Oil is less than $44.00 a barrell

[PaulS]

I think the US should put a tax on a barrell of oil to keep it a min. of $75. Above that no tax. It would make alternative sources viable. Better to keep the $ here than borrow from china to pay the ME.

[eastendlu]

Originally Posted by PaulS

I think the US should put a tax on a barrell of oil to keep it a min. of $75. Above that no tax. It would make alternative sources viable. Better to keep the $ here than borrow from china to pay the ME.

Only problem with that would be the govt. would use all this extra cash to bailout more morons that don't deserve it.

[spence]

Originally Posted by eastendlu

Only problem with that would be the govt. would use all this extra cash to bailout more morons that don't deserve it.

That's easy enough to solve with the right bill. A lot of people have suggested the min price/bbl as a good way to drive alternative development.

But put all of this in context it's a drop in the bucket. The amount that the US Gov actually puts towards alternative energy is pathetic. Sure, big business does invest but they have shareholders who must get paid first.

A fraction of what's going to the bailouts, hell, even 10 or 20 billion in incentives for R&D would completely transform the progress we'll likely make over the next few decades.

The problem, is Bush. We'll see what Obama does...

-spence