American Politics

[EihTooms]

And then there are little things like the fact that the war-time Britain DID NOT hold elections for the head of state, which is exactly what Putin, Trump and Elvis are insisting on.

I don't know which "journalists" and what kind of reportage of potential military intel and troop movements Zellenskyy has justifiably been trying to restrict or contain on the ground during the full-fledged war raging on Ukraine from the country right next door.

But what is so different about a Russia State or Nazi Dictatorship control of the media than this, even during a time of total Peace and Prosperity with no USA Military maneuvers anywhere on the Earth but especially not in the USA as Trump inherited from Biden?

Outcry as White House starts dictating which journalists can access Trump.
Fox News correspondent among those to decry move that journalists say will tear at independence of a free press

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...rnalists-trump

The Trump administration announced it will take control of the White House press pool, stripping the independent White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) of its longstanding role in deciding which journalists have access to the president in intimate settings.

[Tiny 12]

The oil and gas subsidies at first glance look like the deductions any business takes. I rechecked that, and not only did I confirm that, but I am reminded of the windfall profits tax. Google and Microsoft can make money without a windfall profit but oil and gas cannot?

Yes, the oil and gas industry receives very little in direct subsidies. This is greenie / leftist propaganda.

Accelerated depreciation would be the industry's biggest tax break, and is available to other businesses. Oil companies can write off intangible drilling costs in the year incurred instead depreciating them. This affects the timing of when the companies pay tax, but not the amount paid over the long term. Companies with R&D expenses receive similar treatment in other industries. The only tax break unique to the oil and gas industry is percentage depletion, and only small oil and gas companies receive it. It should be done away with IMO.

While there's no longer a Windfall Profits Tax, most oil producing states levy a severance tax. The amount collected from the severance tax, which is not levied on most other businesses, exceeds the tax benefit the industry receives from percentage depletion. Finally, on leases issued by the feds and the states (mostly western states), the government receives a royalty.

Then there are gasoline taxes, which amount to a pretty penny in some states. And oil companies involved in international operations are frequently not allowed to use all of their foreign income taxes paid as tax credits on their USA Tax returns.

Add it all up, and the industry as a whole receives minimal direct subsidies, and pays higher taxes than average.

Then you have the gasoline tax for the roads but if you create your own electricity via say solar, you do not pay taxes. And you get this subsidy while buying an EV that you do not get when buying a ICE car. If we all buy EVs, we are going to have pay taxes elsewhere to maintain the roads.

Very true.

And some great thoughts in the rest of your post, about tariffs, manufacturing autos in the USA versus China, and competition in pharmaceuticals.

[SubCmdr]

In Great Britain, the prime minister is chosen by the leader of the political party that holds the largest number of seats in the House of Commons

Some people up in here need to learn the forms of government that exist outside the United States of America. Has anyone looked into the fairness of elections in China and Russia?

[Xpartan]

When you read the words, "Russia Russia Russia Russia is not only bombing Ukraine but has engaged in a full-scale invasion of Ukraine while that was not the case in WWII for Britain, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia," at what point do the voices in your head tell you, ah, Ukraine not conducting regularly scheduled elections during all of that is ironclad evidence that Zellenskyy is an anti-democratic Nazi dictator?

And then there are little things like the fact that the war-time Britain DID NOT hold elections for the head of state, which is exactly what Putin, Trump and Elvis are insisting on.

[Elvis 2008]

Can't speak to India, but the air quality in most large Chinese cites, is on par or better per capita, than most USA cities like N.Y.

You should also note, that not only the air, but the noise pollution, in many of the large Chinese cities, is better than that of the U.S.

That is not true. https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmc...n-infographic/.

Now again, the coal argument is IMHO, weak, because you can hardly blame countries like China, India and others for using what they have in abundance to power their industries. Besides, isn't that exactly what the USA Is doing with an abundance of natural gas (LNG and coal), under the wrongheaded Pickens Plan, to reduce American dependence on imported oil?

Yeah, you are missing the point on natural gas. It is a waste product from oil production and is flared off instead of being used. The worst of it is going on in Siberia. This is where I get angry at climate change weirdos. They do not get that. They have this dumb natural gas bad and carbon fuel bad approach.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-...837-story.html

When cosmonauts look down from their space station at Earth, they say the brightest spot they see is not a metropolis in America or Europe. It is the oil fields of Western Siberia, where thousands of wells flare off the natural gas they produce in giant wasteful torches. A single flare at the Portovaya LNG facility in Russia is estimated to produce more black carbon than the entire country of Finland.

So of all the immediate steps that can be taken to reduce pollution, natural gas pipelines to China and India would be #1 on my list. It is just the climate change weirdos are not going to go along with that when in reality the switch from coal to natural gas is pretty much the reason carbon emissions in the USA are down.

In Texas, we have enough sun and wind to to compete with natural gas but there is no way that is the case in the Northeastern part of the country. What kills me is we are still flaring gas off in the USA. IMO all that should be used for electricity or as fuel. What pisses me off about natural gas is that you can by a $1000 conversion pact in Mexico and use natural gas to drive a vehicle but that same conversion is like $10,000 in the USA.

The stupidest fucking thing I have seen is gasoline vehicles in West Texas next to gas wells being flared. Why aren't they using that natural gas as fuel? Talk about unnecessary pollution. How fucking dumb is that?

I do not get the fucking bullshit that we are going to allow Russian oil to continue to be shipped but the world will come to an end if Europe or Asia is dependent on Russian gas. Both Biden and Trump have been stupid on this.

You cannot be serious about climate change and ignore what is going in on Siberia and demonize the fuck out of Putin. You just can't. Russia is not Libya or Iraq. It is too important to the world economy and the environment. China is making deals with Russia right and left, and you know what? The Li L9 is for sale in Russia too.

[Elvis 2008]

If big oil and gas companies are still making billions year-over-year, why do they still need gov't subsidies? Or big pharma for that matter? Now, that makes no sense!

If DOGE really wanted to rid us of gov't waste, they'd should axe the billions going to big oil-n-gas, big pharma and big military contractors, still suckling like greedy little pigs, from the milk sack of gov't tits.

The oil and gas subsidies at first glance look like the deductions any business takes. I rechecked that, and not only did I confirm that, but I am reminded of the windfall profits tax. Google and Microsoft can make money without a windfall profit but oil and gas cannot?

Then you have the gasoline tax for the roads but if you create your own electricity via say solar, you do not pay taxes. And you get this subsidy while buying an EV that you do not get when buying a ICE car. If we all buy EVs, we are going to have pay taxes elsewhere to maintain the roads.

I do not know what it is about me but I can tell what is going to be popular based on what I like. I hated my EV experience. I will say that when I got a Tela Uber and no doubt it was cool but then Elon Musk said, "It takes an hour to charge on the road but you just get a cup of coffee and a Danish and wait" and I am like I do not want that. If I got a Tesla, it would be a second luxury car which hardly helps the environment. And as cool as that Geely Zeekr is, it is still an EV.

Any kid who gets in that Li SUV is going to ask his parents why they do not have one like it. And then a parent asks about it and I say, "Yeah, unless I am going on a long trip, I do not pay for fuel anymore. I just use that solar charger I bought for $2000 (or whatever)". So you put a pen to paper and are like and realize that you save $5000 per year in fuel costs, and the vehicle pays for itself in 10 years, and it has a 5 year, 60,000 mile warranty, and the parents are sold.

And who do you think is to blame for this?

Well, you seem to want to blame Republicans but there is this which Tiny alluded to:

https://www.theguardian.com/business...ctric-vehicles

Biden announces 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

Trump did his tariffs too but that is not the core issue. Both parties are kissing the ass of car companies in the swing states in the Midwest. What has not happened has been real leadership.

Clinton did NAFTA and gave China most favored status despite getting shit from his own party. Elon Musk said he could compete with anyone with a level playing field, and Tesla is competitive in China. Maybe China can build the assembly factories here and preserve the blue collar jobs because it seems like the white collar cost savings are what really matter. And then can you limit the number of imports and increase it slowly year by year.

Thing is American companies have partnerships in China, and they are already competing there. They can have a slot of the number of cars imported as well.

This is one of those deals where the minority, USA car manufacturers, are getting paid while the majority suffer. That is when the finger pointing needs to stop. Big business wants to use partisan politics to stop progress.

Until the GLP1 drugs for weight loss, I do not think big pharma had a new product with wide spread appeal worth a shit in the last 30 years. So the key to bring down costs is reimportation of generic drugs and the head of the FDA tried to say he could not allow that because he is liable, but he really is not. Like everyone in government, he has fucking immunity.

In the generic space, there is considerable variation in product and in the USA, you get what the pharmacist gives you. There is no mystery if most medications work. So in Mexico, you have the ultimate quality control and buy the brands you like. With ED meds, the generic brand name Kamagra is the best generic Viagra and Taladista is the best generic Cialis, and it is not just me saying that.

So reimportation of drugs takes real leadership to get done, and we are not seeing it. As long as the drug companies can play the partisan games, this will not happen.

I call you guys Democratic douches because of how rigid you are. In fact, what gets me is how you advocate for things that do not benefit you all. But I know that Democrats want to pay less for prescription drugs and many would buy a Li L9 if they could. Do you know that about MAGA people?

[Tiny 12]

Yeah, the problem with Democratic douches is how snide and arrogant they are. To me, if you show people cool and affordable things they will get them on their own. When an EV is shoved down your throat by a rental car company, people like myself rebel, https://www.loopit.co/en-us/blog/ren...rekindle-spark. So rental car companies are turned off of EVs because their customers are.

Now when I post links, I know people do not click on them, but Tiny, trust me, you will want to see this. This is the most luxurious vehicle I have ever seen, and it is $55 to $60,000. As someone said, if it had a toilet, you would not need a house. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEEhBFe03gY.

And we do not have this in the USA? Why? Why do Russia and China have this and we do not? Aren't we supposed to be so much better than them at everything?

I do not want an EV. I want this Li L9 PHEV SUV! Are you fucking kidding me?

I was thinking about plugging this thing in to your outlet, but if you are in Texas, you could buy solar panel with a battery storage unit for a few thousand, and 90% of your driving would be free. If you need to road trip, the thing has 900 miles of range per tank of gas and has 4 WD.

If EVs are better, why did they need a subsidy? Why do we need to upgrade the infrastructure of fueling on the road and in our homes for EVs? That makes no sense when a vehicle like this is ready to go right now and works on our existing infrastructure.

So we got these subsidies on EVs and tariffs on the Li L9. How fucked up is that?

I think almost every family in America would buy this SUV at this price point if they could. It is the coolest vehicle I have ever seen in my life.

Elvis, the reason you don't see them is because Biden slapped a 100% duty on Chinese electric vehicles, including this plug in hybrid. That's what the AI blurb in Google says anyway.

The Biden administration wants to encourage the use of electric vehicles and solar cells, so it slaps huge tariffs on the most competitive products out there. And then passes the Inflation Reduction Act, with over $1 Trillion in green subsidies (according to Goldman Sachs) instead. Democratic Party politicians think money grows on trees. They stick it to American taxpayers and consumers. Yes, as you say, how fucked up is that.

[Tiny 12]

LCOE Ranges for Energy Technologies in 2023 (or 2024):
Nuclear Reactor: $90140+ (high upfront costs, delays)
SMR: $6090+ (early projects at upper end, targets lower with scale)
Solar (utility-scale): $3050 (lower with sun-rich regions, higher with storage)
Onshore Wind: $3555 (site-dependent, rises with transmission costs)
Offshore Wind: $70150+ (higher upfront/transmission costs, but improving with scale and tech)
BESS (4-hour storage): $120170 (lithium-ion, varies with duration/cycles)
Pumped Hydro: $60200 (site-specific, high upfront but low operating costs)
LNG (gas peaker): $50100 (import costs, volatile fuel prices, carbon costs add ~2030/MWh)
Coal: $60100+ (import costs, older plants higher; carbon costs push to 80150+)

Cost Ranges for Energy Hybrid Systems using 2023 (or 2024):
Solar + BESS: $50100/MWh (sun-rich regions with 48h storage).
Wind + BESS: $60120/MWh (onshore wind with 412h storage).

I owe you an apology. The spelling corrector on ISG removed the hyphens in your LCOE ranges when I quoted you. See above. As such I thought your numbers were off by over 500 X, as I was looking at the quote and not the original post.

[Sirioja]

Glad to see you enjoyed the ride! I wonder which BYD (BEV/PHEV) it was?

Again, I'm not really trying to sale anyone on EVs, although I do think, they are the better choice. I simply ask people to consider the facts and reasons, and then judge for themselves and make up their own minds. Reasons to NOT own an EV, have mostly diminished and the reason to own an EV, are becoming more compelling.

Both you and I, have said and explained to certain Luddites, everyone has their own practical reasons for buy/owning a vehicle, whether it be an EV or an ICE.

But, I can see how it looks and how I come across, when I represent and advocate for EVs. But it's hard to dismiss the trends (that Toyota and big oil-n-gas, don't won't you to see), when improvements in EV technology, battery warranties, reliability, eco-benefits and the ability to generate your own (virtually) FREE ELECTRICITY, are clear reasons why you should consider an EV.

BYD crowned Thailands 2024 EV sales and surpassed Toyota in Singapore
https://carnewschina.com/2025/01/23/...-in-singapore/.

Many European brands return to thermic, because they know, at least in Europe and pretty sure also in USA, people prefer thermic than EV.

[Spidy]

If EVs are better, why did they need a subsidy?

If big oil and gas companies are still making billions year-over-year, why do they still need gov't subsidies? Or big pharma for that matter? Now, that makes no sense!

If DOGE really wanted to rid us of gov't waste, they'd should axe the billions going to big oil-n-gas, big pharma and big military contractors, still suckling like greedy little pigs, from the milk sack of gov't tits.

Why do we need to upgrade the infrastructure of fueling on the road and in our homes for EVs? That makes no sense when a vehicle like this is ready to go right now and works on our existing infrastructure.

Fair point, but the distribution, transportation and storage of fossil fuels is just so INEFFICIENT and can't compete with the delivery, convenience and ubiquitous nature of electricity. Regardless, the U.S. grid still needs upgrading...and an opportunity is a terrible thing to waste. BTW, it takes less than 14-days to build like a 10-port charging station and about 9-12 months for an ICE station (...you do the math).

Having said that, HEVs and PHEVs are fine and a "necessary evil", for those still looking (or perhaps never) transitioning to a BEV.

W/R to infrastructure, again take a look around the world at who's being successful, in the transition to electrification (ie. China, Norway, Denmark, Australia, the U.K. and some parts of the U.S.)

So we got these subsidies on EVs and tariffs on the Li L9. How fucked up is that?

And who do you think is to blame for this? (...kkkk!)

I think almost every family in America would buy this SUV at this price point if they could. It is the coolest vehicle I have ever seen in my life

IMHO, there are even cooler vehicles, like the Zeekr Mix minivan...FWIW.

[Spidy]

Your arguments have not won me over. But I am newly converted EV fan. Why? Because I got picked up in a BYD for a Bolt Trip here in Pattaya, Thailand. The vehicle was amazing! It was like a magic carpet ride. So quiet. I has a great conversation with the driver. She has a charging station in her house and it takes about 6 hours to charge her vehicle each night. She says that if she has a long trip to let's say Bangkok, she will have to hit a charging station for about 1 hour. Torque is sublime. The power came on smooth and study with no increase in interior noise as the vehicle sped up. Fit and finish was remarkable. I would buy one just from the ride in it.

Glad to see you enjoyed the ride! I wonder which BYD (BEV/PHEV) it was?

Again, I'm not really trying to sale anyone on EVs, although I do think, they are the better choice. I simply ask people to consider the facts and reasons, and then judge for themselves and make up their own minds. Reasons to NOT own an EV, have mostly diminished and the reason to own an EV, are becoming more compelling.

Both you and I, have said and explained to certain Luddites, everyone has their own practical reasons for buy/owning a vehicle, whether it be an EV or an ICE.

But, I can see how it looks and how I come across, when I represent and advocate for EVs. But it's hard to dismiss the trends (that Toyota and big oil-n-gas, don't won't you to see), when improvements in EV technology, battery warranties, reliability, eco-benefits and the ability to generate your own (virtually) FREE ELECTRICITY, are clear reasons why you should consider an EV.

BYD crowned Thailands 2024 EV sales and surpassed Toyota in Singapore
https://carnewschina.com/2025/01/23/...-in-singapore/

In my opinion the days of ICEs are numbered.

Agreed! In the biggest car markets in the world (China, U.S., Germany, U.K., Norway, Aussie, Brazil, Mexico, Thailand...etc), EV are steadily taking market share from ICE. Although in the U.S. this might take some time.

[Sirioja]

Your arguments have not won me over. But I am newly converted EV fan. Why? Because I got picked up in a BYD for a Bolt Trip here in Pattaya, Thailand. The vehicle was amazing! It was like a magic carpet ride. So quiet. I has a great conversation with the driver. She has a charging station in her house and it takes about 6 hours to charge her vehicle each night. She says that if she has a long trip to let's say Bangkok, she will have to hit a charging station for about 1 hour. Torque is sublime. The power came on smooth and study with no increase in interior noise as the vehicle sped up. Fit and finish was remarkable. I would buy one just from the ride in it. In my opinion the days of ICEs are numbered.

But Pattaya to Bangkok is never a long distance, when I drive sometimes 3000 kms on a week end and through high mountains, which would need to charge 10 times or more, and which EV speed on long distance on great German autobahns, where I don t see them. In Europe, we don t sleep at 60 miles. Car is not a hotel room, but You judge balance, grip, engine, power, making quality, when You are able to play with dynamics and EVs won t be performing, because too heavy and batteries can t work to go fast, or empty after less than 100 kms and not even impressive speeding.

[EihTooms]

Since you did not get the election point, the UK still had elections, I guess it just goes over your head that Churchill did not ban the free press not did he dissolve the other political parties. In addition, it may have gone over your head that the Russians have brought up Zelensky not being a duly elected president. They would likely agree to not bomb for a day if asked if Ukraine did likewise.

Loony Tooms, those things that you hear in your brain are not my thoughts, they are voices. You really need to get treated for schizophrenia.

When you read the words, "Russia Russia Russia Russia is not only bombing Ukraine but has engaged in a full-scale invasion of Ukraine while that was not the case in WWII for Britain, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia," at what point do the voices in your head tell you, ah, Ukraine not conducting regularly scheduled elections during all of that is ironclad evidence that Zellenskyy is an anti-democratic Nazi dictator?

[Xpartan]

If someone walks up to me and tells me I am going to fuck you in the ass. I am going to tell them the only way you are going to fuck me the ass is after you have killed me.

The United States of America has no moral standing to decide if a man should bend over and take it or fight to the death. It's easy to type on a keyboard. Who among us have stood against an armed opponent that intends to cause you death or serious bodily harm?

Why are you willing to tell another man he should bend over and take it?

If the Ukraine wants to continue to fight and all we are doing is shipping arms because we have no boots on the ground exactly what is the problem?

The problem is this man is a Russophile, which is a mental disease as vicious and incurable as the MAGA cult.

Remember when we all believed that the Russian Armed Forces was the second army in the world?

The truth is with Ukraine willing to fight, we had a hell of a bargain weakening our mortal enemy without sacrificing a single American life -- to the point that Russia was fast becoming incapable to threaten anyone with their conventional weapons. Almost 1 million of their troops are dead or wounded, most of their tanks and other vehicles are decimated, their economy is circling the drain. They had maybe a year of life left in them.

And then, when they were almost done -- this had to happen. Fucking Trump!

[Spidy]

Spidy, you could simply say you made a mistake, and draw my attention to your much more realistic, revised LCOE numbers. It's only by a fluke that I noticed you apparently got the moderator to change your original post, to change the LCOE's per megawatt hour.

Tiny 12, yet ANOTHER backhanded way for you to come up with, just to say you were WRONG! (...kkkk!).

Your problem and the trouble with you is, that you never take the time, needed to read and understand what I've posted. But instead you blindly rush in and interject your arrogance, to what you think is right. And time and time again, your narcissistic arrogance, has been shut down. Fine, by me, if you have brain farts and want to keep tripping over your tongue!

But, before you go making wild false accusations, allow me to educate you on how Admin edits work. As any ISGer worth their salt knows, that when Admin changes a post, they'll have a stamped note at the end of the post indicating they've made a change..

Again, I believe South Australia has the largest onshore natural gas production on the continent. I haven't checked that in a while though. The natural gas they use to generate power would be transported by pipeline from the Moomba Gas Plant in northern South Australia to Adelaide, and maybe they get a little pipeline gas from Victoria. The cost of generating electricity from natural gas transported by pipeline, especially with new combined cycle plants, is much cheaper than using LNG. Your post conveniently omitted LCOE ranges for combined cycle natural gas power plants. ...

As to your cost estimates for electricity with 4 to 12 hour battery storage, I suspect they're low. And also suspect there are periods much longer then 12 hours in the DR when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow much. The DR doesn't have the ability to import electricity from a neighboring country, like SA does from Victoria.

Again if you'd bothered to read, what I posted, you'll note the links of LCOE's in the section, "LCOE Sources for 2023 or 2024:", are NOT MY estimates and all came from U.S. and International energy agencies. So take it up with them smart ass!

No doubt South Australia may by 2027 produce more electricity from renewables than it consumes. The state has some very sunny and windy places. It will however export the excess electricity, and continue to generate a substantial part of its electricity with reliable natural gas.

And if the state mandates "no more electricity from natural gas", then no doubt South Australia may, say, generate electricity from renewables in excess of its consumption, while importing, say, 25% of its needs from Victoria, produced there by coal fired power plants.

Hey you're allowed to doubt whatever the fuck you want, I'll give you that!

But I've provided evidence that says otherwise. So try providing, a better set of arguments than your weakass doubts and maybe then we'll have a debate, on whether SA is producing more electricity and negative electricity prices, than what "your doubts" are telling you.

Ahh!...This is really getting tedious! Once again if you had REALLY READ, what I wrote, you'll note where I included, "South Australia's Energy Mix: (here: http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/...=1#post2984800).

So no need for wild speculation of 25%. Currently SA, only takes a tiny 2-5% from Victoria through NEM. SA, is consistently YoY, growing out their grid with renewables, hence less and less reliance on coal, nat. Gas and NEM.

If you're going to wildly speculate, like you love to do, provide better facts, data or evidence.

As to your next-to-last paragraph, if renewables were the be all and end all, then why are they still constructing coal fired plants in India, China and many other countries? The air quality in cities in those countries sucks big time, and would benefit from less coal. But because of the economic reality they continue with coal. Are people in those countries stupid?

Can't speak to India, but the air quality in most large Chinese cites, is on par or better per capita, than most USA cities like N.Y.

You should also note, that not only the air, but the noise pollution, in many of the large Chinese cities, is better than that of the U.S.

The coal argument is a fair one, but it is losing it's effectiveness, as many reports have China being at peak coal in 2024 and leveling off and declining going forward. Not sure I believe the pundits, either, but we'll see.

Now again, the coal argument is IMHO, weak, because you can hardly blame countries like China, India and others for using what they have in abundance to power their industries. Besides, isn't that exactly what the USA Is doing with an abundance of natural gas (LNG and coal), under the wrongheaded Pickens Plan, to reduce American dependence on imported oil?

After all, Tiny 12, the USA And Europe, have had decades long head start, of unfettered polluting with coal, decades prior to any such 2015 Paris Agreements.

You've got things reversed. If the rich world somehow imposes renewable energy on developing countries without paying for it, people are going to suffer worse lives than they would otherwise. So called "robber oil and gas barons" are not imposing their will on poor countries. Rather, economic reality causes them to make the choices they do. That reality will result in greater consumption of renewables, but the world is not going to abandon fossil fuels for a long while.

I reject your premises!

The way I see it, the DR are already spending (or should I say, flushing down the toilet) $2.55 - $3.47 billion annually, to the oil and gas robber barons, to run their electricity grid.

Although, what I am saying is, that if the DR, wishes to move pass their currently reliance on fossil fuels and toward energy security, they should find a way to divert about 5% of their imported fossil fuel costs each year, to fund the build out of more renewables. Slowly over time, they'll reach a better energy mix of more renewables, less fossil fuels and more importantly, energy independence and increasingly less money to the robber barons.

Frankly, if developing countries, like DR aren't currently doing this by now, they should be. I believe India, is rightly so, fast following in China's electrification footsteps, but have a long way to go. SA and many places in Australia as a whole, are tracking well, w/r to meeting their renewables goals.