Another claim is if we should tap into the oil reserves to lower the prices of gasoline in the United States. The argument right now is that we shouldn't tap into the reserves because gas prices are not as bad as they can end up being. In Europe most vehicles are diesel operated simply because they can acheive a better mile per gaollon than gasoline powered vehicles. But with the EPA (Enviromental Protection Agency) keeping strict restrictions on the different emmision levels and the unwillingness to change by a lot of Americans is what is holding us back. Most Americans do not want to give up the larger vehicle that does not get very good fuel economy. In Europe though, the prices are much higher for a gallon of gas. Some will argue that we should wait until the price of gas is equal to that of Europes to tap into the reserves. Others will argue that by waiting then the cost to produce different goods produced by farmers will go up. And the cost to transport goods will also increase which will increase the price to the consumer.
Another argument is to look into renewable resources for powering our vehicles. Battery powered vehicles have not taken much popularity in the U.S but hydrogen powered vehicles and ethanol powered vehicles have gained recent popularity. I believe the fact that the battery powered vehicles can not travel as far without having to recharge again is what is holding many individuals back from not wanting to puchase one. But with hydrogen, an individual can travel almost as far as a gasoline powered vehicle but it is a resource which we have plenty of. Same with E85 ethanol which is processed from corn. The U.S is a important supplier of corn.
There are so many options about how to look at this issue, remember though you are ultimately going to make an argument about this--do you know what your dominant claim will be? It's hard to know now--do you want more government regulation of gas cost? Do you want less government subsidies going to gas companies so that the US price finally is what the world market price is? YOu need to start thinking through this part of your idea now.
ReplyDeleteThe only problem I can see with using E85 is that when a vehicle is burning it, it achieves less mpg overall on that tank compared to regular gasonline. Speaking from personal experience and having a vehicle that can run both E85 and gasoline, its almost a wash between the two unless E85 is $1 cheaper than gas at the time. Because if it is not the loss in mpg vs. cost is outweighed. I agree though, it sounds good a vehicle that can run on renewable resources, is cheaper and is better for the enviroment. But you have to think, if we are losing mpg using it hence using more. That will make most of our crops corn yield just to keep up with the demand, making us less diverse and in the end using more diesel fuel in the tractors farmers are using to produce the crop. I like the alternatives you are bringing to the table, this is just a thought here or maybe even another angle for a topic? Good job so far!
ReplyDeleteOne direction you might think about going with this arguement is to focus on the idea of drilling in Alaska. I'm all for conserving the natural lands, but Alaskans themselves want drilling to happen there because it would boost the economy, provide the states with more domestic oil, and it would provide jobs to the area. It's a short-term solution while we need to develop alternative fuel sources, but if it is done in a limited way, not much of the land is disturbed and the Alaskans still get what they want.
ReplyDeleteI think that America is rich enough with natural resources that we shouldn't have to rely on other countries for it. If we used our own resources then our national debt would be decreased quite a bit over time. I think you should add where our country is richest in natural resources and whether or not you think those places should be used. So far I can tell this is an interesting argument!
ReplyDelete-Courtney M