It's been one hell of a thread.What started out as a debate on California/Washington D.C. energy policy has flourished into a multi-faceted political, name calling heated topic.
I do know this: Many of Ca.'s large businesses are re-locating to other states,high taxes, regulatory environment, and energy problems cited as main reasons.
I like threads such as this because I'm exposed to opinions and beliefs from all possible sides of an issue.
Sure, Ca. will eventually overcome their energy problems...in time.It may very well be a painful process.
I wanna add my opinions on the "Star Wars Continental Shield".Even if the damn thing doesn't work well, it will definitely provide jobs for folks in California.They always seem to have an abundance of high-tech,aerospace engineers and facilities.
Another benefit from the defense system is that, whenever huge amounts of monies are spent on defense research,peaceful products are discovered/invented.
I read that Oklahoma has an oil well right in front of their legislative building.If they have wells capped, it is because they are saving that (conserving) for the day when other places have run out.Not a particularly dumb plan.
I also read that the U.S.A. has something like 2/3 of the world's known coal reserves.Granted,the majority of it is "Dirty Coal",high in sulphur, and/ or other polluting by-products.
So to the guy who said that a way has been found to burn this high sulphur coal,and do so with reduced emmissions,that's great!
As for diversity of energy supplies,I think the U.S. should derive energy from all possible sources.That includes Solar(which hasn't been economically rewarding, wind,Ocean currents, Oil, Natural Gas, Coal, Nuclear, whatever.
I think there's a good chance that the U.S. energy companies and/or government will build Nuclear plants in Mexico.Less regulation, and political infighting.
As far as Russia goes,sure,they have a long way to go in order to establish credibility with the rest of the world.I feel that the U.S., and the rest of the developed nations should help them out, a bit at a time.
We surely don't want to go back to an adversarial relationship with the former states of the U.S.S.R...Let's help 'em out a bit.
On the other hand, China is the rest of the world's worry.They possess huge numbers of people that they consider expendable.They have vast pools of slave labor.I believe China to be the single most threatening nation in the world.They must be kept in check.