ernesto on February 20, 2009 at 3:09 PM

Wow. ok.

we just need to be pumping ALOT more money into R&D. And no one here give me any crap about the market determining who gets R&D money the market isnt thinking long term. Im talking 40 year time frames. No market it thnking that long term, and thats why we have government.

Libs don’t trust the gov’t when it’s in Rep. hands, and vice-versa. Forget for a moment who’s right or who’s wrong. Americans don’t have confidence in their gov’t. There will be no progress (using that term neutrally) until the former situation changes. The only remaining question will be if it changes, and how that’s accomplished. I can assure you that it will not change under this President.

JiangxiDad on February 20, 2009 at 2:54 PM

Thats a fair assessment. There are things both parties can do to help deal with that situation though. Republicans can and should make some concessions on the “all spending is bad spending” rule and realize that research grants are a political as well as policy winner…remember how many times McCain told that idiotic bear research joke? It didnt go anywhere for a reason…most people agree with the idea of federal research. At the same time, democrats can and should make some concessions on the “all corporations are bad corporations” and make a very public cutting of corporate tax rates to international levels a priority. As well as taking a more common sense view of gun laws, and “social justice”. Upending all sorts of legal structures for the sake of a few uberfairies or ethnic groups would go a long way.

Theres lots of work to be done building a 21st century society. It’ll take concessions on both sides but it is surely doable. This is america for crying out loud. Civic progress is why we’re on this earth.

we just need to be pumping ALOT more money into R&D. And no one here give me any crap about the market determining who gets R&D money the market isnt thinking long term. Im talking 40 year time frames. No market it thnking that long term, and thats why we have government.

Libs don’t trust the gov’t when it’s in Rep. hands, and vice-versa. Forget for a moment who’s right or who’s wrong. Americans don’t have confidence in their gov’t. There will be no progress (using that term neutrally) until the former situation changes. The only remaining question will be if it changes, and how that’s accomplished. I can assure you that it will not change under this President.

BobMbx on February 20, 2009 at 2:28 PM

That might have been the most reasoned response ive ever gotten here on HotAir…congrats.

The only point i’d make is that oil demand dropping precipitously isnt something we’re going to wait for…its something we’re going to have to create our damn selves. Freight infrastructure and battery tech is the way to go. Power generation with a reliance on nuclear is probably already in the works, as our energy secretary is a hardcore academic who has spent time advocating for nuclear energy. Plus the new grid is getting started thanks to the stimulus.

In terms of batteries, nanotech is the name of the game. In all honesty, we still rule nanotech, and we’ll need to continue that. Nano-scale anything is possible, we just need to be pumping ALOT more money into R&D. And no one here give me any crap about the market determining who gets R&D money the market isnt thinking long term. Im talking 40 year time frames. No market it thnking that long term, and thats why we have government.

I wasn’t throwing darts at you, and I apologize if you thought I had. I was being sarcastic towards the policy of lithium technology investments.

you do realize domestic oil doesn’t solve that problem either right?

However, those investigating battery technologies have much more of a chance of coming out with a breakthrough in the materials currently necessary than the oil companies. The oil companies know theres 200 more years of business to be had under the earth, they arent going to give that up.

ernesto on February 20, 2009 at 2:05 PM

Yes, I know the domestic oil capacity doesn’t meet our current energy needs. The whole idea of energy investment such be based solely on the idea of being energy independent, and not simply shifting that reliance to another foreign geographic location. That’s just dumb.

Secondly, there isn’t enough lithium on the planet to satisfy the demand of the Ipod/Blackberry/Cellphone industry over the next 10-20 years.

Back to oil, as un-attractive as it is to drill for more oil domestically, it is required if for no other reason than to bridge the gap between now and some nebulus time in the future when gasoline is no longer in demand.

How do we get from today to the day when we just zip along in our _______ powered cars? Oil. That’s how.

I can’t wait to get off oil. For full disclosure, the only reason I have for that is to get our asses out of the Middle East, stop handing them trillions of dollars to fund their….well…whatever the hell it is they’re doing with it.

I’d like nothing more than for the US to thumb it’s nose at OPEC as the last oil tanker leaves the Persian Gulf headed our way. It would de-fang the peace-loving Islamists, Chavez, and Putin (or whoever their surrogates may be).

But, once we find some way to power our transportation system with, oh, electricity, where will the enormous supply of needed electrons come from? Coal? Solar? Wind? Nuclear?

I suggest we invest in electrical generation capacity now. I tend to favor nuclear, because I’m more than familiar with it. At the same time, invest heavily in technology that uses domestic resources only, whatever that may be. Lithium is not the only choice for batteries, and I agree that breakthroughs in technology are necessary, but lets move away from lithium at the start, since we don’t really have any.

BobMbx on February 20, 2009 at 2:01 PM

you do realize domestic oil doesn’t solve that problem either right?

However, those investigating battery technologies have much more of a chance of coming out with a breakthrough in the materials currently necessary than the oil companies. The oil companies know theres 200 more years of business to be had under the earth, they arent going to give that up.

BobMbx on February 20, 2009 at 2:01 PM

Sorry Bob. I was thinking that I’d take a pass if the sole supplier is in Bolivia and the supply is limited, but didn’t want to be rude to you.

I’m sorry for patronizing and being an ass.

You were way ahead of me.
Good comment man.

Never really have thought about that. But batteries/cars, get it. Interesting.

JiangxiDad on February 20, 2009 at 1:54 PM

All those facts about lithium are true, but I guess my sarcasm was too thick.

Why are we investing (as a country)in lithium ion technology? To get us off of the addiction to Middle East Oil, and with it, the Middle East turmoil.

Worldwide supply is limited in total quantity, it is not renewable, it is abundant in only a few places on the planet, with 50% of known deposits in one country

Which resource does the above quote apply to? Oil or lithium? Or both?

Investing in lithium ion battery technology puts right back in the position we are in right now…dependent on unstable regions for our energy needs.

Great choice, Obamster.

BobMbx on February 20, 2009 at 1:52 PM

Never really have thought about that. But batteries/cars, get it. Interesting.

IMHO, if I was going to invest in financials, I’d prob. look for those NOT receiving gov’t help. But my stock picks aren’t doing well these days(other than precious metals) so don’t listen to me.

JiangxiDad on February 20, 2009 at 1:26 PM

Ever hear of Lithium? Worldwide supply is limited in total quantity, it is not renewable, it is abundant in only a few places on the planet, with 50% of known deposits in one country (Bolivia).

Trading tip: I hear there’s going to be a run on lithium sometime soon. Buy low, sell high. Now’s the time.

DFCtomm on February 20, 2009 at 1:22 PM

On second thought, maybe you’re right. But it’s not an “investment,” it’s a bet, like on a race, but where there are only two horses.

If you buy C here at 1.80 or so, I’d guess that the odds of wipe-out are better than 50%. But I could be wrong. Even at 50/50, it’s a better bet than Lotto or a game, and even blackjack.

As long as you look at it as entertainment (i.e. gambling), maybe it’s fun. Hmmm.

But my stock picks aren’t doing well these days(other than precious metals) so don’t listen to me.

JiangxiDad on February 20, 2009 at 1:26 PM

At the moment not many people’s picks are so you have a lot of company… I just keep thinking in 20 years it will go up so now is a good time to get in and dollar cost average. Of course being told my job just got eliminated will make putting into the retirement account a bit dicier.

but if just two or three come thought and in a few years fight their way back to $20 a share it be a nice profit.

DFCtomm on February 20, 2009 at 1:22 PM

By that the Caliphate will have imposed a 120% capital gains tax. Plus, Dhimmis/infidels won’t have access to the stock markets….gambling and all that….

DFCtomm on February 20, 2009 at 1:22 PM

IMHO, if I was going to invest in financials, I’d prob. look for those NOT receiving gov’t help. But my stock picks aren’t doing well these days(other than precious metals) so don’t listen to me.

Bank of America down 25% today to $2.92
Citi down 29% today to $1.79

Obama admin. silent. Geithner???

JiangxiDad on February 20, 2009 at 1:14 PM

You know some of these banks will survive, so I’m thinking of picking five that look like they will make it, with government help, and buy $1000 dollars worth of stock each. If I lose it will be $5000 which is a bad, but not terrible, but if just two or three come thought and in a few years fight their way back to $20 a share it be a nice profit.

Obama admin. silent. Geithner???

Yes, all those internet rumors are being proven correct. Sucks don’t it?

The people who elected Obama did so while buying into his protectionist posing.

Alot of protectionists voted for Ron Paul thinking he was a protectionist because RP kept talking down to NAFTA and a bunch of other pseudo-”free trade agreements” but what RP really wanted was simply no government intervention in international trade. So kinda like free trade with everyone. That’s a good policy.

The people who elected Obama did so while buying into his protectionist posing.

Um, i pulled the lever for Obama fully expecting almost all of his current stance reversals. I pulled it knowing the populist crap was wrong and understanding only a true radical would stick with it. You assume too much about who voted for Obama. We are not all die hard liberal trade protectionist democrats. I just couldn’t pull the lever for McCain after he went and picked princess owes back taxes I MEANNNN Holy of Holies, She who is most high, Sarah Palin, peace be upon her.