Okay, what can we realistically expect from a Trump presidency?

[Ben Kenobi]

So, by this post, Ben Kenobi effectively says that all tourism to USA should be banned. LOL

As I said, the individual should be punished. If they are a tourist visa overstay - and they choose to work - it's not the business that's on the hook, but them. They should be deported and have to wait another 10 years before re-applying for a visa.

I've been a tourist, and a legal work visa holder. It's not that difficult to do it the right way. So easy even Kenobi could do it!

[Ellestar]

If you came to the United States, you would not think so.

Everyone wants to live better. Me too. That's exactly why i say that it will end the way it will end.

Again - consumer electronics are the classic example where consumption by the rich draws down costs to make technology ubiquitous.

You forgot to say, in capitalist economy. But we already agreed that capitalist economy is part of the problem when it comes to finite resources, not a part of a solution.

Look at the Aral Sea. Largest ecological disaster of the 20th century - under *your* watch not the Americans. Frankly, Russians have no cause to castigate anyone else for not protecting the environment.

I blame the communists and their stupidity.

Not at all. You're talking about economics, and if your concepts as to how an economy ought to run are so sound, why did you fall apart?

Too may idiots got the power. And they decided to become capitalists, so they destroyed USSR and become capitalists. Simple as that.

Indeed I do. However, that's the primary reason why your concept of economics does not work. The real world is not a zero sum game. The work I do the money I make does not necessarily mean that one person benefits and that another person does not. Rather the opposite is true.

Yes, that's how current capitalism works, more or less. But resources are still finite. So, let's say current capitalism uses finite resources at 0,5% efficiency (again, the only real output is scientific research that actually matters). Is it possible to have higher efficiency? I think so.

Not true in the slightest. If we took someone from the 19th century Russia and brought them to the New York City of today, would they conclude that 'people mostly produce waste?'

If we took someone from New York City of the 19th century, he'll see that everything what was produced when he was alive turned into waste. With the exception of scientific research, some culture, and maybe some buildings. That's what i mean, human civilization turns finite resources into waste, the wealthier it is, the faster it does it.

Also not true either. Wealthier societies tend to create wealth better than poorer societies. Again - you don't believe that wealth can be created.

Ok, wealthier societies generate more and higher quality waste. That still doesn't solve the problem that wealthier societies turn finite resources into waste.

Science, like many other things, requires investment. No investment = no science. Look at the Haber process as an example. The research cost money, the equipment cost money, but society in general benefitted because the process reduced the cost of producing food. Thus, the Haber process created wealth and made people in general wealthier.

And why can't we invest more into science? Ah, right, everyone wants to live wealthier and wealthier...

Consumption is actually correlated with greater, and not lesser wealth. Big question here - why are the Americans rich and the Africans poor?

That's what i said too.

Actually power generation resources are not finite.

Even Sun is finite, but then again, right now we can't replace oil - our economy will collapse. So with the current level of scientific research they're finite. And there is no Merlin, Gendalf or Dumbledore to guarantee you that we'll get to the point when we'll be able to replace it in our economy before it will run out.

Oil is used because it's cheaper to use than other kinds of power generation.

Or better ERoEI. And our "wealth" is our Net Energy Gain.
Also, most of our chemistry is using oil or natural gas as a resource. So, we'll have no tires, no plastics, no drugs etc... Basicailly, non-rich will return back into 1900th year, or worse (after all, there were much more easily mined coal and iron back then, and now it's gone).

[Ellestar]

As I said, the individual should be punished. If they are a tourist visa overstay - and they choose to work - it's not the business that's on the hook, but them. They should be deported and have to wait another 10 years before re-applying for a visa.

I've been a tourist, and a legal work visa holder. It's not that difficult to do it the right way. So easy even Kenobi could do it!

Why not do both?

[Aeson]

We can transition to renewable energy with current tech. We don't because of cheap oil and coal, and a very short-sighted cost analysis.

[Ben Kenobi]

Even sun is finite, but then again, right now we can't replace oil - our economy will collapse. So with the current level of scientific research they're finite. And there is no Merlin, Gendalf or Dumbledore to guarantee you that we'll get to the point when we'll be able to replace it in our economy before it will run out.

All that will happen is that the price of oil will increase due to supply issues. This will make it more valuable to explore oil and develop more reserves. The curve of resource usage is increasing short term, but the second derivative - the acceleration has slowed.

Given sufficient stores of natural resources, it's perfectly possible to find a solution where the stores are sufficient to supply human resource use at current levels indefinitely, and that's not taking into account greater efficiencies culled.

And we've not got into discussion of fission technologies, (which have barely been touched), let alone Oil.

In short the world of 50 years from now will not suffer a serious resource crunch. What they will suffer is from a lack of people and a lack of skilled individuals.

And why can't we invest more into science? Ah, right, everyone wants to live wealthier and wealthier...

1 percent of a discretionary income is possible in wealthy western societies. In less wealthy societies, this is less affordable.

[Ben Kenobi]

Why not do both?

The system right now isn't working well. Individuals are not really prosecuted and are able to remain and work in America without significant difficulties. We'd be better off scrapping employer enforcement altogether and doing a better job on border control.

[kentonio]

The system right now isn't working well. Individuals are not really prosecuted and are able to remain and work in America without significant difficulties. We'd be better off scrapping employer enforcement altogether and doing a better job on border control.

There are already at least 11-12 million illegal immigrants in the US you dumbass, what the hell good is securing the border going to do?

[Ellestar]

We can transition to renewable energy with current tech. We don't because of cheap oil and coal, and a very short-sighted cost analysis.

Can we? Let's assume that we can replace all stationary power generation. But what to do with transport? Solar panels on trucks? Or maybe back to an age of sail?

Well, i guess it's possible to equip big ships with nuclear reactors, that's something. But then again, uranium isn't infinite either. Actually, even now we're using more uranium than we're mining it.

[kentonio]

At the start of 2013, identified uranium reserves recoverable at US$130/kg were 5.9 million tons. At the rate of consumption in 2012, these reserves are sufficient for 120 years of supply. The identified reserves as of 2013 recoverable at US$260/kg are 7.64 million tons.

So yeah, less than 200 years worth, and that's assuming the rate of consumption doesn't rise.

[Proteus_MST]

Can we? Let's assume that we can replace all stationary power generation. But what to do with transport? Solar panels on trucks? Or maybe back to an age of sail?

Well, i guess it's possible to equip big ships with nuclear reactors, that's something. But then again, uranium isn't infinite either. Actually, even now we're using more uranium than we're mining it.

Actually there is a way:
Electrical vehicles that use fuel cells for power generation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cell_vehicle

The technology for fuel cells has made considerable improvement over the last decade, soi with more investment into the technology they could be the means for ground transportation of the future.

Another avenue (that is already currently used) is electrical vehicles that use batteries. SOmething which also can improve in efficiency with fuirther research into battery technology.

And yes, even transportation of goods can use these methods ... there are, already now, electric trucks:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_truck

Further research will surely do a lot to increase the efficiency of said trucks (and the tonnage of goods they are able to carry)

[Aeson]

Yah, batteries or fuel cells. Powered roads/rails are possible. We can even do wireless power transmission, though I'm not familiar enough with it to say if it's feasible for mass transit. Renewable combustible fuel or gas (methane).

Compressed air is another option for automobiles.

[Main_Brain]

To get back on topic..

Trump administration will ban lobbyists, enact five-year lobbying ban after leaving government

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/11/16/trump-administration-will-ban-lobbyists-enact-five-year-lobbying-ban-after-leaving-government/

[kentonio]

To get back on topic..


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ng-government/

While simultaneously having his children running his businesses and also involved in his administration.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

If he is serious with this lobbying reform and succeeds, it would demonstrate he was a better choice on that decision alone.

[Ben Kenobi]

what the hell good is securing the border going to do?

Stop them from getting into the US in the first place? Kicking them out once they are in strikes me as locking the barn door when the horse has bolted.