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The-Protomolecule t1_jahpi3k wrote

Reply to comment by AGVann in German scientists show a commercially feasible method for cyanobacteria to extract 17 rare earth elements from low-concentration sources. Currently, most of the world's supply of these elements is mined in China. by lughnasadh

It should be noted, as with oil, the US policy on this stuff is to be the last country with reserves.

Edit: In case it’s unclear, the US prefers to import oil and precious metals instead of digging ours up first. It’s not ONLY environmental or cost, though these are significant factors. We can always extract finite resources in the future when other countries have sold theirs or during wartime.

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jsteph67 t1_jahx6wz wrote

Not sure why you are being downvoted. It makes sense in the long term, to think long term.

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findingdumb t1_jaj8vfw wrote

Because some people still believe the US is the good guys

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pbrand t1_jajcwbj wrote

Bit of a daft point when the US is a net food exporter (depleting its topsoil in the process) and also recently due to a certain European war exports a lot of liquid natural gas. The US strategically holds on to some things, and sells others, just like any other country.

China's hoarded flour and grain the past couple years, and I do not blame them in childish baffling terms such as "good guys" and "bad guys." That's fucking comic book shit. Keep it there.

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Dantheking94 t1_jakq5y1 wrote

China has to hoard food and grain…a population like theirs within such a large country that doesn’t have enough arable land to support itself…they can’t risk starvation.

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findingdumb t1_jajinu6 wrote

If you don't think the US is an active evil, you're either uninformed, misinformed, or a fucking moron.

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bigmac419 t1_jajob9h wrote

Every country is an active evil in someone's narrative. Just depends on who they're paid by.

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Information_High t1_jajwbjd wrote

An active evil compared to whom?

Be specific, please. Which countries are better?

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cowet t1_jak01an wrote

They like the USSR and china lol

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AGVann t1_jal27nm wrote

As a Taiwanese person that would be in a mass grave or a concentration camp next to some Uyhurs right now if it wasn't for the US, I'll take an American world order over a Chinese one, thanks.

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mellowfortherecords t1_jak9j2s wrote

Why saying US is evil means saying Russia is good? Both search their own benefit. In some ways Russia is worse than US and in others US is worse than Russia.

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The-Protomolecule t1_jajzg8d wrote

How does anything I said make the US the good guys? It’s irrelevant to my post about long term resource scarcity planning. If anything it makes the US the bad guys lol.

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Dje4321 t1_jak0wei wrote

The US understands that you can only beat your enemy by simply having more than them.

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JediSwaggins t1_jal98rw wrote

At some point, they can't take you out or it creates a power vacuum they'll kill themselves fighting over anyway.

Don't @ me this is mostly my headcanon if the USA was a mob boss

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VentureQuotes t1_jax099f wrote

this is a fascinating way to look at it, i never heard of this before. can you say more about this? would love to see what government agencies, corporations, academic say about this

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