Hmmm, trying to figure out how I got involved in this one...

Yeah. Me too, Denis. What did you say??

[QUOTE=DARISC;3869816] Indeed...a literal interpretation of the Old Testament is no better imo.

Fvching post of the year.

We need to destroy OPEC.

Just read the review. But what's the author saying that is new compared to what's being said by a lot of people who've been advocating reducing our dependence on foreign oil by developing alternative energy sources?

Nobody else has advocated what Zubrin is saying here. He calls for a government mandate forcing all new cars sold in the US to be flex-fuel cars. A US mandate would quickly become an international standard (see seat belts, air bags, catalytic converters, third brake lights, etc) and the ethanol and methanol fuel industries would boom.

McCain would be wise to embrace Zubrin's plan.

Not criticizing what the author said. I agree with what him, but as far as incisive thinking goes, it seems fairly obvious that the gov't mandating such would have that stated effect. I'd like to see it happen, but I'm doubtful that it will during the next two presidential terms. Time will tell.

There's been a dearth of enthusiastic reporting on Brazil, whose success in going to flex-fuel cars has led to their virtually stopped importing oil, and I can't help but believe that there isn't all that much of an impetus or enthusiasm here, yet, to make such a radical move. Again, time will tell.

I think it's because ethanol here in the US is associated with corn, and there is a background of negativity surrounding corn-based ethanol (corn subsidies, higher food prices, takes a lot of energy to produce it, etc).

I've heard such comments. Not well read on Brazil - is their bio-source for ethanol corn?

No, it's sugar cane in Brazil. But the corn industry here in the US has done such a good job with their corn-based ethanol PR campaign that the typical American probably thinks that ethanol can be made only from corn, if they know anything at all about alcohol fuels.

The main reason people aren't excited about flex fuels is that there are no alcohol and methanol pumps at their local gas station. Zubrin's plan would create the demand and the market would determine the supply.

I figured it was most likely sugar cane.

Building the nationwide refueling infrastructure here is a huge hurdle - can (and probably ultimately will) be done, but will take years and beaucoup bucks. Brazil succeeded so quickly because it only has a brazillion vehicles compared to... how many we got?

Brazil succeeded?

In what? Growing hot chicks? Certainly not in any economic sense.

"success in going to flex-fuel cars has led to their virtually stopping importing oil,"

what % of their population owns a car?

I also posted: "Brazil succeeded so quickly because it only has a brazillion vehicles compared to... how many we got?"

Am I missing a point that you are making?

Looked myself and did not find an easy answer. It does seem there are quite a few cars there on flex fuel.

Just wondering if the economics of Brazil's situation really work. Innerestin' tho!

It appears i'm supporting your statement.

How many is a brazilion;)

Same as a bunch, an even mucher bunch when spelled with two L's, "bunch" being an archaic Brazillian unit of measure that varies - enough to drive you bannanas, from which the word, uh....stems, and always (like Chiquita, all bannana oiled up, speaking of hot chicks) a slippery number.

Keep in mind that this mandate wouldn't force somebody to use ethanol or methanol. It simply gives them the choice. A flex-fuel car can run on pure gasoline, pure alcohol, or a combination of the three. If the ethanol and/or methanol market responds and finds cheaper ways to produce fuel and stations add pumps, then the consumers will start to buy it.