Comments on: Dr Adam Smith, I presume http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:16:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Amit http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/comment-page-1/#comment-117378 Amit Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:22:47 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/#comment-117378 FYI: http://newsblaze.com/story/2008041209330200002.pnw/newsblaze/ENVIRONM/Environment.html FYI:
http://newsblaze.com/story/2008041209330200002.pnw/newsblaze/ENVIRONM/Environment.html

]]> By: pankaj http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/comment-page-1/#comment-117278 pankaj Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:13:27 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/#comment-117278 Atanu 'All great men think alike' ,solar power,windpower are all bascially hyped up sources of energy,they are freakish and not reliable,the only solution is to extract more from a litre of fuel i e to invest in fuel efficent technologies.solar/wind power are minor players and r going to be so for a long time,at the most they will supplement in a small to fuel.btw the current rise in global food prices is due to ethanol,the so called alternative fuel. Atanu ‘All great men think alike’ ,solar power,windpower are all bascially hyped up sources of energy,they are freakish and not reliable,the only solution is to extract more from a litre of fuel i e to invest in fuel efficent technologies.solar/wind power are minor players and r going to be so for a long time,at the most they will supplement in a small to fuel.btw the current rise in global food prices is due to ethanol,the so called alternative fuel.

]]> By: ashujo http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/comment-page-1/#comment-117111 ashujo Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:33:16 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/#comment-117111 You are quite right in saying that it should not be an either-or situation. Regarding the contribution of nuclear power, currently we get about 3% of our electricity from nuclear. With the nuclear deal, it is supposed to go up to 7% which is a substantial increase in absolute numbers. The goal presumably is to have 25% till 2050. Solar power should certainly be part of the equation, but maximum solar cell efficiency still clocks at about 30%. Plus solar power depends on adequate storage mechanisms that would supply power during night time and cloudy weather. Also, it would be some time before solar power could become really cheap. Regarding the question of nuclear waste, it can be safely buried after reprocessing spent fuel and burying only short-lived isotopes. But this would be an even smaller price to pay considering the power generated per unit mass and the very low CO2 emissions from nuclear plants. With solar power, getting rid of metal and silicon waste from solar panels on a national scale would be almost as big a challenge if not bigger. Don't get me wrong; solar power would certainly be part of the solution. But it seems hard to beat nuclear for quick, large-scale fixes. You are quite right in saying that it should not be an either-or situation. Regarding the contribution of nuclear power, currently we get about 3% of our electricity from nuclear. With the nuclear deal, it is supposed to go up to 7% which is a substantial increase in absolute numbers. The goal presumably is to have 25% till 2050.

Solar power should certainly be part of the equation, but maximum solar cell efficiency still clocks at about 30%. Plus solar power depends on adequate storage mechanisms that would supply power during night time and cloudy weather. Also, it would be some time before solar power could become really cheap.

Regarding the question of nuclear waste, it can be safely buried after reprocessing spent fuel and burying only short-lived isotopes. But this would be an even smaller price to pay considering the power generated per unit mass and the very low CO2 emissions from nuclear plants. With solar power, getting rid of metal and silicon waste from solar panels on a national scale would be almost as big a challenge if not bigger.

Don’t get me wrong; solar power would certainly be part of the solution. But it seems hard to beat nuclear for quick, large-scale fixes.

]]> By: Amit http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/comment-page-1/#comment-117064 Amit Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:39:41 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/#comment-117064 ashujo, what percentage of India's energy needs does nuclear power fulfill, and what percentage is it supposed to, if the nuclear deal goes through? Yes, solar does have some kinks, but it is also very promising, and that's why there's a need to invest in R&D to increase its efficiency. Solar, by itself, won't solve all the energy problems, but it has the potential that needs to be explored, and it can play a part in the overall solution, though it certainly doesn't have the sexiness associated with huge nuclear power plants or huge dams. Investing in solar does not preclude exploring and investing in other sources. It's not an either-or situation, but and. Regarding pollution, yes, all energy sources will be somewhat polluting - we cannot have zero pollution. But with nuclear, the radioactive waste will remain with us for centuries, in addition to land+water pollution caused at the mining site. How does that compare to waste created by the construction of solar panels? In India, where corruption is the norm, it's probably a miracle that no nuclear waste has landed into wrong hands. So far. ashujo, what percentage of India’s energy needs does nuclear power fulfill, and what percentage is it supposed to, if the nuclear deal goes through?

Yes, solar does have some kinks, but it is also very promising, and that’s why there’s a need to invest in R&D to increase its efficiency. Solar, by itself, won’t solve all the energy problems, but it has the potential that needs to be explored, and it can play a part in the overall solution, though it certainly doesn’t have the sexiness associated with huge nuclear power plants or huge dams. Investing in solar does not preclude exploring and investing in other sources. It’s not an either-or situation, but and.

Regarding pollution, yes, all energy sources will be somewhat polluting – we cannot have zero pollution. But with nuclear, the radioactive waste will remain with us for centuries, in addition to land+water pollution caused at the mining site. How does that compare to waste created by the construction of solar panels?

In India, where corruption is the norm, it’s probably a miracle that no nuclear waste has landed into wrong hands. So far.

]]> By: ashujo http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/comment-page-1/#comment-117054 ashujo Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:03:36 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/#comment-117054 Actually let me qualify that by saying that Smith advocated government sponsored education at least in some cases, especially for poor people. He did advocate subsidies. It's true that the effects of government sponsored education have been mixed, but certainly not all bad. It's a rather sweeping thing to say that government should be left out of all education. Also on a different issue, solar energy has been significantly oversold; there is considerable pollution from the construction and disposal of solar panels, and storage and efficiency is low. Even though solar might work on a local scale, the most promising technology for India especially in the short-term is nuclear power. Thankfully, we already have the capability. Actually let me qualify that by saying that Smith advocated government sponsored education at least in some cases, especially for poor people. He did advocate subsidies. It’s true that the effects of government sponsored education have been mixed, but certainly not all bad. It’s a rather sweeping thing to say that government should be left out of all education.
Also on a different issue, solar energy has been significantly oversold; there is considerable pollution from the construction and disposal of solar panels, and storage and efficiency is low. Even though solar might work on a local scale, the most promising technology for India especially in the short-term is nuclear power. Thankfully, we already have the capability.

]]> By: ashujo http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/comment-page-1/#comment-117044 ashujo Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:43:36 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/#comment-117044 Our government is sadly decrepit. But I think Adam Smith did advocate that education be left to government. Naturally it does depend on who is in charge. Government-funded education and incentives like the GI bill worked wonderfully in the United States. As one example, consider the thousands of people working for the atomic enterprise at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The children of most of those families were very well educated by the government. Or consider the post-Sputnik education funding that produced top-notch scientists and engineers. I don't think the problem is with government per se. The problem is with an Indian system that has no accountability. Our government is sadly decrepit. But I think Adam Smith did advocate that education be left to government. Naturally it does depend on who is in charge. Government-funded education and incentives like the GI bill worked wonderfully in the United States. As one example, consider the thousands of people working for the atomic enterprise at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The children of most of those families were very well educated by the government. Or consider the post-Sputnik education funding that produced top-notch scientists and engineers.
I don’t think the problem is with government per se. The problem is with an Indian system that has no accountability.

]]> By: Conversing with Adam Smith | DesiPundit http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/comment-page-1/#comment-116978 Conversing with Adam Smith | DesiPundit Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:30:48 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/04/07/dr-adam-smith-i-presume/#comment-116978 [...] Dey has a fantastic conversation with the spirit of Adam Smith that covers topics like freedom, innovation, education, and energy policy and yup, he has some [...] [...] Dey has a fantastic conversation with the spirit of Adam Smith that covers topics like freedom, innovation, education, and energy policy and yup, he has some [...]

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