Thaksin Hits The Gas Pedal !yeehhhhaaaaa

And Lord, if these 2 tyrants cannot control crude oil prices, how can Mr. T do so?

Furthermore Lord, remember how the US govt. could do absolutely zip in the face of the Great Depression?   Can you teach these unfortunates that when the tide changes it spares nobody and is just plain relentless.  Nobody is to blame!  Please Lord!

Surely he cannot control oil prices; however he can take measures to minimize (as far as possible) oil consumption in Thailand instead of subsidizing it with money he doesn't have.

Not a small or short-term undertaking - and not as easy as throwing money here and there.

How would he do this, G? I mean, what methods does he have available realistically to accomplish this?

Short term (weeks and months) - not much. Mainly:

- In governmental bodies - locate biggest energy spenders and see which of this energy can be saved - don't use it if you don't have to! (instead of increasing their salaries, have "Energy saving officers", engineers whos sole job description will be to analyze, spot and reduce energy spending - on second thought this suggestion might better be posted in the Jokes forum). Seriously now - in such a large system has to be countless of inefficent places - improve the efficiency.

- Installing enery saving devices (and... if you are interested in more info about these I will be happy to provide some in PM - 25% saving of light energy, over 10% of other electrical energy - this one is serious).

- further encouraging usage of public transport

- tax air-conditioners (this one is only half serious )

Long term (1,2,5, 10 years range):

- Establish alternative energy sources (wind turbines, solar panels, water driven turbines) - imaginary? not when oil prices, and USD, are very high! Cannot be done in a 3rd world country? Study Sri Lanka - they have only one big river, "Mahaweli" - which supplies a very significant amount of the electricity there.

- Improving public transport facilities - more trains and less private cars, busses and trucks.

- Build required facilities and encourage conversion from oil to gas based vehicles.

Good stuff, G, esp. the long-term suggestions. Thanks!