What's in the news this week? 3 thoughts to get you started. I'll pull quiz questions from the items you add as comments.
- Bloomberg's hopes as mayor of NYC
- OPEC prices
- new UW chancellor speaks
Friday, October 24, 2008
KC's News Meeting
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9 comments:
In reference to OPEC prices: I think we found Bush's magic wand to lower gas prices--don't use so much. Which leads to issues with what would better serve America, either alternative energy sources or "Drill. Baby. Drill." I tend to lean toward alternative energy because a) they reduce output of greenhouse gases and other pollution b) solar, geothermal, wind, etc. are all going to be around long after we are creating an essentially limitless source of clean energy and c) some of that new technology is just damn cool. Alternative energy is the magic wand where we can now say "Drop price" ;)
Bloomberg said that he needs time to do what New York City needs, and he now has it. While I agree that sometimes politicians cannot get things done that they promised when elected because of a lack of time or support; however, expanding terms is a highly touchy subject because there are term limits for a reason. I am sure that many people, myself among them, see the two term limit of presidents as a very good thing in the case of George W. Bush, however if we had a president as successful as FDR, more terms were definitely warranted. As we see with Russia and Putin, having a single person in power over a long period of time can transform a nations views, economy, etc. Term limits are generally in place so that we do not have things like dictators or monarchies, and Mr. Bloomberg has yet to convince me that he deserves a change in the law.
At the same time people not only change the views of the government when in power for a long time, but the position that people are in also changes them. Mayor Dave is a person who I would have voted for when he first ran, whether or not I agree with him still is definitely a question I need to answer, just as those in New York need to answer about Bloomberg.
With the exciting Badger win yesterday, some not so exciting news....
http://www.badgerbeat.com/news/article/id/311336
I'm not an econ major or anything, so can someone explainn why the drop in gas prices would be a bad thing? I guess a more stable market would be ideal, but I think it'd be ok for the oil companys to hurt a little.
As for more stories go, looks like Bono is going to write some op-ed for the NYtimes. Should be interesting.
http://www.avclub.com/content/newswire/new_new_york_times_op_ed
Megan,
If the gas prices go down, there is no incentive for other companies to pursue alternatives to oil. Because right now, all the alternatives that we have available are pretty expensive to develop and to distribute on a mass scale.
Unfortunately, the only way the majority of people will accept alternative fuels for their vehicles such as coal to liquids (CTL) and gas to liquids (GTL) is if they are cheaper than what we have now.
Term limits were created for reason, like bcummings said. I would think after serving two terms you might want a change of view...maybe I am wrong. Anyway, no one is above the law and trying to change it may have its repercussions.
I guess I am not understanding the drastic drop is gas prices as bad either. I remember going down W. Washington and seeing gas under $3 and I nearly flipped out! Putting gas in the car has definitely eased up. Despite how low gas gets, we should adapt to alternative sources anyway. This past weekend, I went about two hours north of here and once I was away from the city, I could instantly sense the difference in air quality. It was refreshing.
The issue of Mayor Bloomberg is interesting. It isn't so much about partisanship, but about stealing the people's opportunity to decide. Isn't it on of the responsibilities of the council persons to vote the way their district or sector would have them vote as a representative of their community? I think in the long run, this may actually do Bloomberg more harm in getting re-elected.
I think the decrease in gas prices is a welcome change. Face it, right now most Americans don't have vehicles that will make use of alternative energies nor do they have the income to invest in a vehicle like that. I do believe that alternative energies are the way of the future and I think that their development and success are inevitable.
But for now, there are families struggling to put food on the table. While it is everyone's responsibility to consume less, you shouldn't have to choose between driving to work and feeding your kids; it's all interrelated.
My concern is with OPEC's decision to cut production. The less gas we're able to get, the higher the demand which will drive the prices back up. That's simple microeconomics.
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