ANNNNNND of course you're modded Flamebait.

I guess you hit a nerve.

If America had just allowed free trade with Cuba the inflow of US culture into the country would've long turned it into a pro-US state

Just like China, right? Or every nation in the middle east (except for one).

Ad hominems aren't valid arguments.

Face it, you lost. Crawl back into your hole, AC.

The bank a check is drawn on generally doesn't do much more than see if the account has enough funds

That's exactly the scenario I'm talking about. There is little in the way of banks knowing that the account the (substitute) check is drawn on has the funds. I'm not addressing possible reversals. Yet, we seem to hear about people having checks clear-- that is, a full business day has passed-- and somehow they don't know if the account has money or not. Why are they allowed this subterfuge? Because Check21 is not subject to ACH rules. That's B.S.

Natural gas is a great improvement over oil, in both efficiency and the environment, and it works EVERYWHERE for EVERYONE NOW. Not 10 years from now, not for skyscrapers in the cities, not only in remote areas or on shorelines, not for the rich elitists, but EVERYWHERE for EVERYONE NOW.

It costs less, helping low income people to heat their homes, and while fracking itself is a concern I think the reduced pollution and carbon dioxide emissions balance it out.

But some jackass who modded me down doesn't understand that. Hopefully, you do.