Originally Posted by anobsitar

Language? Did you read what Mark Twain wrote about?

"Some German words are so long that they have a perspective." ... "I don't believe there is anything in the whole earth that you can't learn in Berlin except the German language ... it ought to be gently and reverently set aside among the dead languages, for only the dead have time to learn it.

So don't waste your time.

Originally Posted by Andrewl

That is true of americans, but it is also true of most european nations, asian nations, and Canada and Australia. Power does not automatically come from that, power is desired and acheived for entirely different reasons altogether.

Originally Posted by Andrewl

I agree that the US could go full bore on whatever existing energy you guys have left, but it would be temporary and I seriously doubt the political will exists to do it. I think american energy independence would be an absolutely wonderful thing, go for it, please. The world would be such a better place if you could. But it does not change the fact that america is an enormous energy glutton and that your reserves do not have the ability to produce enough energy to go on business as usual with a growing economy indefinitely. And seriously, do you relaly want to burn all that coal? What a disaster that would be....

Andrew

Originally Posted by Mathieu

This kind of things

Originally Posted by drgoodtrips

That and you get the usual suspects braying about how America is evil, or about how the rest of the world is worthless, depending on where they were born. I'm not sure whether such mindless nationalism is more scary or amusing.

Originally Posted by glockmail

If gas prices went up to 5 or 6 bucks we'd have the political will. And yes, we'd burn that coal with clean technology in a heartbeat. We've had that technology for a while, only waiting for costs to rise.

Originally Posted by anobsitar

LoooL - I love americans.

Originally Posted by Traveler

Yeah see when i said above about other nation's like Israel and Great Britain also taking stick i mean nations on the whole who do have the power but also are allied ith us and more so use the power.

See the French have a similar size of military to other nations in Europe, they have a nuclear Arsenal like Great Britain but for whatever reason they seem so content with mediocraty, they never seem to be want to be the best, they don't want to claim superiority, they don't want to be the best, the most powerful.

Originally Posted by Andrewl

Then what is your opinion on gas subsidies, ($100 dollars to every taxpayer) the fact that both american parties believe they can get elected on keeping gas prices low. Would it not be better to let the cost rise naturally thereby forcing market solutions quicker? That is why I doubt the political will exists in the US, since both your parties will do everything in their power to keep their buddies in the oil business happy happy, and the american consumer unconcerned about energy.

Andrew

Originally Posted by Mathieu

This kind of things

Originally Posted by glockmail

Gas subsidies are a bad deal all around. Let the free market fix the problem, and unleash the power of private industry making profits. If Bush was a better leader, he'd say exactly that instead of pandering to the Democrats.

Originally Posted by glockmail

I realize you're nervous, since France would be up shit's creek if the US choose to ignore the rest of the world, but crissakes, man, maintain your composure! Have a french fry and calm down.

Originally Posted by Traveler

Its a mixture of two reasons, one they can't accept our superiority, they can't accept our truly supreme authority, military and economic might and so on and secondly they're jealous. I think its a more broadscale thing, its not just of the U.S., its of other powers like Great Britain, Israel and so on.

Originally Posted by CommissionLover

Then I spent two years after that as a civilian. Last time about two years ago went with the misses to France, of course I try to spend most of my time in Amsterdam, tried to make it back to Copenhagen wanted to visit Christania, is it still there?

Originally Posted by AdrienXII

Actually, no, we're not jealous. Your power comes at a price which many countries are not willing to pay. And it's not your "might" we object to, it's the use you make of it.