Obama Presidency Discussion Thread

[TheCracker]

Hmmm maybe I confused the numbers between coal and oil, or they were just combined. With that said then I retract my statement. However, I did forget about domestic heating, which easily could be solved with another form of energy or better yet, better built homes that are more energy efficient.

I think a lot of countries could take a few leafs out of Scandinavian style of modern house building. They are so energy efficient and are built using renewable sources. The technology is there, but house building companies won't drop their profit margins to take up the new building practices.

 

[FoolKiller]

I think a lot of countries could take a few leafs out of Scandinavian style of modern house building. They are so energy efficient and are built using renewable sources. The technology is there, but house building companies won't drop their profit margins to take up the new building practices.

Possibly because they aren't charities? Or perhaps the people who contract a house to be built specify what materials they want used?

Before we start attacking an industry for trying to make a profit (which is a necessity for business) in building houses we should let the housing market recover so that they can make a profit.

 

[TheCracker]

Possibly because they aren't charities? Or perhaps the people who contract a house to be built specify what materials they want used?

Before we start attacking an industry for trying to make a profit (which is a necessity for business) in building houses we should let the housing market recover so that they can make a profit.

All i was saying was that it's short sighted of most of the large building firms (i'm talking of the large ones here who make whole housing estates not just individual houses), to continue producing unefficient housing, when pointing their resources in more sustainable and energy efficient directions would not only set them well ahead of their competitors but probably attract the sort of tasty government grants that will probably become available when the inevitable heavy environmental building regulations come in in the future.

 

[Duke]

I think a lot of countries could take a few leafs out of Scandinavian style of modern house building. They are so energy efficient and are built using renewable sources. The technology is there, but house building companies won't drop their profit margins to take up the new building practices.

Most modern American houses (and, indeed, modern houses worldwide) are really quite tight and well-insulated, with high-efficiency HVAC systems. The real problem lies in the fact that far and away most houses are not NEW, or even recently built.

 

[FoolKiller]

All i was saying was that it's short sighted of most of the large building firms (i'm talking of the large ones here who make whole housing estates not just individual houses), to continue producing unefficient housing, when pointing their resources in more sustainable and energy efficient directions would not only set them well ahead of their competitors but probably attract the sort of tasty government grants that will probably become available when the inevitable heavy environmental building regulations come in in the future.

Now is not the time for them to do that though.

They will have to either 1) take a loss in an already struggling housing market or 2) sell houses at an excessively high price in a struggling housing market.

And if consumers wanted green houses they would request them. If housing contractors saw a large demand for green houses coming in don't you think they would build tons of green neighborhoods? And considering that when Al Gore had his house renovated to be green it actually got worse a lot of people aren't about to jump on expensive technological advances that aren't actually going to make a very big difference.

And I am unsure what this has to do with the election, other than the fact that the government shouldn't be handing out money to attempt to sway private industry in a supposedly free market, which both of the leading candidates seem to think they should do.

I just wish they would both quit discussing the economy because the economy is much better off when the government leaves it alone.

 

[Danoff]

Housing builders are folding up. Innovations are stifled because there's no money in it. Patents for good technology in housing are not being pursued because the market doesn't support it.

No, this is not an industry that can shoulder the burden of additional regulation, or sell below cost - not right now.

 

[TheCracker]

You're right, now isn't the time for them to be doing it. Infact, in the UK at least most of the big property development firms are laying off staff by the hundreds and i'm sure the smaller ones are fairing worse.

Consumers in the most don't want 'green' housing, they just want as much house as they can get for their money, in an area they want to live. But as energy prices rise, consumers will have to start looking at ways to save energy. Buying very efficient housing will start becoming more and more of a priority when looking for new homes.

It has very little to do with the election, it's all gone off on a tangent from a comment that Joey made

 

[Zrow]

But as energy prices rise, consumers will have to start looking at ways to save energy. Buying very efficient housing will start becoming more and more of a priority when looking for new homes.

You're exactly right, and when that time truly comes, there will be a wider market for it, and the demand will be addressed.

 

[FoolKiller]

But as energy prices rise, consumers will have to start looking at ways to save energy.

In all honesty, it is amazing how much good a decent bit of quality insulation can do.


I have seen news stories about self-sustaining green houses, but those things run extremely expensive and are quite the eye sore, but so are the owners.

 

[Joey D]

So I just voted in the primaries for our local elections, mainly because I supported the millage to pass that supported the local zoo, as well as the police and fire. But what I really found sad was that there are over 2,000 registered voters in my precinct and I was voter #166. I think the polls opened at 8am and I voted at 4pm, that's 8 hours. Why don't people vote? I think it took me maybe 5 minutes.

 

[Sage]

If people either don’t care about the issues or don’t think of themselves as adequately informed, I’m perfectly fine with them not voting – I get so angry at that phrase It doesn’t matter who you vote for, just vote.

 

[Danoff]

I wholeheartedly agree. Uniformed voting is worse than not voting. In fact, I would prefer it if the general population in the US had higher standards for how informed they needed to be before deciding to vote.

 

[Joey D]

I still find it sad people don't take the time to learn about the candidates and vote for the one they most agree with.

 

[Omnis]

So I just voted in the primaries for our local elections, mainly because I supported the millage to pass that supported the local zoo, as well as the police and fire. But what I really found sad was that there are over 2,000 registered voters in my precinct and I was voter #166. I think the polls opened at 8am and I voted at 4pm, that's 8 hours. Why don't people vote? I think it took me maybe 5 minutes.

That's because most people are slaves to entertainment who only absorb information delivered in a neat, quaint package presented to them by their favorite channels.

 

[YSSMAN]

Not having a car today and limited time to run errands prevented me from voting, unfortunately. That, and I didn't care for many of the GOP candidates up for primary. I do feel bad that I missed it, but, I'll survive.

 

[Solid Fro]

Hilton/Rihanna '08!

John McCain's mouthpiece has responded to Paris Hilton's stinging retort -- but he's not attacking Hiltie!

In the unkindest cut of all, McCain's spokesperson Tucker Bounds tells TMZ that on the subject of energy, Paris is deeper than Barack. He says, "Sounds like Paris is taking the 'All of the Above' energy approach that John McCain has advocated -- both alternatives and drilling. Perhaps the reality is that Paris has a more substantive energy plan than Barack Obama."

http://www.tmz.com/2008/08/05/mccain-paris-is-my-energizer-bunny

 

[YSSMAN]

For chuckles:

===

And one more thing...



Just plain awesome.

 

[Tornado]

No, it is disgusting. They ruined that poor Volvo. The bus one is pretty funny, though.

 

[Solid Fro]

I would call that Obama supporter more delusional than usual.

 

[YSSMAN]

That, or he just has too much time on his hand. And a lot of bumper stickers...

(lol)

 

[FoolKiller]

Why don't campaigns do car bumper magnets? I end up hating candidates just because I see a nice car ruined by political stickers (yep, I am sometimes that shallow about my politics). It doesn't affect my vote, but I tend to curse them under my breath for doing that to a car.

 

[Joey D]

Why don't campaigns do car bumper magnets? I end up hating candidates just because I see a nice car ruined by political stickers (yep, I am sometimes that shallow about my politics). It doesn't affect my vote, but I tend to curse them under my breath for doing that to a car.

It's all about cost, car magnets would cost a lot more then stickers. I know what you are saying though.

 

[Danoff]

Why don't campaigns do car bumper magnets?

Would that even work? Aren't car bumpers made from plastic? Also... I'll tell you for certain that there have been bumper stickers that I would have broken the law to physically remove from someone else's car and put in the trash if it hadn't been for the fact that they were stuck on with sticker glue.

 

[Tornado]

I'll tell you for certain that there have been bumper stickers that I would have broken the law to physically remove from someone else's car and put in the trash if it hadn't been for the fact that they were stuck on with sticker glue.

What, like "Vote Communist" or something?

 

[Sage]

Translation: Some bumper stickers are really 🤬.

 

[FoolKiller]

It's all about cost, car magnets would cost a lot more then stickers. I know what you are saying though.

I bought one off eBay for Ron Paul for like $3.99. Some guy was buying stickers from Ron Paul, putting them on car magnets cut to size and then selling them.

My wife bought some silly bumper sticker comparing her chihuahua to your honor student and I've been pricing magnets for that and I can get a 24"x24" sheet off eBay for dirt cheap.

Would that even work? Aren't car bumpers made from plastic?

Good point, but my Ron Paul magnet just went on the back of my hatch. It raises it up a few inches, but it makes it more noticeable as if someone gets close at a light it is just above their hood. I also have a University of Kentucky car magnet back there.

Also... I'll tell you for certain that there have been bumper stickers that I would have broken the law to physically remove from someone else's car and put in the trash if it hadn't been for the fact that they were stuck on with sticker glue.

Well, I dislike stickers of that nature for a completely different reason. I don't know how some people get away with stickers that have language that would get me cited for reading them aloud in public.

 

[YSSMAN]

My car is too nice to put stickers on it, to be honest. I'll put things in the window if they have clingy things, or I'll just prop a sticker up back there, but I'll never actually stick something to the car.

 

[Solid Fro]

Maybe the Mainstream Media should have learned from Dan Rather's blunder in 2004 about trusting anything from the far left. It seems that the Edwards campaign has been lying to the media since last year. It is scary to believe that Edwards was on Obama's short list to be vice president. I guess another person gets thrown under the Obama bus. Edwards is out in the field to rot.

 

[Omnis]

I hope his political career is ruined for good now. That's one guy who should not be in Washington.

Why don't campaigns do car bumper magnets? I end up hating candidates just because I see a nice car ruined by political stickers (yep, I am sometimes that shallow about my politics). It doesn't affect my vote, but I tend to curse them under my breath for doing that to a car.

It's all about window clings, yo.

 

[YSSMAN]

I was under the impression that Edwards wasn't up for VP (given his run with Kerry), but was being looked at closely to be the head of the DoJ (given his lawyer background). Nevertheless, its a bad mark on the Democrats, and it will be interesting to see how it factors into other things. Not the worst thing that could happen, but definitely not good.

Is there anyone in Ohio/Kentucky hearing more on this DHL thing that McCain pushed through a few years ago? If I'm understanding things correctly, its a merger that he helped push through a while back that may end up costing people there between 5,000-10,000 jobs. The news coverage hasn't been great, particularly when we've got the Olympics, the war in Georgia and this Edwards thing going on...