Thinking Out Loud - Can the Steam Engine Save Us?

You know, it seems to me that with American ingenuity, the availablity of many new technologies and a most dire need for a change, there would be someone out there willing to expend some venture capital on a few of those engineering geniuses we have floating around the halls of science fiction conventions. Or doodling away in the labs of NASA or JPL.

Oil prices are soaring to new heights and breaking new records every day. This is not a good thing. Not for America, not for the world. But most importantly, not for our children. What kind of world are we leaving them? The oil cartels are making massive amounts of money. And if they say this worries them and you believe them, you are truly delusional. I mean, think about it. What do they have to worry about with high oil prices? Where to stash all that extra cash?? Meanwhile, the economies of oil consuming countries are being rapidly de-stabilized. With the deep pockets of these trillion dollar asset OPEC nations, they can easily jump in and buy up corporations at amazingly cheap prices. And whoever owns the corporations, owns the governments. Don't believe me? Just look at the way special interest manhandles our politicians. Look at how our government bows to corporate will.

Do you really want OPEC nations to own the government of your country? Not me.

So why don't we get out there and start tapping the incredible wealth of knowledge and invention that has, in the past, made this country great? I have heard many a geek explain how some such Sci-Fi technology could work. They will go into great engineering detail about the workings of warp engines, teleporters, long range sensors, and terraforming. And as far fetched as some of that stuff might seem to you, SF writers have long been leaders in forward imagining that have led to eventual science realities. Just look at Jules Verne who imagined nuclear submarines and moon landings back in the late 1800's.

Well here's my thoughts. How about the steam engine as the new mode of transport? Sounds like back pedaling, I am sure. But with today's technologies in heated water on demand (ever heard of those new hot water heaters that will heat up the water as you need it?) and tougher steel molds that are more compact and can handle greater pressure, we could have an engine with parallel steam systems. One for the turbine to turn the gears that move the vehicle, one for the electrical system that powers everything from the turn signals and headlights to the on-board computer systems, and one for other auxiliary systems such as the radio and power regeneration. For more advanced models you can have a filtration system so that the water you add to the engine can be anything from tap to river or sea water.

That's my idea. Here's my challenge. All you geeks, engineers, inventors start working on making this a reality. I don't know a whole heck of a lot about thermal dynamics, but there are those of you out there that do. And all you big money capitalist who want to put your money to work making more money, just think about what a big dollar item this would be. Not just for us here in the US! The world would love to get off oil, too. You can make a killing in the world market.

And here's the best part. Its a win-win situation. The inventors get to change the world. The money guys get to make more money. And we get to come out from under the thumb of Big Oil. We get to save our democracies from those who would want to enslave us, be they Big Oil or the Illuminati or the One World Government globalist (such as the Bilderberg Group).

Call me a dreamer, tell me I've been listening to one too many conspiracy theorist on the radio. Say I'm right on and you're with me 100%. Agree or disagree. No matter. This is just me, thinking out loud.

Have a great day!