responsible for many overwhelmingly
valuable success stories. Additionally, academic research is one of the most important and, (IMO) should be one of the most encouraged, fields of
science and education. To place any lower a value is simply irresponsible to humanity. The entire point of existence is to advance to higher levels of
being. This is something I've never heard from a politician, which from your PTS score seems to be your foundation. In fact, you sound like a very
conservative Republican to me...
Nonetheless, such blatant disregard for the very thing that has brought us to our current level of technical achievement is, at best, insulting to the
human race.
It feels to me (and please correct me if I'm wrong - I'm always open to debate, I'm not picking a personal fight) that your opinions express a very
politically slanted viewpoint. These statements:
Alternative energy is dangerous and therefore will lead only to dangerous circumstances and dangerous consequences.
Let me say it like this: alternative energy is worthless and a waste of time, and is not worth spending money on the research. I have read direct
quotes from oil executives who have said this and I must agree. This kind of lame thinking will only put our country in peril and in place it in harms
way.
The truth is, if we do not secure the oil in this world, someone else will. That means someone else will control the market. The value of the US
dollar is based upon how much oil we can sell, how much technology we can sell and how many concessions we can recieve to develop projection for
Petrobas, Aramco, Lukoil and other oil and gas companies controlled by state governments directly.
The US Navy, the US Army and the US Air Force cannot overhaul their infrastructure to obtain the fuels their war machines run on simply to appease a
few absent minded people.
Nothing last forever....good point.
Timber does not last forever.
Salt does not last forever.
Our resources do not last forever.
Get over it, we need oil, we need timber and we need salt. What do you want to do about it: crawl in the fetal position and I'll be there in five
minutes. Good night.
are just about as horrific as I can imagine! Alternative energy is dangerous? Any new technology can be dangerous - should we crawl in our caves and
stop exploring so we don't get hurt?
The value of the US dollar is based on Oil? You know what - maybe. To a point. So what? Currency is but one medium of exchange - this is severe tunnel
vision. Right now, we are an oil-based economy, whether we like it or not. But that can't last forever, and it shouldn't - we need to find the next
source of energy, whether that be solar, hydrogen, or something else, and jump on that bandwagon or we will be left in the dust. You said, "If we
don't find the oil, someone else will." Yes - you are right. But you know what else? If we don't find the next foundation for an economy, someone
else will.
The Navy, Army, Air Force - right now they are largely dependent on oil. But not entirely - what about Nuclear Subs? Yes they use some oil, but not
like surface ships and planes. And this equipment will not last forever. We don't need to worry about overhauling our armed forces - we need to worry
about transitioning them to the next level!
You and I both know that government and military policy could be, and desperately needs, to be overhauled, which could save us a ton of resources.
Ultimately, science is what will save our butts and help us progress. Nothing will last forever, but a fetal position is useless - I choose science
and research!