[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Andy', 'T')he 55 mph limit is probably the most sensible thing she has proposed in a while. Of course, there will be immense opposition but any peak oiler would know that measure could cut fuel use overnight by 5 - 10%. I maintain, if we want to travel quickly over land, we should do it on guided steel supports AKA railroads.

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', '
')Before sounding off on the benefits of a lower speed limit, Clinton called for a combination of tax incentives, the use of more ethanol-based fuel and a $50 billion fund for new energy research to cut the consumption of foreign oil 50 percent by 2025.

[Falconoffury]

For a country that consumes 21 million barrels per day, 5-10 percent is a significant difference.

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'O')h my, a whopping 5-10%.
Well shit that'll push Peak Oil out another 2 weeks!

[lutherquick]

I'm sure all the black limos carrying the Senators and Congress members will still be doing 80 plus MPH convoys, with NSA / SS escorts...

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dreamtwister', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'O')h my, a whopping 5-10%.
Well shit that'll push Peak Oil out another 2 weeks!

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Falconoffury', 'F')or a country that consumes 21 million barrels per day, 5-10 percent is a significant difference.

[Zardoz]

Actually, she's probably ahead of her time with the 55 MPH thing. I don't see how it can be avoided in the future. It's coming.

But like I said before, it's going to be fun to see her try to disavow all her ethanol-touting when the the truth of The Great Corn Scam becomes the conventional wisdom, as it inevitably will.

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'Y')ou dont travel much do you. 55 MPH is horrific.

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jack', 'w')hat of Jevon's paradox?

As we reduce demand, the price will decline. Some other consumer - China, perhaps - will then consume more.

Thus, there would be no real gain from a Peak Oil perspective. The U.S. balance of payments might improve - but we might also see a reduction of GDP as domestic travel was effectively restricted.

In all seriousness, I don't see any real gain.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dreamtwister', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'Y')ou dont travel much do you. 55 MPH is horrific.

[aflurry]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dreamtwister', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'O')h my, a whopping 5-10%.
Well shit that'll push Peak Oil out another 2 weeks!

[rwwff]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('aflurry', '
')so take the goddamn train then... sheesh.

[strider3700]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', '
')
More to the point, I dont want to be punished with all the other midless fucktards. I bought a car that gets exceptional milage. I can literally do 85 with the AC on and get better milage then 99% of the cars on the road.

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'W')hy the hell should I be constrained because of anothers desire to drive a car that gets 14 MPG?

[aflurry]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jack', '
')Falconoffury, Dreamtwister - what of Jevon's paradox?

As we reduce demand, the price will decline. Some other consumer - China, perhaps - will then consume more.

[aflurry]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rwwff', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('aflurry', '
')so take the goddamn train then... sheesh.

[aflurry]

maybe that last one was too mean-spireted, but come on... you can't deny funding to any attempt at public works and then bitch when it doesn't exist... this is just childish.

[FoxV]

Ultimately the best bet is to let the economics of it sort things out. Eventually SUVs will become too expensive to own and people will switch to smaller cars.

This will then cause GM and Ford to die and the mass unemployment will have a huge reduction on US oil consumption.

So you see, it all works out in the end

[Andy]

I have already explicitly stated what the solution is for covering ground quickly overland if absolutely necessary. It is for the powers that be to decide to fund it and make it priority. In a nutshell, it is an acronym called AMTRAK. Upgrade lines to allow 90 - 100 mph running between most major urban centers up to 500 miles apart. Connect enough regional centers and you have hooked up the whole country. Barring that, allow the Greyhounds to continue doing 70 mph on interstates with rigid speed enforcement, perhaps automated speed enforcement if necessary. The technology already exists to do it. I work with ITS and know what is possible in that regard.