How Stupid Are We? Answer: Very!

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Politics Chatboard

How Stupid Are We? Answer: Very!

by T.E.C. - Iowa

Feb 6, 2018

Germany has spent $200 billion over the past two decades to promote cleaner sources of electricity, and in 2017 there were 100 times in which the cost of electricity went negative - that is, the power company pays you to use it!

America is bigger, and to match what Germany has done, we would have to spend $50 billion every year for that same two decades time period.

This is why we are stupid. In 2017, Congress just increased the military budget by $80 billion when Pres. Trump only asked for $54 billion. The military budget is now over $700 billion per year. It is actually well over a trillion as the cost of nuclear weapons and more are not in the military budget.

This country is doomed to be an economic backwater!

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/25/business/energy-environment/germany-electricity-negative-prices.html

Power Prices Go Negative in Germany, a Positive for Energy Users

Germany has spent $200 billion over the past two decades to promote cleaner sources of electricity. That enormous investment is now having an unexpected impact.

T.E.C. - Iowa If we had periods of negative energy cost for electricity here in Iowa I would install a tank - similar to a fuel oil tank - in my basement, fill it with water, and add an electric heating element. In the winter, I would turn on the heater whenever the cost was negative, and then leave the tank to re-radiate the heat into my home - cutting my heati...See More

Feb 6, 2018

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Tim Finnegan Amazing how those in Cape Cod reject wind farms because it spoils their view.

I've seen the Facebook post of the small square of land in Utah it would take to power the entire US. Elon Musk presented it. Yet he still has not followed through on that vision.

Surprising that strong democrats don't put their money where their mouth i...See More

Feb 6, 2018

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Long Time Lurker I think we don't have nice things because a large segment of Americans ignore what happens legislatively. Those who take an interest are too busy sucking up partisanship to realize the actual elected officials are supposed to work on legislation before catering to party lines and lobbyists. The technology is there. If we had a congress with enough ...See More

Feb 7, 2018

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T.E.C. - Iowa About that square in Utah, energy expert Avery Lovins has a bar graph of the solar energy that falls on the roof and south side of the average home. A second bar on the graph, much smaller, shows the energy needed to run the home. Lovin has presented this information to rooms full of engineers and asked them to raise their hand if they cannot see t...See MoreAbout that square in Utah, energy expert Avery Lovins has a bar graph of the solar energy that falls on the roof and south side of the average home. A second bar on the graph, much smaller, shows the energy needed to run the home. Lovin has presented this information to rooms full of engineers and asked them to raise their hand if they cannot see their way to powering the home with the energy it receives from the sun. Lovin says no engineer has ever raised their hand.

This is not a Democrat or Republican problem, because both parties are sold out to special interest. I am saddened when I hear Americans talk of "those awful democrats" or "those stupid republicans." It is tragic that these people still do not "get it." They still think the problem is the other party.

Long Time Lurker was correct to write, "If we had a congress with enough forward thinking people and a president with an emotional age above 3, we might be able to implement some technology, and other infrastructure working to make things better for people." Our problem is all of Congress, or alternately, the problem is the system and how money has corrupted everything including both parties.

Yet worse, Americans are so averse to paying taxes and are so selfish, in a self-centered way, that we no longer believe in paying taxes to make life better. We are "scared to death" (as opposed to brave) that someone else will get the good from taxes and we will get nothing - except maybe a better society.

Do you need an example? Here is a quote I found regarding Puerto Rico!

(Quote)

More than five months since a devastating hurricane hit the island's shores, some 270 schools are still without power.

Roughly 25,000 students are leaving with that number expected to swell to 54,000 in four years. And that's after an 11-year recession already sent 78,000 students seeking refuge elsewhere.

(End quote)

We should be ashamed, but we are not! It is just another disaster to ignore, because the rest of us were not in it. Sadly, What I wrote in the OP is still true, "This country is doomed to be an economic backwater!"

Feb 8, 2018

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Tim Finnegan LTL, you are right... look at the congressional approval ratings. And then look at the number re-elected. Quite the disconnect in numbers. Tim Brady is one of the most hated men in football... but most fans would love him if he was on their team.

And about that square in Utah... why has Musk, or some other millionaire, billionaire, corpora...See More

Feb 9, 2018

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