# Americans suck at math **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 16, 2003, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410 "2003-02-16T07:03:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/21 "2003-02-16T08:12:49Z")
> [@](#): > > From the OP > **Canada is the world’s single largest source of oil _snip_** Perhaps we differ on the definiton of the term “source”. If it’s not coming out, it’s not a _source_ of shit. Reserves are fine, but if they’re not being tapped they’re not doing a shit bit of good, now are they? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/22 "2003-02-16T08:13:54Z")
Right, but extraction of petroleum from tar sands _costs_ energy too (much more than with crude oil.) How much net return are we talking? Or is the math too difficult for you? > [@](#): > > I may fuck on, I may fuck off, I may ask others to do the same, but YOU, Ogre, are alone in wishing death. I pity you. > Peace. Don’t cry for me, Canada. I am remarkably indifferent to your pity. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/23 "2003-02-16T08:18:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Cadet \* > \*\*And where did I mention current _production?_ > > I said Canada is the single largest source (i.e. in possession of, by living on top of… ) \*\* Pay more attention, idiot. I cited sources that show that Canada’s reserves aren’t even in the top twenty. > [@](#): > > Thats right, mock your single largest energy supplier, and see how you like it when NY goes dark. Are you personally NY’s primary source of energy? Are you going to flip the switch off to spite us Dopers? ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Cadet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Space\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/24 "2003-02-16T08:19:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Speaking of math, how far away is Eleventy-billion Km? Whats that? You need help with a metric conversion? Oh, and is that the sound of you proving my thread-title-hyperbole for me? […] Yup, guesso. ---
**Author:** ![MachineHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@MachineHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MachineHead)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/25 "2003-02-16T08:23:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Cadet \* > \*\*Oh, your rebuttals are so clever, I am impressed :rolleyes: > > Thats right, mock your single largest energy supplier, and see how you like it when NY goes dark. > > Oh, whats that? Without Canadian Natural Gas, your prices increase exponentially? To bad, so sad, warmongering Texacutioners! \*\* Due to some comments made on a message board, Canadian oil companys will soon no longer distribute to america. Sure. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/26 "2003-02-16T08:24:16Z")
No, you moron. There’s no such number as “eleventy”. Just like there’s no such number as “twelvety” or “thirteenty”. Oh, and kilometers is abbreviated “km” not “Km”. Now, who needs help with metric? ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Cadet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Space\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/27 "2003-02-16T08:26:00Z")
I guess **chula** can’t count, and the rest o’y’all (see, I can speak American w/o a translator) don’t really have any understanding of current public opinion in Canada; namely that the U$A is increasingly viewed as a profit-hungry war machine that should be cut off, how ever we (i.e. the rest of the world) can advance that objective, in Canada’s case, the pipeline may stop flowing southwards, if it comes to it buddy. Just try and push it. You might find a ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/28 "2003-02-16T08:26:21Z")
I didn’t realize eleventy was metric. And the sands of Alberta are not really being used as an energy source right now, nor will they until the supply and/or cost of liquid crude from the ground reaches a situation where the high cost of converting the sands into usable energy would be cost effective. To say that Canada is the largest single source of oil in the world is pushing the boundaries of honesty. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/29 "2003-02-16T08:27:21Z")
I love flaming trolls. It’s so easy, but the flavor is so satisfying, especially if they’re a little crisp on the outside. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Cadet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Space\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/30 "2003-02-16T08:27:33Z")
I guess **chula** can’t count, and the rest o’y’all (see, I can speak American w/o a translator) don’t really have any understanding of current public opinion in Canada; namely that the U$A is increasingly viewed as a profit-hungry war machine that should be cut off, how ever we (i.e. the rest of the world) can advance that objective; in Canada’s case, the pipeline may stop flowing southwards, if it comes to it buddy. Just try and push it. You might find a brick wall built sturdy, y’know. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Cadet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Space\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/31 "2003-02-16T08:29:59Z")
Ok, this shit is wierd… whatever happened to my last (two) post(s) is either a misplaced keystroke, or just plain spooky. Ah, but what you gonna do? ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Cadet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Space\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/32 "2003-02-16T08:31:37Z")
Oh, a Yankee pretending to be an expert on the metric system, how cute 😉 ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/33 "2003-02-16T08:31:42Z")
In case anyone cares: > [@](#): > > At $38 billion in 2001, U.S.-Canada trade in energy is the largest U.S. energy trading relationship in the world. The primary components of U.S. energy trade with Canada are oil, natural gas, and electricity. Canada is the United States’ largest oil supplier and the fifth-largest energy producing country in the world. Canada provides about 16% of U.S. oil imports and 14% of total U.S. consumption of natural gas. > – from the [U.S. Department of State](http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2089.htm). And Canada cannot and would not “stop flowing [oil] southwards.” Nor has it ever threatened to do so, nor will it ever. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/34 "2003-02-16T08:32:12Z")
Yeah, web forums are sooooo tough to figure out. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/35 "2003-02-16T08:32:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Cadet \* > \*\*I guess **chula** can’t count, and the rest o’y’all (see, I can speak American w/o a translator) don’t really have any understanding of current public opinion in Canada; namely that the U$A is increasingly viewed as a profit-hungry war machine that should be cut off, how ever we (i.e. the rest of the world) can advance that objective; in Canada’s case, the pipeline may stop flowing southwards, if it comes to it buddy. > > Just try and push it. You might find a brick wall built sturdy, y’know. \*\* Hmm. 1 + 1 = Fuck off, Space Cadet. Yeah, I guess I suck at math. :rolleyes: x 6.02 x 10[sup]23[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/36 "2003-02-16T08:33:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Cadet \* > \*\*Oh, a Yankee pretending to be an expert on the metric system, how cute 😉 \*\* To whom are you referring? I’m quite comfortable with the metric system, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/37 "2003-02-16T08:36:16Z")
And it seems as though **leander** has put the lie to your claim of Canada supplying the US with 25% of it’s energy needs and “virtually all of its natural gas”. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/38 "2003-02-16T08:36:17Z")
Give me a T! Give me an R! Give me an O! … Give me a fucking break. ---
**Author:** ![MachineHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@MachineHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MachineHead)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/39 "2003-02-16T08:37:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Cadet \* > \*\*I guess **chula** can’t count, and the rest o’y’all (see, I can speak American w/o a translator) don’t really have any understanding of current public opinion in Canada; namely that the U$A is increasingly viewed as a profit-hungry war machine that should be cut off, how ever we (i.e. the rest of the world) can advance that objective, in Canada’s case, the pipeline may stop flowing southwards, if it comes to it buddy. > > Just try and push it. You might find a \*\* Canada has had no reason to stop giving oil or energy to USA. Stop projecting your ideas as the Canadian Ideal, because they are not. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Cadet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Space\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410/40 "2003-02-16T08:38:59Z")
Ok, you know, I came here hoping for a serious dicussion of American energy interests, and the consequences of these interests, but it seems you Yanks aren’t in the mood. I’ll try pokin’ it up your ass again later - hopefully at some point you’ll realize you can’t be on top for ever - and maybe, just maybe, you’ll actually be willing to engage in an actual debate. Lates, bro’s & sis’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-suck-at-math/155410.md?page=3)