[The One and Only...]

Originally Posted by KevinTheHerbivore

Right, and where do we get it from?? Which South American country?? Venezula?? Colombia?? These countries are MUCH more stable!!!

We still get oil from the Middle East, and we still consume a massive amount of the globe's resources (that's more than just oil).

I never said we didn't get oil from them. I just said that's not where we get most of our oil.

Why not? Many alternatives, such as wind, have made grade strides in their efficiency over the past few years. Why won't these catch on?? Might it have anything to do with the lobbies in Congress that would be harmed by such a turn of events???

Quite frankly, they just haven't advanced enough. There are not enough sources for hydroelectric power. Wind works great out in rural areas, but I sincerly doubt it work well for large cities. People are afraid of nuclear energy and waste. Solar energy look ugly, and heck: we are vain. I can also say I've never met anyone who wants to charge up their car.

That, and our govt. would never stand by and watch a ton of jobs be lost with the shape our economy's in - even if the Congress was in a different shape.

I'm not saying it won't catch on, but it will be a while.

I apologize, but I'm a bit lost. Are you refering to Iraq or Liberia?? Either way, your theory that exporting to America = economic boom is a bit unfounded. Where it may work for a select few countries, it has left many remaining in the gutter.

Liberia's economy is already in the crapper, and will most likely remain that way. At least this way, they have one partner. I think this will be much more of a "if you want some more of those food packages, support us in the UN" situation than anything else. You know, you scratch my back, I scratch yours.

I think the prevailing point here is that many horrors have gone on around the world which the U.S. has often turned a blind eye to. If the only things that motivates us to righteous action are "economic bells and whistles," then I think it's time for us to hand in our good guy badges and turn over our decoder rings.

I think it's an incentive to go there over others, but I don't think that we would not go anywhere were there no incentive. That said, I would prefer we stayed out of other countries will little for us unless it got really bad - we don't want countries to become dependant on us (well, yes, we do; but we don't want the blame if we stop supporting them and it becomes living hell).

I for one am happy we are sending some help to Liberia.

So am I.