I don't think it is strange to believe that the majority of funding for middle eastern spawned terrorism comes from the sale of oil. What other commodity is there in the desert to generate funding for such operations? It takes a whole lot of money to purchase black market weapons and supplies necessary to commit these acts. We do not have any power in where companies choose to buy oil, but we can certainly have an effect on the demand for oil.

I have been told that 60 percent of the oil we import is used to make electricity....I find this to be insane. If it is true then we should be generating power differently as that would have a greater impact on our foreign oil dependence than transportation does.

 

i have to disagree, safety is not about strength, it is more about design and making a vehicle that bends and breaks at the right places to protect the driver. indy cars can hit a wall at 150 and the driver walks away, try that in an f150.

as for repair cost, this is only a factor if you have alot of accidents and if you dont have insurance. i have a hard time believing repair cost on f150 is any lower than say a mustang.

 

yep. all of those evil Canadians in Alberta that are going to blow up your buildings

 

I do, however, agree with some mentalities as it realtes to power.

Not too long ago, some guy screams passed me on the highway. I have the cruise set at 10 over and he passes me like I'm parked.

I catch up to him at a gas station up the road. He's bitching and moaning about the gas prices.

I tell him that if he drove with a brain, he might see a 50% increase in his mpg on the highway. Idiot didn't get it.

 

you need to take a step back and think about just how prejudiced this broad generalization you make in your initial post really is...while there likely is a hint of reasonable connection lurking somewhere, distantly, around what you are saying now, your initial statement is plain derogatory and cheapens your viewpoint on the matter significantly

ie, i think you know as well as anyone else that energy companies such as Shell, BP, etc. aren't funnelling their profits to al-queda, that all OPEC nations don't spend all their money supporting terrorism (unless undertaking some of the most extensive urban development in history is terrorism), and that the wealth generated by OPEC through the sale of oil on the world market is invested back into the global economy on orders of magnitude (terrorists aren't designing and constructing the burj dubai, fwiw)

anyhow, i think the idea of your thread is stronger without reference to any of this in the first place, so i digress

 

The major oil companies do not funnel any money to terrorist groups in any place on the planet. However I do believe that the practices of subcontractors and various LLCs employed by oil companies do ultimately funnel money to the wrong places. For example, if company XYZ were to purchase drilling rights from individual A, and individual A just so happened to agree with a terrorist cause and chooses to fund it, then this scenario is true, and I find it hard to believe that state sponsored genocide in Dar fur has nothing to do with this. Dar fur has some of the largest untapped resources available.
This goes back to the "over" dependence on a finite resource that we have consume so much of. Support Al Quad ea, Guzzle gas does seem a little derogatory I suppose. It is a rather abrasive way of attempting to get some one to think about how they drive, live and consume dependent upon this particular resource. There are terrorist groups all over the world, not just the middle east, however it is the Islamic based groups that tend to catch all the media attention.
How did the middle east attain its wealth? By conquering and dividing as many nations have for so long. But most recently how did the middle east come to attain it's wealth? Again, is it not reasonable to assume that in order to carry out the commands of a certain doctrine, money is required to procure the resources? It just so happens that the very governments of nations that embrace this doctrine just so happen to have these organizations simmering inside their very borders. And what industries operate in the middle east that are capable of generating the monies needed to fund terrorist organizations? We have opium in Afghanistan. Perhaps the aggregates used to make concrete?
I agree that my original comment is derogatory and despite the humor I see in it I shall recant it.
I think the works in Dubai are tremendous as are the accomplishments of other nations. Part of me thinks Iran want nuclear power, not to destroy us, but because they understand that Oil is a finite resource and their cash cow is soon to end. In fact I thought Iran wanted Kuwait because Iran didn't really have a lot of oil to begin with....Somebody correct me here if I am wrong.

The end of your statement mentioned my seeking alternatives to the designs and operations of our beloved trucks would be better off with out my linking oil consumption to funding terrorism. In this respect you have shown yourself to be the wiser man.

So now for the million dollar question.....can our trucks be designed with a drag coefficient closer to that of a sports car and still be aesthetically desirable?

Thanks again smoke.

 

While we are on the fuel thread, what about all the aircraft flying all over the place or the cruise ships. If these venues were lessened, there would be much more fuel. I saw a documentary on cruise ships and when it was being fuelled, there were 3 tractor trailer fuellers standing by and it was just a top up...

One aircraft on take-off can burn more fuel than you can burn in a year in your truck. It makes me feel small with my little 'ol V-8..

There is talk that we will be paying up to $1.50 a litre (6.50/gal) this summer. My Bandit will be getting more riding time I guess....

 

You annoy me with your inability to quote...
Makes reading your rant easier...

 

Your request had been noted. My people can call your people. Perhaps we can schedule lunch.

I am guessing by "quote" you would like me to "quote" the past instances or posts I may have been referring to?

Thanks for the clarity you may shed on this issue and I will do my best to post quotes that will aid you in deciphering my rants.

Other than my lack of quotes, how do you feel about reshaping our paradigm in the way we design and operate our beloved trucks?

 

Wow, looking at my sig I must be supporting terrorism, have a small *****, and power hungry

 

I like the Gov. Spitzer methodology... The US public should drive small hybrids to conserve gas and save the planet... I want to waste water, drive gas guzzlers, eat nearly extinct animals, wear baby seal clothing that have been clubbed and studded with blood diamonds...Oh yeah, and adopt a 16 year old Asian girl to clean the house and do my wifes nails. Hows that?

 

Add a big *** front air dam. Seriously. One that goes from your bumper almost to the road.


Sorry, hybrid systems are STUPID complex.

Learn to use the sig feature...

 

that must have been really tough to admit publically

 

This is my sig...I just havn't figured out how to get a picture of your mom on it. HAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Just kidding man. And you are right, the electric hybrid systems seem to be way more of hassle than a help.

 

This could be sig worthy!