At some stage in life, every rebel must grow up, and that time might have come for Left-wing “Squad” member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The representative for New York’s 14th congressional district has held the party line on Joe Biden staying in the race for the presidency, telling reporters yesterday: “I have spoken with him extensively. He made clear then and he has made clear since that he is in this race. The matter is closed… Joe Biden is our nominee.”
Rep. @AOC: President Biden has made clear that he is in this race. The matter is closed. Biden is our nominee. He is in this race and I support him. He is running against Donald Trump, who is a man with 34 felony convictions. Not a single Republican has asked for Donald Trump to… pic.twitter.com/MOvUu3VQU5
— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) July 8, 2024
The Democrats were holding a meeting about how to deal with their Biden-shaped disaster. Rep. Steve Cohen left saying that Democrats were not “even on the same book” never mind the same page. Rep. Jerry Nadler has been flip-flopping. Meanwhile, former speaker Nancy Pelosi was silent in the face of questions as she entered the meeting. AOC herself seems to be on the path to “Pelosification”, and it’s surely only a matter of time before she’s a fixture in the Democratic establishment. If you can’t beat them, join them…
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SubscribeJust trying to wrap my head around this conundrum. China is threatening to restrict the sale of minerals that are in great abundance in areas outside its control, and will mostly be used in net-zero products that are completely unnecessary. And because we in the west are ruled by fools, the sanctions will likely be crippling. It would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic.
The longer I live, the more I understand Nero. Time to buy myself a fiddle I think…..
The longer I live, the more I understand Nero. Time to buy myself a fiddle I think…..
Just trying to wrap my head around this conundrum. China is threatening to restrict the sale of minerals that are in great abundance in areas outside its control, and will mostly be used in net-zero products that are completely unnecessary. And because we in the west are ruled by fools, the sanctions will likely be crippling. It would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic.
‘Rare earths’ aren’t particularly rare (nor are they ‘earths’, but that ship sailed a century ago). They’re present in reasonable quantities in the tailings from many heavy metal mines. The reason they’re expensive is that they’re all very similar chemically, so separating them is difficult and involves a lot of aggressive (and potentially polluting) chemicals. So countries where environmental pollution is not considered high priority, such as China, have an advantage in their production, but that is all. If we were prepared to pay a bit more for them, they could be easily (and fairly swiftly) available.
North America has a lot of rare earth minerals, but it doesn’t have the political will to mine them.
That can easily be changed. The US used to be the world leader here a few decades ago. If it becomes profitable enough, I’m sure they can start again. These mines will be in pretty remote areas. The sooner, the better. It probably doesn’t take that long to set this stuff up, given the will. It’s mature, understood technology.
The one historic operating REE mine in the the US is at Mountain Pass, CA, just off of I-15 on the NV-CA border, not really that isolated. Everyone driving to and from Vegas to LA pass within a few hundred yards of it. As far as I know, REE ore from Mountain Pass has always been processed in China, as it is now. Mtn Pass ore occurs in carbonatite rocks and are radioactive. Further, it now takes a minimum of about 10 years to develop and permit any mine in the US, and REE mines will be no different.
The one historic operating REE mine in the the US is at Mountain Pass, CA, just off of I-15 on the NV-CA border, not really that isolated. Everyone driving to and from Vegas to LA pass within a few hundred yards of it. As far as I know, REE ore from Mountain Pass has always been processed in China, as it is now. Mtn Pass ore occurs in carbonatite rocks and are radioactive. Further, it now takes a minimum of about 10 years to develop and permit any mine in the US, and REE mines will be no different.
That can easily be changed. The US used to be the world leader here a few decades ago. If it becomes profitable enough, I’m sure they can start again. These mines will be in pretty remote areas. The sooner, the better. It probably doesn’t take that long to set this stuff up, given the will. It’s mature, understood technology.
Spot on. I imagine that the hazards can be mastered given incentive to do so (investment, money). But that takes will and time that China may not allow. A bit of future planning from leaders might help. Seems refiners want waivers in order to take the risk, but perhaps import controls along with price stability would make the investment in safety happen.
In addition, most rare earth deposits contain radioactive thorium and/or uranium, so waste from processing procedures are radioactive. Interestingly, REE sea-floor deposits typically do not contain Th or U.
North America has a lot of rare earth minerals, but it doesn’t have the political will to mine them.
Spot on. I imagine that the hazards can be mastered given incentive to do so (investment, money). But that takes will and time that China may not allow. A bit of future planning from leaders might help. Seems refiners want waivers in order to take the risk, but perhaps import controls along with price stability would make the investment in safety happen.
In addition, most rare earth deposits contain radioactive thorium and/or uranium, so waste from processing procedures are radioactive. Interestingly, REE sea-floor deposits typically do not contain Th or U.
‘Rare earths’ aren’t particularly rare (nor are they ‘earths’, but that ship sailed a century ago). They’re present in reasonable quantities in the tailings from many heavy metal mines. The reason they’re expensive is that they’re all very similar chemically, so separating them is difficult and involves a lot of aggressive (and potentially polluting) chemicals. So countries where environmental pollution is not considered high priority, such as China, have an advantage in their production, but that is all. If we were prepared to pay a bit more for them, they could be easily (and fairly swiftly) available.
Just another reason why the ban on the sale of ICE cars in the UK from 2030 isn’t going to happen.
It is going to happen because car manufacturers need about 5 years to change direction. I think that Jaguar said they were aiming for 2027, not 2030. The change will be a catastrophe.
This is the really fascinating issue when it comes to the restrictions on ICE vehicles. GM and Ford have invested nearly $60 billion in EV production in North America – shutting down ICE lines and building EV lines. What happens to that investment when no one buys EVs? This shift in production has been based on govt regulations, not market forces. So who’s responsible for the billions wasted on EV investment?
Taxpayers, of course.
Taxpayers, of course.
We’ll still have plenty of used ICE cars that run fine. Banning new ICE cars doesn’t stop you driving older ICE cars. Not yet, anyway.
This is the really fascinating issue when it comes to the restrictions on ICE vehicles. GM and Ford have invested nearly $60 billion in EV production in North America – shutting down ICE lines and building EV lines. What happens to that investment when no one buys EVs? This shift in production has been based on govt regulations, not market forces. So who’s responsible for the billions wasted on EV investment?
We’ll still have plenty of used ICE cars that run fine. Banning new ICE cars doesn’t stop you driving older ICE cars. Not yet, anyway.
It is going to happen because car manufacturers need about 5 years to change direction. I think that Jaguar said they were aiming for 2027, not 2030. The change will be a catastrophe.
Just another reason why the ban on the sale of ICE cars in the UK from 2030 isn’t going to happen.
I’m actually hoping that China makes good on its threat. This will give us the political leverage to force the Democrats to start issuing mining permits to tap the plentiful US reserves of these minerals.
I’m actually hoping that China makes good on its threat. This will give us the political leverage to force the Democrats to start issuing mining permits to tap the plentiful US reserves of these minerals.
Another example how West allowed China to dominate so many critical areas of industry.
Author analogy with Russian export of oil via India etc is misguided.
Russia needs to sell oil to survive. China can stop exports to the West and control exports to third parties if it wants to.
Another example how West allowed China to dominate so many critical areas of industry.
Author analogy with Russian export of oil via India etc is misguided.
Russia needs to sell oil to survive. China can stop exports to the West and control exports to third parties if it wants to.
Here in Australia the search for these minerals is ramping up big time, especially in Western and South Australia
Ironically, South Australia will struggle to do anything with them if they can even manage to get them out of the ground since they are so reliant on weather dependent energy sources.
Ironically, South Australia will struggle to do anything with them if they can even manage to get them out of the ground since they are so reliant on weather dependent energy sources.
Here in Australia the search for these minerals is ramping up big time, especially in Western and South Australia
Just another example of how economic sanctions can backfire in the long term, by diversifying supply and technology. The US should know all about this, if they were paying attention. At least now the US govt might have a way to back out of its ridiculous EV boondoggle.
Just another example of how economic sanctions can backfire in the long term, by diversifying supply and technology. The US should know all about this, if they were paying attention. At least now the US govt might have a way to back out of its ridiculous EV boondoggle.
Of course, the U.S., with the infinitely venal pushing by environmental groups will not open the vast lands of the west and Alaska to mining for such minerals. Take out gun, aim and shoot off big toe, it has a fungus.
Of course, the U.S., with the infinitely venal pushing by environmental groups will not open the vast lands of the west and Alaska to mining for such minerals. Take out gun, aim and shoot off big toe, it has a fungus.
Xi’s destruction of America being implemented by their crooked senile puppet Xiden is nearly complete.
Xi’s destruction of America being implemented by their crooked senile puppet Xiden is nearly complete.
Another fine example of the evils of protectionism.
Another fine example of the evils of protectionism.
The reason this is news is it supports the argument for supply-side inflation.
The dominant paradigm has been demand-side inflation which (possibly) could be addressed by the Fed raising interest rates.
Raising interest rates will not help supply-side inflation at all, in fact, it will probably make the situation worse.
The reason this is news is it supports the argument for supply-side inflation.
The dominant paradigm has been demand-side inflation which (possibly) could be addressed by the Fed raising interest rates.
Raising interest rates will not help supply-side inflation at all, in fact, it will probably make the situation worse.