Posted by FiscalConservative on July 2, 2008 at 5:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Did anyone see the video of Harry Reid saying that oil and coal were dangerous to us and the planet. Anyone who believes this doesn't care about these gas prices. Correction: They do, they want them to be higher. Just like cigarettes. If it is bad for you and they cannot outlaw it, they will drive the price of it up to discourage use.

Posted by dogwoodroad on July 2, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

um...just a question - what is it that people expect our lawmakers to do? Do you want a law putting a ceiling on the price of gas? Do you want the goverment to make laws for every action in your daily lives?

Suck it up, america - living is expensive, and maybe you'll have to get your cable cut off like that poor family in Utah...I mean, their poor kids had to picket because they have to go without Nickelodeon - it's a travesty - having to play outside for entertainment.

And gas prices are not going to be fixed based on who is President...the cause of this increase in prices is based on so many factors that it may not ever be figured out. Just go on living your lives and stop blaming everything on the government!!! They aren't here to make sure you live lives of luxury.

Posted by suec on July 2, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why is gas cheaper in the upstate?

Posted by theronce on July 2, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I want government to get the heck out of the way and let companies drill our own oil. The only thing that I want the government to do in the process is heavily penalize any company that spills one drop on the ground or in the water. Making Iran a nuclear wasteground also has its appeal.

Posted by dogwoodroad on July 2, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

oh...by the way...my comment wasn't directed at any previous comment before mine...I was just anticipating all the comments throughout the day on how the President is to blame for everything...

Posted by bm4lyfe on July 2, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

GET OVER IT!!!

Posted by Early on July 2, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

CB your right, remember when that happened in the 70's?
Folks, $7/ gal will be the end of next year. Europe has been paying that 20 years ago, they made lifestyle changes.
I see the farmers in Minnesota are making a killing by putting wind farms on their property, millions a year in profits, so they don't grow crops which will jackup the prices in a few years. If Israel bombs Iran 1/2 of the oil supply of the world will be gone temporarily.
I see new technologies coming out quickly, something America is good at so, this is a two sided coin.

Posted by algorelost on July 2, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If Congress dumped 50% of our stragic oil reserve on to the market right now with out warning, it would flood supply and immeidatly bring drown prices as well as punish all speculators manipulating the market.

Posted by shoelaces on July 2, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

OK. I am admittedly not an expert on this topic. Or any other for that matter.

What exactly is being done to get alternative fuel sources on line? Let's face it, if Obama and his posse get into office there won't be ANY drilling. So what is the alternative? Seems all I ever hear is "we need to.." "we are looking into..." "in the future...". Well, guess what!!! The future is NOW!! In the meantime let's DRILL!!!! It won't take 10 years for results either. Maybe 5-6 at the most.

And aren't a lot of the auto makers working on "new technologies" now? Isn't that kind of like letting a kid loose in a candy shop?

We do not have adequate public transportation here. I can't ride the city bus to work. I can't ride my bike to work. I can't walk to work. We are not a society set up that way in the US. Big cities, yes, but not here in the lowcountry.

Something's got to give.

Posted by Tammie on July 2, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Gas is stil $3.81 on Johns Island as of this morning (I know it'll be higher when I go home tonight). I knew the price would spike. I'm thankful that I have a car that fills up on $35. But I know I'm going to have to make some changes...no more Dairy Queen every Friday night for my cravings...:-(

Posted by ln1959 on July 2, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

algorelost.. Don't say that,a few years ago President Bush say that would not help. Now as he gets ready to leave office its a good idea. But it still have not come to be.

Have any of you really been reading the news. There are drilling new oil wells in North Dakota as we post. They are creating new Millionaires every day in that area. But has it help the price of oil to go down. Just look up Oil Millionaires in North Dakota and ask yourself, why oil price is still going up.

Complaining about oil, yet, you wont to bomb Iran. Do anyone one realize that Iraq uses to sneak oil through Syria, and that help keep the oil price down. But since there is no oil coming out of Iraq now, the other countries had to go other places for oil. Hint.. Supply and Demand.

Posted by eatmorecollards on July 2, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I remember back when they posted the speed limit to 55MPH. I think that was when the major oil companies forced most of the independent dealers out of bussiness. I purchased a Chevy Chevette that had a high speed overhead cam Izuzi diesel engine in it to drive back and forth to work. This thing got 65 miles a gallon on the road and 45 in town using No.1 diesel (kerosene). It would burn any type of diesel fuel though at a little less millage. I sure wish I had that car now.

Posted by Early on July 2, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the unstable issues in the middle east is what has prices up, I don't think Saudi has the oil they claim to have and they are manipulating oil prices to compensate for what is going to be a economic downfall for that region in a very short period of time. The oil rigs in the upper northwest have not been on-line long enough or, put out enough volumes yet to be a factor. Meanwhile, hydrogen technology is here, just Google car that runs on water. there are kits out there now that will increase you gas mileage on your present vehicle by 40-60%.

Posted by whycantitbebetterhere on July 2, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If you study economics, you will realize that the current gas prices are a reflection of the fact that there hasn't been any market driven incentives to invest in the exploration for oil around the world. In addition, world demand has risen (as it has for everything in the global emerging economies of China, India, etc.) Also, there is a current glut of fuel oil on the market and a shortage of light sweet crude. Light sweet crude is what is required to refine deisel and regular gas. Many countries around the world are excluding oil exploration companies from looking for oil in their countries. That along with the fact that there currently is no market driven incentive to build additional refineries in the United States is leading to a shortage of gas. Price supports during the CARTER administration drove the relative price of gas up, and gas did not go down until the REAGAN administration removed the price supports. There are no price supports now - there is simply a huge growing demand for gas around the world. There is nothing that Congress can do, other than to create the illusion that we will start drilling for oil here. That will cause market prices to drop, encourage countries with oil supplies to reconsider allowing exploration, etc. This is far more complicated than Congress needs to fix this. Gold, silver, copper etc are trading at three times their value a few years ago. Everything costs more now, because there is a demand for it. The rest of the world is transitioning from third world country status, and they are sucking up the supply of these things that in the past were consumed mainly by Europe and other advanced countries. It is a fact of life that these prices are here for the next 6 - 10 years. If you don't like it, park the truck and get a more fuel efficent car. Drive less, whatever. Either that or pay. Until these supply and demand issues resolve themselves under market conditions, nothing will change. Exploration and the building of refineries (which is a huge expense and almost not worth it in the US) will take YEARS. A slowing of demand in this country may also cause prices to come down - simple market behaviors that this country was founded on. If you want fixed prices - move to a socialist or communist country. I am sure the downside of that is far worse than $4 gas.

Posted by RTC on July 2, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The NIMBYs won't allow drilling off our coast.
Find a way to shut them up, and maybe we can get somewhere.
suec, you asked why the gas was cheaper in the upper state. Good question, considering the refineries are here in Charleston, and the gas is trucked all the way upstate.

Posted by common_sense on July 2, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Gas prices in the Upstate are cheaper because the two primary pipelines for for fuel on the east coast go through that area. It's less expensive to siphon off fuel & distribute it than to put it on a tanker truck. Also, the overhead for gas stations there is less than here (cheaper land, lower taxes, etc).

RTC, I'm not aware of any refineries here. Where are they?

Bottom line is that we need to drill for our own oil, and do it now! Drill everywhere! The royalties that could be pumped into state coffers (presuming there is oil off our coast...there is natural gas at least) would definately be a welcome addition to the state budget. I'm also sure some in economically depressed areas would jump at the chance to lure a new refinery to be built in their town.

The only thing stading in the way of this? Congress. Remember that.

I'm just sayin...

Posted by RTC on July 2, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

common_sense, they are on Virginia Ave.

Posted by Jane on July 2, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It amazes me how many people don't understand why gas prices are so high.

It started in the 70's when the Dems in congress started having oil wells capped and refused to allow any more refineries to be built. They continue to refuse to allow drilling. About a month ago they voted against drilling for shale oil. I believe they estimate we have more oil there than all of Saudi Arabia.

High gas prices because of the war? Why, how could that be! Don't the folks on the left say we went in there for the oil? We could easily take control of the wells there and not pay for it, but we don't because we have the decency to pay for it. Shows it wasn't about the oil if you ask me.

Just got a great email showing pictures of ANWAR and where the oil is. It is NOT in the beautiful mountainous area. It is where it is flat and there are no mountains. There are already roads and buildings there now. It shows all these caribou hanging out near a refinery. The caribou have tripled in population since the pipeline was built in the 70's.

The Dems voted against drilling there several years ago when Bush tried to get it passed. Clinton vetoed drilling because he said it would take 5 years to get the oil online. That was over 10 years ago. Obama says we can't drill our way out of this. Duhhhhh...that's exactly what we can do!!! We continue to buy oil from Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Venezuela. We are sending millions to our enemies. Crazy.
China is now drilling 45 miles off the Florida coast.
Folks, it has been the Dems voting against drilling (a few Rep. as well, but mostly Dems).
Check the Congressional Record.

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So….we want to bomb Iran to get to their oil? Isn’t that the bill of goods we were sold on the Iraq war?
"Iraq has tremendous resources that belong to the Iraqi people. And so there are a variety of means that Iraq has to be able to shoulder much of the burden for their own reconstruction."
- Ari Fleischer, White House Press Secretary, 2/18/03
There is a lot of money to pay for this that doesn't have to be U.S. taxpayer money, and it starts with the assets of the Iraqi people. We are talking about a country that can really finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon."
- Paul Wolfowitz, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense, testifying before the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, 3/27/03
It is unimaginable that the United States would have to contribute hundreds of billions of dollars and highly unlikely that we would have to contribute even tens of billions of dollars."
- Kenneth M. Pollack, former Director for Persian Gulf Affairs, U.S. National Security Council, 9/02
Didn’t play out that way, did it?
Same thing I posted yesterday……. Should we drill our own oil, yes….safely!!!! Should we invest in renewable resources, yes! Should we drive more efficient vehicles, yes! Should we recycle, yes! Should we use more mass transit, yes! Should we stop buying shicrap made in China from Wal-Mart, yes! Should we reinvest in our countries infrastructure, yes! Should we upgrade our rail system, yes! Should we turn off the TV and take our dogs for a walk, yes!
Before you guys start drinking the Cheney Kool-aid….think very hard. Can we sustain yet another war? We are already at a stop gap on troops, last month was the deadliest, have we stopped counting the Afgan fatalities?
Total Fatalities
Operation Iraqi Freedom: 4,104
Operation Enduring Freedom: 516
(Updated July 2, 2008)

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Trippin – Why, oh why do you always turn an issue into the evil liberals and the poor poor republicans? Maybe, just maybe the energy issues we are facing is an American issue! WOW, what a concept…just plan ole Americans. We have enough enemies in this world than to have to fight each other at home.

Posted by Jane on July 2, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Newt, we don't get any of our oil from Iran.
I do agree with you that it is time for Iraqi oil to pay for the rebuilding of Iraq.
Every soldier lost in the war is horrible. One death is too many, but what they aren't telling you is the death rate was about the same under Clinton. Causes? Mostly accidents. Most of the deaths in the first Gulf War were accidents. 58,000 died in Vietnam, but alot of those were accidents too.
It sickens me the way the mainstream media keeps count on a daily basis of the deaths of our soldiers. It is like a score card for the terrorists. They know all they have to do is kill a couple of soldiers a day and our mainstream media will report it with a gleam in their eye. They know it causes the American people to not support our effort. Whether you agree with the war or not, once we send our soldiers in harm way, we must support them 100%. Otherwise, it emboldens the enemy and more of our men and women die.

Over the past 25 years our oil companies have made about $600 billion in profits (alot of that is plowed back into exploration). Sounds like alot until you hear how much we paid in government imposed taxes....over a trillion!! Twice the profit of the oil companies. The problem is government intervention!!! Get out of it and let oil companies drill. They can do so now a days in a way that doesn't hurt the environment.

Posted by combahee on July 2, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Jane, China is drilling 45 miles off the Florida coast????
Where do you people get this stuff?

Posted by lilpenny0 on July 2, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

whycantitbebetterhere,

I'm not exactly sure if everything you posted is entirely correct, but that is the best explanation of our oil situation I've ever read. I admit that I'm not educated on the whole process of how gas prices get passed down to the consumer, but it looks as though 95% of everyone else on this board doesn't either. It would seem that since this whole oil/gas agenda is obviously a worldwide issue, then the solution can't simply be a nationwide one. As whycantitbebetterhere stated, the world itself is growing more and more everyday. That in turn will drive demand up.

Again, I am in no way educated on this entire process, but can anyone explain to me how domestic drilling will help lower gas prices? And it would be nice to get an answer that correctly shows the break down from top to bottom. From the point of drilling down to the gas pumps at BP. I understand that that would be a very long explanation, but I just want to see who can actually answer the question.

Posted by Lovely_One on July 2, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The gas prices just made my husband and I budget better and get rid of things that we really don't need (i.e. both cell phones, cable, fast food, and all the dinner and movie trips).

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

trippin & Jane

As radical as some liberals are (PETA/Greenpeace) you guys give them too much ammo....the more you spew the nuttier they think you are. And the hard they will push back. IF there could be honest discussions without the flinging of insults we might be able to get to a solution both sides could be happy with.

YOU CRAZY NEO-CON KOOL-AID DRINKS! Sorry, couldn't resist:)

We all know we need to cut our countries addiction to foreign oil, but we also need to be on top of the curve with renewable solutions. Imagine if we put our resources on innovation and started make BIG money from our technology. Then we could be self sufficient and wouldn’t need to start wars for oil.

By the way……I think the numbers of Americans and Iraqis that are dead over oil is shameful, but I still want to know how many Americans have died…….remember the cost lest we forget next time.

Posted by urvoucher on July 2, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why is gas in Saudi Arabia and other oil producing states much more cheaper than abroad? Why can't the USA produce our own oil? If we did mass produce our own oil this would create more jobs for the American people. I think we have the capability to be safe with drilling and refining. Another thing why can't there be more MPG cars and trucks made advailable? We can send man to the moon on a single tank, so why can't we be more efficient on mileage?
Maybe we should trade corn for oil. I wonder how much they are paying for water-melons in Iraq and Saudi Arabia? Prices of gas is getting out of control. The people should demand something be done about it and soon.

Posted by Early on July 2, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If we drill in our own country, it will not help us.

Capitalism will be that we sell our own oil to foreign countries for a profit, we will see little benefit.

Posted by Early on July 2, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Who will be the one to lead us?
We don't want 5000 oil wells in our country nor do we want to rely on solar or wind party, is there someone who can reach a median?

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

trippin - you are trippin:)

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

trippin - I know we are a violent society, I read about it everyday. That does not negate the lives tossed on the alter of war for oil!

Come on admit it trippin, we need all sources of energy, not just oil!!! Come on it will not kill you....just say it out loud, "We need more energy options than just oil."

See it didn't hurt....much!

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

trippin - you sweet lug, are you coming over to the dark side....with me?

Posted by wjhamilton3 on July 2, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If we put oil wells off the coast of South Carolina, whose neighborhoods would you like to put the on to shore pipelines through? In what town of city would you like to locate the old storage faciliites? Where would you propose the dispose of the waste products from drilling like sludge and contaminated drilling mud? If we build a local refinery, where would you like to put the waste and toxic byproducts it produces? How do you plan to pay for keeping it contained for the next 100 years? When you have done all of that and produced enough oil to meet the needs of a million Americans, do you think some of the two billion people in Asia who want it won't bid the price up. Are you sure those million Americans can and will pay as much or more for it as the top 1% of the people in India and China.

If we continue to rely on Oil, it will destroy our country. We need the Oil we have left in the ground for plastics, industry and applications petrolium is best for. Burning it up is insane. We can figure out a way to live without gas, but I doubt we can live without plastic, fiberglass resin, electrical insulation, waterproofing materials and paint, among other things. We can make most of that other ways, but it's far more expensive and energy intensive.

We must reject the American culture of Waste we've developed since WWII. Culturally we were a frugal people who invested wisely for most of our history.

Posted by Jane on July 2, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Someone asked how drilling for our own oil will bring down prices. Well, the more you have of a product the lower the price. Of course, with more and more worldwide demand, we will never see the really cheap prices of 20 to 30 years ago.However, we would be buying a lot less oil from the middle east if we had more of our own oil. Therefore, they would bring the price down to try to get us to buy. It's the same with cell phone companies. Why do you think they run specials? To try to get your business from another cell phone company. You have one cell phone company, they can charge whatever they want. It is called competition.

As far as where I read that China (with Cuba) is drilling off our coast, I forget where I read it, but I just Yahooed it under "CHINA DRILLING OFF FLORIDA COAST" and there are alot of articles under that explaining how China got around our laws. Note: if you ever doubt anything someone posts on here, Yahoo it and judge for yourself . :-)

Newt, my pointing out how congress has voted is not spewing hate. It is important to know what congress is doing so we can vote them out when necessary. I even pointed out that some Rep. have voted against drilling it is just a fact that more Dems than Rep. have voted against drilling however.
You seem to believe the Dems should not be called out. Again, if the war in Iraq was about oil why aren't we just taking it??? We actually were supporting the UN by going in there and that needs to stop. The last war we fought for our own national interest was WWII. All others since then have involved the UN. Kick them out of New York and we should get out of the UN and quit fighting wars for them.

Newt, do you realize it is you doing the name calling? I find it so hard to believe you are a middle aged woman with children. You are so rude to people on these boards. You hate it when someone points out what your precious Dems do. You are the one spewing with your Kool-aid comments and denigrating people on these boards. It is America and last time I checked we were allowed to have different viewpoints and there is nothing wrong with pointing out politicians' voting records. To be fair, McCain voted against drilling in ANWAR along with the Dems (McCain was going to switch to the Dem. party shortly before 9-11,but changed his mind).

I realize it doesn't matter what I say Newt, you will continue to to name call. Your family would be so proud....

Posted by urvoucher on July 2, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To Early:
How do you know drilling our own oil won't help us? Lets say you have a apple orchared and it has many big apples on its trees. Would you pay top dollar for the same apple that someone eles has? No you would not. I hear that if we start drilling for our own oil that it would be fives years before we see any results, well how come we did not start yesterday? Liberals get off your buts and take care of the American people. There are some many jobs going overseas adn the American people can only hope to land a job at a fast food joint. The forigners are buying up all the American businesses. People need to wake up and take care of the American people. Another thing that gripes me is all the celebraties helping out other countrys with their problems when right here in our own backyard their are people that could use the help. America is becoming less American. I am sick of it all.

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Humor Jane – get it ever? Trippin and I ALMOST never agree, but he gets the humor. Of course, I never get jeff’s humor!

Trippin – for you, I’d fill up the tank for a long drive to the dark side!

Posted by Jane on July 2, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh. What humor in constantly posting ...Kool-aid drinker...yeah right, Newt. Besides, I prefer a margarita with salt. I can't remember the last time I had a glass of kool-aid.

Posted by singleroni on July 2, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

IS THERE OIL FIELDS IN MEXICO? MOST ARE ALREADY HERE. LETS INVADE THEM AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THEIR OIL AND THE ILLEGALS WILL BE LEGAL AND ALL WILL BE HAPPY. AND WE WILL HAVE A CHANGE AND WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NAFTA. I SAY INVADE NOW!

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

trippin - you are so wrong:) OMG - I thought it was a demon at first lol!

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My hunsband just blames the dog!

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jane - I hope you get it now! I may not agree with you on the majority of your posts, but I would risk my life to protect your right to say it.

Posted by FiscalConservative on July 2, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Supply and demand are irrelevant now. We are not in control of the resources. China and India are advancing rapidly. To do so they will consume more and more oil. We have enough supply. Has anyone not been able to get gas? The reason we need to drill more of our own is to not be at the mercy of hostile nations. What if we went to war with them? They could cut us off severely. Then we would be screwed. Alternative energy is not viable now. But if we took the approach as they did with oil we wouldn't look for it. It is "x" years in the future.

Posted by whome on July 2, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Get ready for another spike in crude.

http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601...

When the value of the dollar goes down, then the price of oil goes up (all other things constant). Who knew Jean-Claude Trichet may be the most influential person in 2008...

Posted by Jane on July 2, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well Newt, your constantly ranting kool-aid drinker is not funny to me and I am sure to alot of other folks. I would appreciate it if you would knock it off. You come across as trying to shut people up whom you disagree with. It is offensive. Many folks on the left start ranting that line when they don't want the other side to speak. Perhaps you could find another tact.( I think we both know you weren't kidding ...you do it on soooo many of your posts and I know you weren't kidding...). Anyway, off to celebrate the 4th and our brave men and women in harms way around the world....including that illegal battle our soldiers were sent to in Bosnia that comrade Clinton sent our troops to without a vote from congress...Bush at least had congress vote on the war with Iraq and comrade Clinton did not...mmmm that margarita sure tastes good.

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

BOO HOO - Jane is a big cry baby! I was teasing trippin, but now every time I see you posting I will make a point of taking a jab.

I make statements because you are sooo narrow minded it drives me crazy! Everything that is bad in your world is laid at the liberal’s feet and everything wonderful is due to the neo-cons.

BOO HOO - if you can't take the heat get off the post!

BIG STINKING CRY BABY! Now that is name calling, I'd do worse but the filters won't let me.

Grow a set please!

Posted by rmsems on July 2, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thomas1776 and all the other bright brains out there:

consider this one:

1. How much gas is used by military operations e.g. Irag
2. How much gas could the US supply itself, if they drill everywhere they can ... look up demand and look up how many barrels that would yield, and it won't be tomorrow. Well, if you do, you will find, that you are still several millions of barrels short -- not considering demands in China, India, Africa.
3. You just don't have enough even, if you drill. Maybe it's time for carpooling, public transport etc. Even the Chinese have high speed European trains .... got it ... the trains have left the station .... the US has fallen behind.
4. Where all over the world wind and solar power produce electricity for homes ... you are building two new nuclear reactors, which really is a thing in the past, since nuclear waste storage is higher in cost and does not compare.
5. Maybe it's time for a change ... less war killing and hurting a whole generation of young people who supposed to be Americas future, and maybe instead of going backwards in time, look forward to what other countries have done for their citizens to help them to and from work with public transport or public buses running solely on hydrogen (e.g. many European countries, where folks pay close to 10 USD per gallon and still don't make more than you do).
6. And think about how long it will take to recreate the infrastructure needed to get oil out of Irag.
Like one of my profs at CofC said, he is going to make us so uncomfortable, so we must use our brain to think.
Start thinking guys and gals.

Posted by rmsems on July 2, 2008 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)

... and beyond the gas, you may use your gray matter and check where they invested your 401k and all the other good stuff in.
If you don't take charge, your retirement not only goes prematurely in your SUV tank, but also down the bear.

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on July 2, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I said it yesterday and I'll say it again. We need new policies. Drilling for our own oil is NOT going to do it. As Early said I think earlier, Europe made changes to their lifestyle as a result of their high oil and gas prices. We are thinking that we can continue to live the same way, using energy the same way and it will never effect us. Oil is finite, we need to learn sooner or later how to function without it, yet Americans aren't willing to change, by evidence of the people on this board. The attitude is always "Why should we have to?" As a result we are clinging on to this insane belief that if we drill "our own oil" it will solve all our problems. I'm with the previous poster, those sorts of attitudes have caused us to fall behind the rest of the world.

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on July 2, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Newt, I don't know why you waste your time on Jane. She once essentially called me an Muslim fundamentalist Jihadist because I said her criticism of Obama was not on his policies but on her "straight from the Internet" baseless propoganda.

Now she's on ignore.

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SC - but it is oh so much fun! I love it when they start to cry!

Maybe I am mean......yeah, I think I am:)

Posted by rmsems on July 2, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SCdeacinNYC it is a delight to me to see some folks on this board, who have more than a can of bear in their hands and a six pack on the side, but some brains they put to use.

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jane is a girl? I mean, I thought he/she was a wussie, but never thought that kind of stupidity could come from a female.

Posted by Lovely_One on July 2, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SCdea,

I must have been out that day. She actually called you a Muslim fundamentalist Jihadist? Dang, I would have loved to have seen that exchange.

Newt,

Jane is a female, she has extreme views and isn't afraid to lay them out. I admire that about her.

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on July 2, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Umm I guess she's a she, the name is "Jane." But some names you can't tell...people love to call me "dude" on here, I know they can't tell that I am all woman! I also love how liberal is a dirty four-letter word on this board. Because liberals are the root of ALL Evil in america, I'm sure.

On a separate note, there is a lot of blame thrown around to one political side or the other (usually to much demonized liberals) about where we went or are going wrong with oil prices and energy relief. People will always have their opinions based on whatever political side they lean on, but some things ARE just objective and common sense. It's obvious and common sense that we need to change all our energy policies and the associated lifestyles, or we will always have this problem. Gas will steadily increase with no relief and we will not have any cheaper alterntaive because we are still busy trying to keep things status quo. No matter how much Obama/liberal/Democrat bashing you do it won't matter.

I'm a LIBERAL (yeah I said it!!) but the difference between me and tripsa and the others on the "other side" are that I am willing to accept that no one side has gotten it right and no one side has the right answers. Let's face facts...It is an American problem that will affect us all so you can feel free to call me whatever name you can come up with, while refusing to address the REAL issues at hand.

Posted by Tammie on July 2, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You know times are hard when this happens...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,3751...

Posted by Lovely_One on July 2, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tammie,

All I can say is WOW!!!!!

Posted by eatmorecollards on July 2, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The answer to our immediate energy problem is coal oil. The United States has the largest coal reserves in the world. In fact if we convert it to Gasoline at the current usage of gasoline it will last us a thousand years. Petroleum products converted from coal is what fueled the German war machine in WW2. Its not a new technology. It would put a whole lot of Americans to work. We could probably let the Mexicans work in it also. At least we would know where they are. If we used our coal reserves for this we could probably buy gasoline for a dollar a gallon again. During the next tousand years while using up the coal we could develop alternative fuel sources. Surely our technology could development a clean way to extract it. Even with a tax for development of a clean process we would be better off than paying the projected seven dollars a gallon in the next few years. Lets do this and thumb our noses at the Arabs.

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on July 2, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Lovely, hello!!

yes Jane and I have a long history. We've been back and forth with each other but this is my favorite post from her to me (with love, I'm sure):

"I realize someone like you will not be swayed. You have an agenda and I am guessing you are muslim or a card carrying member of the ACLU. Either way, the destruction of this country and our Christian roots is what you seek. My goal is to try to reach people who don't really know Obama, but are voting for him because it makes them feel good to vote for a black man for president (as someone said to me the other day). These are the people I want to reach. Once they know the truth, they will be appalled at Obama."

I believe she also once told me to go back to Sandland! (Hehe Isle of Palms beach maybe??)

I find it hard to admire people with extreme views, especially those rooted in paranoia and blatant propaganda and lies. I find it hard to have an extreme view if you have really researched an issue on both sides. My views are typically liberal, but I am conservative on several issues and some I just leave up to personal opinion or preference. I admire people with an informed opinion who lay them out with the facts attached. I'm very used to disagreeing with people on this board as you very well know, but there are those who come with a rational opinion that I can respectfully disagree with and those who are just blowhards who may as well have walked out of some crazy doomsday propaganda machine.

Posted by MissPriss on July 2, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That is sad that somebody had to trade sex for gas. Times are hard and one can only expect things to get worse.

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeah, I know I can be abrasive and it is not nice, but I gave up being a "nice" girl a long time ago. I admire the fight in Jane, but my goodness, she has so swallowed the republican pill!
She really believes what she reads on some nutty website! What is terribly frightening is she spreads lies and smears Obama, and we all know people will believe that nonsense.
I will not stop or back down…..bad things continue when good people do nothing! (or something like that)

Posted by MissPriss on July 2, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Meant to address that to Tammie and Lovely

Posted by Lovely_One on July 2, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SC,

Maybe admire was the wrong word to use, but I do enjoy reading her posts because she is always so passionate, no matter how extreme. Now that I think about it and after reading that one, they are borderline crazy. Man, I can't believe she said she is trying to "reach" those who are just voting for Obama because he is a black man. How does she know that is the reason people are voting for him? How does she know that others haven't done their research and objectively came to their decision on who they want to vote for? That assumption just burns me up and like you, I try to base my opinions on research and facts. It makes for a better argument IMHO!

Posted by Tammie on July 2, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That is sad. Crazy at the same time though.

And for my buddy Newt, she may be abrasive but she is funny as hell. Jane is cool as well (with me anyways).

Posted by Newt on July 2, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Most of the time I am just trying to get people to think outside their small worlds. The six degrees of separation are now down to one degree. We are all in this together, if we cannot put the partisan stuff aside we will never be as great as "the dream that is America"!

That was nice and sweet, right?

Kisses Tammie:)

Posted by Girleygirl on July 2, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I stopped reading her dang ole post when she said she had olive skin and look like an alien.....I was already reading them frowning and this exchange with her and Newt is funny as hell. Newt you are so comical to me and I love ya for it!
I really did think SCdeac was a man- and I don't know how I assumed that but thank you SC for clearing that one up for me. I always enjoy reading your post as well.

I sound like a sap! I enjoy reading almost everyone's post that can have an argument and back it up.

When Tripsa gets involved I like sitting back and reading the exchange because I know she's not backing down or Newt...

Posted by Lovely_One on July 2, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Newt,

Trust me, she isn't the only one with an agenda to make Obama look bad and scare people away from that vote. There are many who use his pastor, his father's and step-father's religions as arguments against him. I see them using things he wrote in his book and twisting it to make it seem as if they are bad things. I believe one of the things they use is when he was talking about his childhood and how he would have to act a certain way or turn away from his white side to be accepted by the blacks (or something like that). At any rate, like SC said, it is all propaganda and scare tactics.

People will continue to blame the government on both sides for every wrong that happens in this nation. The democrats will point at the republicans and vice verse, but I am smart enough to know that they are all equally responsible.

MissPriss,

I always said that there would come a day that people would sell their car for gas money, this chick took it one further...LOL!

Posted by UrGatorbait on July 2, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We've had how many years since the last energy crisis and we as a nation have done nothing to wean ourselves off of oil? We can look in the mirror at this problem though accountability for most Americans on the energy issue is minimal to none. $4 a gal hysteria mania a Crisis? No, no energy, that's a crisis. Like another poster said you adjust like the Europeans did and most of us are capable of. Example, my friends in the UK are paying about $10 a gal right now and they are managing.

We point fingers at the politicians, well guess who puts them in office?

America needs to drill while developing and implementing an energy plan using a multi-pronged approach to the solution not just one magic bullet to move on instead of relying on powering a motor design from over a hundred years ago.

We have a grand opportunity to take the lead in the new era of alternative energy development/usage. Where are we? Calling each other liberals and neo-cons. Good stuff.

Posted by UrGatorbait on July 2, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

BTW, OBama is an empty suit no matter how he's packaged. He's making his move to the center now after coddling the extreme wing.

McC is still wondering where he's at.

Posted by Lovely_One on July 2, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Girleygirl,

You are always bringing up stuff that I forget. That crap about the olive colored skin had me on edge for a week!!! LOL! I couldn't believe she said that. But, you know who else I like to read, suec. She and Jane are like night and day when it comes to the Illegal Immigrant (mostly Mexican) issue. They take it from one extreme to the next.

As far as who was what gender, until a couple days ago I thought Newt was a guy (sorry Newt, I was with ColdBeer on that one). I was shocked when you said that you were a woman. I said that I was really bad at figuring those out!

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on July 2, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Girleygirl yes I am a woman. I think my first instinct is to also to assume that most people on here are male, just considering some of the opinions. But I am a woman, from my curly fro to my now peach colored toenails. :)

I've always enjoyed your posts as well...I think it's no secret who my favorite are on here, even some of the people I disagree with I enjoy speaking to.

Gas is $4.35/here, which seems insane to me even though everything is quite expensive here (for example I have NO idea how people pay so much for cigarettes!!) People get some crazy things in exchange for sexual favors (here I've heard of apartment rent in a nice area as a usual one), but when gas is one of them you KNOW the economy is in trouble!

Posted by Lovely_One on July 2, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SCdea,

My curly fro exploded today because of the heat and humidity. I now have a full blow out. It's like my hair is eating my face!

Any way, at $4.35/gal I would definitely be utilizing the Mass Transit system. This is CRA-ZEE!!!

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on July 2, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes Lovely, that was my point yesterday about mass transit. Only to be told my tripsa that public transportation is a bad idea, which was the furthest away from common sense I've ever heard him/her...and that's saying A LOT.

I know all about fros exploding. When I was younger my mom was known for saying my hair "couldn't hold a curl if it's life depended on it" I used to try to get all of these little cute curly Q hairstyles and my hair would just explode into a frizzy puffy mess after all the humdiity. Now I just roll with it...I twist my hair when its wet so the curls usually stay and the fluffy and the crazier the better!!

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on July 2, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I know the internet is anonymous, but sometimes I would love to have a picture book of the people on this board!! I think it would be hilarious to see what some people look like in "real life."

Posted by Lovely_One on July 2, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"the fluffy and the crazier the better!!"

AMEN to that!

Posted by realdealsummerville on July 2, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why Prices are High: A few reasons:

1) Demand world wide is increasing by more than 20% a year.
2) Our failed foreign policy in the Middle East. Yes, it is failed.
3) Our reluctancy to drill on our borders and within them. Alaska and more than 50 miles off of the coast. By the way, China is currently drilling less than 100 miles off of the SC coast.
4) Speculators are making a fortune forcing up the price with futures.
5) Americans are not conserving like they should.
6) Monetary Policy: Tax breaks are great, but when you have a war and all of these social programs spinning out of control, and your answer is to print more money. You cannot have it both ways. Either end the tax breaks of the war. Both will greatly help this situation.
Until some of these factors are brought under control the price will continue to go up.

Posted by whome on July 2, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

realdealsummerville:

"Monetary Policy: Tax breaks are great, but when you have a war and all of these social programs spinning out of control, and your answer is to print more money. You cannot have it both ways. Either end the tax breaks of the war. Both will greatly help this situation."
-----------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal and monetary policy are two different things, and you're conflating the two. Fiscal policy (government) would be the deficits that we've had for the past 30 years, with the exception of the Clinton surplus (which was primarily a result of the Nasdaq bubble). Monetary policy (Federal Reserve) is currently inflationary, but reacting to the deflation caused by the housing bust and the credit crunch. Counter-intuitively, we're actually in a deflationary environment; trillions in home equity vanishing sure does have an effect on the economy. Any industry that depended on easy credit or leveraging will be screwed, and we're seeing the prices on anything that's not a necessity or related to energy plummet. Except college tuition and taxes, unfortunately.

The primary cause of the run-up in gasoline prices is the collapse of the dollar; that's why we're seeing the same run-up in all other commodities. Basically, the purchasing power of the dollar has plummeted, so it takes many more dollars to buy a barrel. Fixing a collapsing dollar will be painful, but in a weird way the market is doing it for us. Cut wasteful consumption, especially of imports and export more.

Posted by hillbilly on July 2, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To hell with gas prices, I'm worried about the Dow Jones.

Posted by Girleygirl on July 3, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well darn...Thank you Tripsa for letting me know you are a man.....I'm going to stop trying to guess what sex people are. :>)

Posted by Newt on July 3, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

trippin - I was a bad girl after you left yesterday, but dang it was fun!