Who'll be driving Where on What
Where is the public outcry today that was heard in the 70’s and 80’s when gasoline prices rose only 30% in a year? (Unlike the current 100% rise) Do we care? Have we become a nation of sheep that no longer challenges those in power? Or worse, have we become indifferent saying, “What’s the use, the Iraq war is all about oil and this administration is all about making money on oil”. Have we a president that is so afloat with support from the oil industry that he’s intoxicated with power? We’d better wake up and get a reality check. And please, may the neo-cons take note that this editorial is not about engaging in Republican or Democratic pseudo-politics. This writer voted for Reagan and Bush Sr. This is about mis-focused power and to put it bluntly, piss poor planning. Has this administration informed the public of a national gasoline/diesel fuel plan that would be put into effect if terrorists sabotaged several oil loading complexes in the Middle East, or for that matter a minor interruption in the major world pipelines took place?
The American automobile manufacturers are being allowed by the U.S. government to submit bogus mpg data to the EPA to help sell more U.S. automobiles, which in turn will use up even more fuel stocks here at home and drive up our foreign deficit of payments. From state to state, MSRP stickers blatantly lie about the expected gas mileage rates for U.S. made gas-guzzling automobiles. (Foreign cars have accurate MPG data)
Gasoline rationing would open the door to a weaning off process, both as individuals and as a nation. During the Oil Embargo in 1973, gasoline supplies trickled almost to a stop. Tempers rose in the gas lines as the days went into weeks. There were a few bright spots though during this period. Jersey Bell Telephone re-designed their fleet of cars used by their supervisory personnel. They replaced the gasoline engines in their Plymouth K cars with electric motors and filled the trunk of the cars with banks of batteries. Good old Yankee ingenuity saved the day. A visitor from another planet might ask at this point, “You made it to the moon and back, why didn’t you apply all your technologies and resources to perfect better batteries and electric motors and not suffer this problem again”? I’m afraid the only answer I can come up with is “greed moderated conflict of interest”. U.S. leaders are tied hook, line, and sinker to the automobile and oil industries. There’ll be no solutions until we the people are totally fed up with our leaders’ self serving interests and demand they set a course that will initiate rationing, mandate we have the world’s best oilless electro-mobiles by 2007, and develop state of the art land public transportation systems before we send astronauts to Mars or any other outpost in space.
Ron Beauchain
Stuart, FL
I found this reasonable sounding reply on a blog while surfing - there is much more if you are interested in oil prices written by lots of people with different views. The original post is written much better, I just chose parts. I myself think the oil industry learned from the diamond people - create a shortage by withholding and then raise the prices - just a gut feeling, I don't know much for sure.
The American automobile manufacturers are being allowed by the U.S. government to submit bogus mpg data to the EPA to help sell more U.S. automobiles, which in turn will use up even more fuel stocks here at home and drive up our foreign deficit of payments. From state to state, MSRP stickers blatantly lie about the expected gas mileage rates for U.S. made gas-guzzling automobiles. (Foreign cars have accurate MPG data)
Gasoline rationing would open the door to a weaning off process, both as individuals and as a nation. During the Oil Embargo in 1973, gasoline supplies trickled almost to a stop. Tempers rose in the gas lines as the days went into weeks. There were a few bright spots though during this period. Jersey Bell Telephone re-designed their fleet of cars used by their supervisory personnel. They replaced the gasoline engines in their Plymouth K cars with electric motors and filled the trunk of the cars with banks of batteries. Good old Yankee ingenuity saved the day. A visitor from another planet might ask at this point, “You made it to the moon and back, why didn’t you apply all your technologies and resources to perfect better batteries and electric motors and not suffer this problem again”? I’m afraid the only answer I can come up with is “greed moderated conflict of interest”. U.S. leaders are tied hook, line, and sinker to the automobile and oil industries. There’ll be no solutions until we the people are totally fed up with our leaders’ self serving interests and demand they set a course that will initiate rationing, mandate we have the world’s best oilless electro-mobiles by 2007, and develop state of the art land public transportation systems before we send astronauts to Mars or any other outpost in space.
Ron Beauchain
Stuart, FL
I found this reasonable sounding reply on a blog while surfing - there is much more if you are interested in oil prices written by lots of people with different views. The original post is written much better, I just chose parts. I myself think the oil industry learned from the diamond people - create a shortage by withholding and then raise the prices - just a gut feeling, I don't know much for sure.
posted by Flimsy Sanity @ 2:36 PM
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