Opinion Talk

By GTJohn

May 1, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this

I agree with Mr. Bryce entirely. Our entire country has been hijacked by the war protesting, drug crowd of the 1960s and we are paying the price for all their radical thinking and unworkable ideas.

By CPB

May 1, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this

Yes, We should start drilling off the coast of Florida, in Alaska, We also need to build more refineries. so when one has a problem gas prices do not jump higher

By Jack Stilton

May 1, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

Yeah we should have been drilling like 10 years ago! Lets see if we can’t go another 30 years without building a refinery. The politicians let the anti capitalist tree huggers shut down energy production, then the let all of the oil companies merge. The oil companies wised up and said we can produce less and make more $. It’s like working 20 hours a week and getting double the pay. Maybe more free trade will get everyone in China and India driving cars, while we are retraining for a new career!

By Shawny

May 1, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

Drill now. There is enough oil under US soil to last 100 years. Some is harder to get, but not unreasonable even at $50/bbl.

Build refineries, particularly given the various grades required today.

By Phil Hembree

May 1, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Yes oil should be drilled for anywhere it is located. Oil Company profits can withstand building more refineries and drilling more safely. The enviromental impact of drilling can be minimal with new technologies used instead of still using 1890 type drilling techniques.

By Rob

May 1, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

Yes - Increasing production will help ease gasoline prices. Drill anywhere there is oil, including ANWR. Less than 1% of the land would be affected by drilling operations there. The caribou will just have to deal with it…

Nuclear energy is the way of the future, and the sooner our politicians realize that, the better off we will all be.

A “Windfall” profit tax on the oil companies is not the answer. It may sound good to some without a brain, or to some who don’t care about facts. First, these profits are not the governments to take, they are the shareholders. Taking these profits will take money out of 90 million Americans pockets - basically anyone who owns oil company stock (wholly or as part of a mutual fund). Second, the oil companies primary responsibility is to the shareholder. Stealing profits will only make it so the company has to charge more for their product to meet their goals. It’s a BAD, BAD idea!!

By Heh...

May 1, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

LOL!! Silly people! As if drilling for domestic oil will make one bit of difference! It’s a global market folks, and that means it doesn’t matter where the oil is pulled from, it all goes into a global petroleum cache and is sold off to the highest bidder. The demand from China, India, and other emerging markets is certainly not going to get smaller which means no matter what we do, demand will always outpace production. Sorry folks, domestic drilling isn’t going to even dent the problem.

On another note, most of the rising costs in gasoline can be directly traced to the falling value of the American dollar. Paying down our debt and restoring the value of our money will do more to bring down prices than anything else.

By The Oddball

May 1, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this

Why not leave the Arctic oil where it is, as an insurance policy for the future when oil supplies from other nations run out, or are cut off, or cost $250/barrel, or are bought up by India, China and Brazil? It seems foolish to deplete those reserves now just so we can have cheap gas to go to the grocery store in our Hummers. We need to plan for the long term.

By Dave

May 1, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

No. It will do NOTHING to lower prices, and will only leave behind ruins. We need to start investing in solar, wind, and other sources for our energy needs. We have the ability to start producing those very things right now. All those that think drilling will bring down prices, are sadly mistaken. All research done has shown that it will do NOTHING to bring down oil prices. Oil prices are set world wide by OPEC.

If we use the amount of money that it would take to develop oil fields and instead developed solar and wind energy “power plants” we would eventually be producing our energy for FREE! One single massive solar field built out in the California desert would power our whole country.

Have a nice day driving your SUV’s folks… Nothing makes me chuckle more than watching you spend $80-$120 filling up your gas tanks! The oil companies once again have made record profits because of those you voted for…TWICE… they get rich, and you are the ones paying them. You now pay the price for your votes!…Good for you! You deserve any and all financial harm that comes your way!

see ya! ;-)

By Copyleft

May 1, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

Heh points out the cold, stark reality of our global economy: as more nations develop along U.S. lines, demand (and prices) for oil will only increase.

Oil isn’t going to get cheaper. The only sensible option is to kick the oil habit and get into other energy sources—preferably ones less substantially controlled by greedy and/or hostile lunatics.

Relying on “more oil” is putting our entire infrastructure on a single, unsteady support. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Anyone want to bet how much Texas George and the Oil Club support alternative energy development?

By Copyleft

May 1, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

But you have to give the Republicans credit: they CAUSED this mess with their shortsightedness, and since they certainly don’t want to face the consequences, they invent a scapegoat: “Blame the environmentalists! Your gas costs too much because of Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, darn them!”

They’d better HOPE most Americans are as stupid as they’re assuming….

By Charles

May 1, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

Not just yes - HELL YES!!!!

And while we’re at it, let’s build more refineries! We haven’t built one on over 30 years (thanks to the environ- mental - ists)! Until we can perfect alternative forms of energy we’re stuck on oil consumption. Relying on other country’s oil when we have the resources is utterly insane (well, I guess that’s why the Liberals want it that way).

By CPB

May 1, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

to all who say that drilling our own oil will not bring down prices are wrong, Do you think the Iraq, Iran, and other OPEC nations are paying 3.50 for gas. When I was in Iraq gas cost the Iraqi’s about 1 dollar a gallon. When the supply is higher than the demand prices will come down. I agree we need to look into other sources, but in the meantime oil is what is used.

By cool breeze

May 1, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

Uhhh, yeah, we should be drilling for more Oil. If China can drill in the Gulf of Mexico the U.S. Should too. Putting food in our gas tanks (ethanol) isn’t smart. Expecting oil companies to invest in alternative fuels is stoopid too. Why would oil companies or any company invest or be expected to invest in something to get people not to use their product. We have had electric car technology since the 1940’s. It’s been around so it’s time Detroit starts seriously testing/manufacturing them. It might put alot of out of work auto workers back to work to make the new cars too. Everytime I hear a politician say we can’t do something it makes me mad. We’re the freaking UNITED STATES and invented most of the technology the world has today but we can’t make an electric car or find an alternative fuel? PLEASEEEE.

By The Truth

May 1, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

Yes, we should drill in ANWR and the Gulf of Mexico. Then, we should send the environmental nut cases to Cuba. Liberals are the reason oil prices are so high.

Copyleft, So, what are the alternatives? Ethanol? Because that has just made food prices rise. Sooner or later we are going to have nuclear energy and drill for our own oil. Earth is not running out of oil and we should drill our own.Again, you blame George Bush for your problems when he has no control over oil prices.

By The Truth

May 1, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

Copyleft, Last time I checked Democrats were in charge of the House and Senate. How can Republicans be blamed? No one controls the oil prices but OPEC. Blame them and get off your rants.

Questions for you. Are you an economist and do you have a business background? The reason I ask is because you throw out liberal talking points with no merit. Please tell us all how we can get lower priced oil or better alternatives. What are the alternatives?

By catchem

May 1, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

The oil companies have hidden behind research and development costs to justify fat windfall profit figures for years - with Congress’ sanction. They should be REQUIRED to drill - everywhere, and anywhere, and forced to reinvest 75% plus of windfall profits into refinery construction - or forfeit the 75% to the consumer in the form of reduced fuel costs.

By R_U_KIDDING

May 1, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

Heh and Copyleft need to get a room, of course we need to drill every where we can! OPEC sets oil prices for OPEC nations, we are not one of them, and if we drill here we set the price here for us. Is that hard for you lefties to understand? Yes we need to get off of oil but why do you think that not drilling for it is going to make that happen faster? I want some of what you guys are smoking. The evil oil companies have made a 7% profit on sales that is a low profit margin compared with the pharmaceutical companies, why not go after them? Why are there 10 countries drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and we are not? That is just stupid! Why 85% of the country wants to drill in Alaska, including 95% of Alaskans and our congress won’t do it? Time to vote out the people who do not do their job in congress, which is to follow the will of the people!

By Firebrand

May 1, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

Absolutely drill and drill NOW. Our nation is being held hostage by foreign oil interests. It is high time “WE” took care of “WE” instead of everyone else.

By zeke

May 1, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Hell yes! If there is oil under NYC, drill for it!! Just the production estimate fro Anwar would replace all the oil we import from Saudi Arabia! But, the dems say it will take 10 years to get it in the pipeline! WELL IF THESE NUTS HAD NOT BEEN VOTING IT DOWN AND COWERING TO THE NUTS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ANARCHIST GROUPS FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, WE WOULD HAVE HAD IT 10 OR 20 YEARS AGO! In short, take all measures poossible to insure that the least possible environmental damage occurs, THEN DRILL EVERY INCH OF ARE ON LAND AND TO THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF FOR OIL! HELL< CHINA IS PARTNERING WITH CUBA TO DRILL OFF CUBA INCLUDING IN THE AREA BETWEEN FLORIDA AND CUBA! WE NEED TO TAKE ALL THIS OIL WE CAN AND NOT LET COMMIE CUBA AND CHINA GET IT BECAUSE OF THE WACKO ENVIRO GROUPS IN THE USA LIKE THE SIERRA CLUB, WORLD WILDLIFE FUND AND OTHERS!!!

By Jeff

May 1, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

I have a genius idea. How about ask the government to give up some of the taxes it is collecting from the price of gas. After all, look how much WE are giving up. It’s only fair the government give up something as well. The people shouldn’t be the only ones sacrificing. Eliminating the pork barrel projects would probably make it a wash.

By Rick

May 1, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this

Comrade Catchem, you are too correct, the profits belong to the state! How dare a company make money and not spend it on the common good of the people. Do they think we live in Amerika? Ha! The money is the property of the motherland!

By Jeff

May 1, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

I seem to remember several years back some leftists on TV saying they wish gas was as expensive as in Europe so we would be forced to consider alternative modes of transportation. Well, now gas is as expensive as in Europe and they are crying about how Bush messed up the economy with his greed and links to oil. Typical opportunism of the leftists not only here but around the world. You guys are total hypocrites. No wonder Amercicans have elected Repubs 20 out of the last 28 years.

By js

May 1, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

THEN WHAT!!!! After we drill up America to support an oil habit, THEN WHAT! Addicts don’t usually thrive. They wither and die, unless they make adjustments. Don’t we owe it to future Americans to be a good custodian of our country, America THE BEAUTIFUL? Can we come together as Americans and explore all the options? Or are we just robber barons concerned only with a quick fix. After the fix, THEN WHAT!!!!

By Dave

May 1, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

The BEST THING that could happen to this country is $10 a gallon gas! Time to move forward. This “Empire” is quickly dying and almost dead…as China is the “NEW” super power of the world. That’s OK. ALL empires die…history teaches us that.

$10 a gallon gas will show us that oil is NOT THE FUTURE…but the PAST!!! Time to go forward. All those still in favor of oil are stuck in the past……..

Good for you…good for your votes for Dubya…you deserve all the hardships you face…as will your children and grandchildren…

Your votes=a sad sorry mistake. Gays are STILL GAY! ABORTION is STILL LEGAL!!! Praise Allah for your sins… as all that have “faith” brough this country to it’s very knees. Read, learn, stpo reading fairy tail books written back when they thought the moon was made of cheese! Oil is DEAD! So is Jesus! When he died…he became DIRT>..just like all of us will!

THIS life counts, as there is NO NEXT life. IF more thought that way…we’d ALL be better off!

By The Truth

May 1, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

Dave, How much LSD did you take this morning?

By Fred

May 1, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

Drill away!!!!

By R_U_KIDDING

May 1, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

PART 1:

Remember the election in 2006? Thought you might like to read the following……

A little over one year ago: 1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high; 2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon; 3) The unemployment rate was 4.5%.

Since voting in a Democratically controlled Congress in 2006 we have seen: 1) Consumer confidence plummet; 2) The cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3.50 a gallon; 3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase); 4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses); 5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars; 6) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.

America voted for “change” in 2006, and we got it!

Remember, it’s Congress that makes the law…not the President. He has to work with what’s handed him.

Quote of the Day: “My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you’ll join with me as we try to change it.” — Barack Obama

PART 2:

Taxes. Whether Democrat or a Republican you will find these statistics enlightening and amazing. www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html

Taxes under Clinton 1999 Taxes under Bush 2008 Single making 30K - tax $8,400 Single making 30K - tax $4,500 Single making 50K - tax $14,000 Single making 50K - tax $12,500 Single making 75K - tax $23,250 Single making 75K - tax $18,750 Married making 60K - tax $16,800 Married making 60K- tax $9,000 Married making 75K - tax $21,000 Married making 75K - tax $18,750 Married making 125K - tax $38,750 Married making 125K - tax $31,250

Both democrat candidates will return to the higher tax rates.

It is amazing how many people who fall into the categories above think Bush is harming them and Bill Clinton was the greatest President ever. If Obama or Hillary are elected, they both say they will repeal the Bush tax cuts and a good portion of the people who fall into the categories above can’t wait for it to happen. This is like the movie The Sting with Paul Newman; you scam somebody out of some money and they don’t even know what happened.

PART 3:

You think the war in Iraq is costing us too much? Read this………

Boy am I confused. I have been hammered with propaganda that it’s the “Iraq War” and the “War on Terror” that is bankrupting us. I now find that to be RIDICULOUS. I hope the following 14 reasons are forwarded over and over again until they are read so many times that the reader gets sick of reading them. I have included the URLs for verification of all the following facts:

The total cost of illegal immigrants is a whopping $338.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR!!

By Soothsayer

May 1, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this

Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz we “have had the power all the time.”

The energy contained in 40 min of sunlight striking the Earth is equal to ALL of the energy used on this PLANET for an ENTIRE YEAR.

An area 92 miles on either side devoted to concentrated solar power (CSP) can supply ALL of the power the US currently consumes. CSP which heats either molten salt or oil to 572 deg F can generate power 24 hours a day because of heat storage. best of all they consume nothing and emit nothing—no greenhouse gases.

Massive projects are already under way by the EUMENA (Europe, Middle East, North Africa) consortium to build CSP projects in the Sahara. These projects will be used for power gen, absorption cooling (AC), and desalinating seawater. The last one will prevent millions of people from having to relocate due to underground water drying up.

Approximately 70% of US oil consumption is used for transportation. Most people drive less than 40 mi per day. Don’t dismay about oil prices. The future is coming—and it is SOLAR!

By ANDREA

May 1, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

addressed to Dave.

You like to chuckle at the SUV drivers? I drive one, and I don’t spend that much to fill it up. If you had a brain in your skull you would realize that you must keep your car maintained and use a sensible driving speed to conserve gas. You are a jerk!

By The Truth

May 1, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

RUKIDDING, It’s nice to see someone with a brain on these blogs. The whole “bush lied, we all died” line has gotten old. Democrats are socialist and when people finally realize that the better we will all be.

By Copyleft

May 1, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

It took three decades to realize we should’ve listened to Jimmy Carter back when he first identified our energy crisis.

But guess who was blocking efforts to fund alternative energy R&D? Who made sure to rip out the solar panels when they took over the White House? Who has fought, tooth and nail, EVERY proposed fuel-efficiency increase in Congress? The Republicans and their oil-and-auto lobbyists, of course!

No, George Bush isn’t personally to blame for our current oil addiction and its ever-increasing cost. But he and his GOP buddies sure are the reason we haven’t done anything about it for thirty years.

Keep drivin’ those SUVs, Republicans! It’s your RIGHT as an Amurrikin! (snicker)

By The Truth

May 1, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

Bush lied, Bush lied, Bush lied.

La, La, La, La.

I can’t hear you.

By Copyleft

May 1, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

And, for the purposes of identification, TheLies: It’s easy to spot people with brains on this blog.

They’re the ones who’ve been pointing out how wrong you are. (snicker) Pathetic.

By The Truth

May 1, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

Copyleft, I don’t drive an SUV and I’m not a registered Republican. I think Bush has done a lot of stupid things but to blame him for every problem is lame. What alternative energy should we use? Ethanol has driven up the price of food. How about nuclear energy?

As for whoever took my name, very funny. I’m going to assume it’s dave because dave is about the craziest person on this blog.

By dave'sstoned

May 1, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Dave, what are you smoking? Did you bring enough for the rest of the class? A solar field in the middle of the desert? You throw that out there completely diregarding the property rights of the owners, and if you are planning to use federal land good luck. That project will get shut down because of some rare sand flea.

For the record, over ten years ago the republicans in congress passed a bill to drill in ANWR. It was vetoed by our buddy, Bill Clinton. Had it passed, it would be producing today.

I do laugh every time I fill up my SUV too. I laugh because thankfully, I can afford to. I have worked very hard to get where I am and nothing upsets me more than a belly-acher who just does not have the gumption to go out and do it for themselves. They sure do know how to tell the rest of the world to live their life though. Stop your whining!

By Dave

May 1, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

Andrea… go trade in your SUV one day… or try to sell it. My good friend that owns a dealership in Roswell is telling me he basically gives “nothing” for SUV’s these days. He offered $7,000 on a 2007 fully loaded Yukon yesterday that had only 12,000 miles on it. That the he does not even WANT them on his lot. The person paid over $35,000 for it…

So enjoy your crappy gas mileage. Enjoy wasting gas in general. Enjoy BUSH for a few more months (as I could bet my life on it that you voted for him…and for Sonny)…

Oil is yesterday…Oil as king is dead. It has created much wealth in the country. All empires had an econoic strength. Ours has been based off of cheap oil. Drill will NOT bring down the price of oil…

but who cares…Abortions are STILL LEGAL! and….even though you won’t let them marry…GAYS ARE STILL GAY!!! Letting them say “I do” will not make your husband divorce you and marry his best friend. Nor will it make your son gay…unless that is…they ARE gay to begin with!

Oil is dead… time to move forward…

Better start learning Chinese…as THEY are ALREADY this worlds super-power… we are “owned by them” at this point. We owe them more than we are worth… Just like Dubya used his daddy’s credit card in college and thought it was “free money”…he has done the very same thing with our tax dollars….but while he did that…he made sure that his buddies in the oil industry could make record profits…. but in all…and for real..it was not him…it was his Neo-Con friends that made him a “muppet” and in 7 1/2 years achieved what they wanted to do…give our tax dollars to their friends….

First in the “Industrial Military Complex” set up in this nation by starting an illegal war…and then…by our tax dollars giving tax breaks to the companies that now boast of the biggest profits in US history.

Funny thing is… none of you read…

You listen to “talking heads” on the radio and TV and take their words aas truth.

The longest and LARGEST economic expanison in US history happen under Clinton’s watch…

Here are the facts (again I state FACTS, because these numbers are the truth):

“November 3, 2000 The Clinton-Gore Economic Record: The Longest Expansion In History And Over 22.4 Million New Jobs” READ (know how to)?

http://clinton4.nara.gov/textonly/WH/new/html/FriNov31348172000.html

By js

May 1, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

As long as Americans keep playing the blame game and keep thinking microscopically, then nothing will change. We have to pull together to incite change, republican, democrat, all of us, because WE are the resources of the future. Anyone can point a finger and blame. It takes courage to unite and go for the higher ground. As far as quoting statistics and blaming our leaders, both democrats and republicans can pull out statistics to prove their point. How does hate and blame and sarcasm help us solve the problem of preserving the country our forefathers and soliders have fought for. Doesn’t some blame belong with each of us who wastes resources when we could conserve and preserve? I believe in America, not angry factions and extremists, but each American citizen who is doing his part to make America a great place to live. That’s my country!!!!

By Logical Dude

May 1, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

Even if Congress opened up those areas, what incentive is there for the oil companies to drill?? They are ALREADY getting record profits from the current state of affairs, so they seem to have no need for the high cost and liability of drilling in remote areas.
Sure, drilling for those reserves would give us a little bit of a kick in production, but in the long run, moving the US away from dependence on oil is the way to go.

Have those empty refineries off the coast changed into electric generators. There is a vast amount of energy able to be harnessed in the regular flow of water around our shores.

By Tom Sr

May 1, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Of course we should begin to drill ASAP. If the Democrats continue to block reasonable energy policy we will see energy cost continue to clime.

Just look what has happened since 2006 when they gained controll of the congress.

By Swami Dave

May 1, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Increasing production (via drilling and expansion of refinery space) is a needed long-term solution to our current challenges. To address our current short-term price fluctuations, there should be an immediate cessation to the insane “blended fuels” requirements that have been placed upon refineries by short-sighted government regulation.

Currently, there are over 50 required fuel “blends” that refineries must produce. In most all of those cases, production must be stopped and retooled with each change.

Actions such as this eliminate the benefits of scale econonies in production and further exacerbate the gasoline supplies by creating multiple regulation-created “shortages” that add instability to the market prices.

Immediate revocation of the asinine requirements would provide much-needed relief to consumers; something that a silly “gas tax holiday” will not do!

-Swami Dave http://www.swamidavesays.com

By Rjones

May 1, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

American oil will not go just to Americans. An oil company will drill, refine ,and distribute the oil just like oil from anywhere else. You will pay the SAME amount regardless of point of origin. OPEC controls the oil, not the government.

By Mimi

May 1, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

Mr. Samuelson has been drinking the Kool-Aid. Drilling and building roads, fences, and other construction in the permafrost would not increase the supply of oil for many years. It would however, permanently and irrevocably affect the environment and animal habitat and not just minimally.

By JoseyWells

May 1, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

By Heh… “May 1, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this LOL!! Silly people! As if drilling for domestic oil will make one bit of difference”…I disagree!!! The Arabs can not turn off the spiget when they want to. And fixing the problem means passing laws we sell the oil to U.S. companies first. If there is any left over then it can go to whom ever. Putting Americans first is hard for some of you to grasp. AND DAVE!! CLINTON & GORE HAD A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS THAT GOT THE JOB DONE! IS THAT A FACT TOO? Most people have it right and you are too left to know. I am not a baby killer but the generation that stopped oil drilling, managing forrests, and building refineries called me that. This is their legacy. Dave How about your liberal congress now and what have they done to solve any problems.
Is a fact too? You should look forward to China leading the world they are communist just like you.

By Shea

May 1, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

I certainly agree with Oddball. I am all for cutting our dependant ties on hostile countries and all for energy independance. But, seeing that almost every product we use in our daily lives contains oil, like plastics for example, we have a long term need for oil beside auto fuel. So, lets deal with the short term dependance and higher prices - take one for the team - and then we will have auto fuel that is not dependant on oil as tecnology catches up and we will have an oil supply for perhaps centuries to come for other products. Lets use their oil first.

By GaLiberal

May 1, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Charles@9:38 AM stupidly said: Not just yes - HELL YES!!!!

And while we’re at it, let’s build more refineries! We haven’t built one on over 30 years (thanks to the environ- mental - ists)! Until we can perfect alternative forms of energy we’re stuck on oil consumption. Relying on other country’s oil when we have the resources is utterly insane (well, I guess that’s why the Liberals want it that way).

Charles (and the rest of his kind) is a magna cum laud graduate of the Rethuglicon School of Kneejerks. The problem with oil prices is not low production or high demand; it’s the falling dollar. Everytime the Fed cuts interest rates, the dollar sinks lower causing oil prices to increase. If you really want to stop increasing oil prices, you will have to pay higher taxes and put a stop to this unnecessary and reckless war in Iraq.

Drilling more holes in the ground will not solve the problem either. Even if ANWAR or FL was opened for drilling this minute, it would take at least two years to bring in the first well and would cost billions. The reason no refineries have been built is because the oil companies have adequate capacity for the current demand. The large capital costs and long lead time make it cheaper and quicker to expand/upgrade existing plants. You can blame the “environ- mental - ists” all you want, but we are the ones making sure the oil companies don’t dump benzene or other hazardous crap in your drinking water. Apparently, would you prefer that children get cancer and neurological problems so you can save a few pennies filling up your gas-guzzling SUV. Typical Rethuglicon elitist entitlement.

When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own interests. And Charles is living proof.

By Storm

May 1, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

What a stupid question.

My answer is NO, I just love paying $3.60/gal, with no cap in sight. I love that it now takes $60 to fill my vehicle up, not $40. I love being dependant on foreign oil. I love that prices are going up everywhere, except my paycheck…..

What a stupid question. OF COURSE WE SHOULD DRILL - IN OUR OWN COUNTRY…..

By JoseyWells

May 1, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

MIMI:go to aconservative college and learn something truthful..Where are they destroying the habit now? Why are you not doing something about it? I do not remember reading about any destroyed habit from the liberal media. Now would they not be the first to print such a disaster? I have heard oil tankers causing problems but that is because we can not drill and transport over land like in Anwar. However I do like what Soothsayer suggests. Solar factories in the U.S. deserts could make lots of energy.

By Shea

May 1, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

Ok dem lovers, esp Hill lovers. She keeps mouthing about “windfall profit taxes” on the oil companies. Let me give U a little business economics lesson. Companies will only produce the optimal amount of goods that maximizes profit. Guess what, that is exactly what businesses are supposed to do. If the additional output requires more taxes and less profit per additional unit, then the oil companies will have less incentive to continue exploration, production, and refining. Which will do what? DECREASE SUPPLY. When supply decreases, then the price will go up and and any “windfall profit tax” will be found lacking in ablility to lower gas prices.

By Richard

May 1, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

It is expected that the price impact of ANWR coastal plain production might reduce world oilprices by as much as 30 to 50 cents per barrel [in 2025]. There are 42 gallons in a barrel. Do the math. Do we really want to risk spoiling our last frontier so that we can save about 1 cent a gallon? Here’s a better idea…start seriously investing in alternatives to oil.

By Richard

May 1, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

It is expected that the price impact of ANWR coastal plain production might reduce world oilprices by as much as 30 to 50 cents per barrel [in 2025]. There are 42 gallons in a barrel. Do the math. Do we really want to risk spoiling our last frontier so that we can save about 1 cent a gallon? Here’s a better idea…start seriously investing in alternatives to oil.

By prince of peace

May 1, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

We are a nation consumed by oil..yet we only have 3% of strategic reserves while we as a nation consume 25% of oil in the world!

I’m glad all of you SUV drivers are smug and satisfied with your positions in life…However, when there is no more oil what ya going to do?

Do not think this is just another price spike. It suggests a new geopolitical era when energy increasingly serves as a political weapon.

Already we see this in Hugo Ch¿vez’s discounting of Venezuelan oil to favored allies.

I was in Ecuador last year…and, there gas cost less then a $1.00 a gallon.

As was stated on an earlier post…It doesn’t matter how much we drill. The big oil companies (enjoying record profits) will sell it to the highest bidder. Be it China or whoever (mostly countries)that do not have our best interests at heart.

Take it to the bank…Fiddle away while we become the next Roman Empire

By Thor

May 1, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

It’s time for an energy policy out of these three looser Presidential candidates. If the Germans ran their entire Luftwaffe off synthetic fuels in 1939, America can certainly generate a new Manhattan Project for alternative fuels. It’s worth going into debt for that.

• Invent alternative fuels
• Pull out of the Middle East as we will no longer have an interest
• Let the Arabs revert back to Bedouins

By BOBO

May 1, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

DRILL NOW SO WE CAN USE OUR OWN OIL OUR OWN GAS.WE WONT NEED TO USE OTHERS AS MUCH.LESS DEPENDANT ON MIDDLE EAST. TIME IS SHORT.WE ARE ALREADY YEARS BEHIND.THE WAY THINGS ARE NOW LIFE DOESNT SEEM TO BE GETTING ANY BETTER IN THE GRAND OL USA. WE SHOULD HAVE MORE POWER THAN THIS.IS THE USA REALLY THIS WEAK.CAN WE REALLY NOT STOP IRAN.IF WE DONT.WERE DOOMED. CAUSE IRAN WILL DO SOMETHING VERY DUMB.THEN IT WILL BE LATE FOR THEM ALSO,CAUSE WE WILL DESTROY THEM. THEY SHOULD REMEMBER THAT. I DO HEAR THE WAR DRUMS POUNDING TWARDS IRAN.IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY NASTY JOB,BUT WE MUST STOP THEM AT ALL MEANS.EVEN WITH MILITARY BOMB THE CRAP OUT OF THEM.UNTIL THEY SAY OK WE UNDERSTAND NOW. O WELL HAVE A GREAT DAY. JUST MY STRANGE OPINION.

By Heh...

May 1, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

GaLiberal @ 12:52 “The problem with oil prices is not low production or high demand; it’s the falling dollar.”

I tried to explain that to them hours ago, but you know how Republicans are…don’t hear what they don’t want to hear.

Let me try again…since February of 2002 the dollar has declined 76% against the Euro. The price of oil has risen considerably less when considered in euros instead of dollars. The increased cost per barrel in U.S. dollars (from ‘02 price of $18.88 to the more recent $105 ppb) is a whopping 456% price increase in five years. However, when calculated in Euros, the price of oil rose by only 220% during the same period.

So…until we get our fiscal house in order, we can drill, drill, drill til the cows come home and not affect our costs at all. Understand?

By Thor

May 1, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

Hey Bobo,

We’re already stretched thin in a two front war, Iran has 70 million people - its a huge nation and you want to bomb them.

Be careful of what you wish for…. I think you need to rethink the reality of our strategic situation.

By Dave

May 1, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

This is kind of like living among IDIOTS in an area that has a limited water supply and is in the midst of a drought…there are STILL those very same idiots that want to water their sod lawns and feel the have the “right” to plant more crap that is not native to the area. But for the most part…it’s those born and raised in these parts that don’t know, or care that those plants are not native… they feel they should and “need” to water them…

When the faucet this fall blows nothing but “air” instead of flowing water from it…it will be just as you deserve… resourses are limited…they have “limits”… watering grass when there are needs to protect and save water for drinking, bathing, etc. mean nothing to them… there’s always someone else to blame. These same “idiots” that think drilling is the answer to our supply of oil, are the same that think that Tenn. owes us water. Even if we had…or gained access to…the Tenn. River…that does not mean we should waste it.

Because you waste water/gas/oil…does not mean we do more harm to obtain more…we “CONSERVE” and look for a better way…

See ya at the gas pumps… me..i’m the “idiot” liberal (these days a badge to be worn proudly with one’s head up high)…driving the car… not the SUV or the big truck only owned to carry pinestraw and chemicals to foul up my lawn with…that ends up in the drinking water…which in the end…you DRINK!!! But I await the crys for “help” from you idiots when your babies are born sick… and when wwe run out of water… for you deserve it. You do. It is YOU that elected those that have the control over our resourses…and it will be YOU that whines when things go wrong…

Hell..good thing they want people to “pack and carry” guns here…because when your faucets go dry….this will truly be the wild west…

ME…I’ve already left your sad state… I’ll just watch you morons on the news…

trust me…we don’t laugh WITH you…we (the rest of the country)..well…we laugh AT YOU! ;-)

By Copyleft

May 1, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

You know, even if we got ALL the projected oil that’s supposedly readily available (hah!) in ANWAR…

…the supply wouldn’t even come CLOSE to what we would have saved if we’d passed even ONE of those increased-mileage requirements on the auto industry.

But then, reduced consumption and conservation are unthinkable for the GOP, aren’t they? Because then, “the terrorists will have won!” (snicker)

America’s sick of your crying wolf, folks; the GOP’s doomed for quite a long time to come. And that means there’s hope for America again.

By BOBO

May 1, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

SET A TIME MOVE OUR TROOPS NOT SAYING SEND OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN IRAN. JUST KEEP BOMBING AND BOMBING AND BOMBING.THEY WILL BEND. IM NOT SAYING IT WONT BE EASY OR LIFE WONT BE LOST,BUT IF WE DONT STOP THEM.NO ONE WILL.THEY WILL HAVE A BOMB OR 3 (AND WILL USE THEM). I DONT LIKE THIS AT ALL.I DONT WISH FOR WAR,BUT THEY WONT STOP.(WONT) THEY MUST.OR PAY.WE WILL 2 IT WONT BE FUN OR EASY.IT MAKES ME SICK TO THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IT,BUT NOTHINGS HAPPENING.THEY ARENT LISTENING.LIFE IST GR8T NOW IN THE USA. IF IRAN GETS THE BOMB.LIFE WILL BE WORSE.IT WILL BE BETTER TO TAKE OUT A NON NUCLEAR IRAN,AND PAY THE CONCIQUINCES NOW THAN TO WAIT AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY KILL FIRST. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. AGAIN I DONT LIKE OR WISH FOR IT. DO YOU REALLY THINK THAY ARE GONNA JUST CHANGE AND SAY OK WE GIVE? NO ISNT GONNA HAPPEN.THEY KNOW ONE WAY.(FORCE). REALLY THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED A WAR WITH THE USA. KILLING OUR GUYS IN IRAQ ALL THE TIME.ACTING INNOCENT. NOT. SO ILL SHUT UP NOW. I JUST DONT SEE ANOTHER WAY.THEY WONT BEND TO US.EVER!

By atlantadude

May 1, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

No way. There are better solutions to this problem.

Drilling for more oil is like saying the best way to kick your crack problem is by buying a larger stash from your dealers.

Better to kick the habit.

By Thor

May 1, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

Teddy Roosevelt would want to beat the tar out of today’s GOP. Tax cuts, spend everything, screw the environmnet, screw future generations, big business is wonderful….

I use to be a Republican, until they left me.

Conserve energy. Use alternative fuels. Protect the environment. TR would certainly agree.

By CopyRight

May 1, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

Hey CopyLeft, New Flash your liberal friends are in charge, and what a good job they have done since 2006, oil prices are up and the economy is down, thank you dumbacrats.

By Jay

May 1, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

Are we all so short-sighted that we think that our fossil-fuel based economy will last another 100 years? Folks, this is what we are talking about. It will be at least 10-20 years before any of the extra refineries and drilling of oil will make it into the marketplace. That means, we have to deal with these issues for at least 10 years.

Why are people so stuck on running off of a carbon-based economy? This is our times as Americans to grasp innovation and science to develop new ways of generating energy. In this time of economic crisis, we can reinvent ourselves and get ourselves on a higher plane to compete even better with the rest of the world. Stop being so addicted and start believing in the true potential of this country. We need long term solutions, not short solutions that will not take effect for another decade.

By Crafty

May 1, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

Thor, Yeah, I’m sure TR would love gay marriage and abortion. He was all about that, right? You don’t what he would do because he’s dead. So keep your idiotic statements for posts on the dailykos you moon bat.

By Thor

May 1, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

Hey Crafty,

If Abortion and the Gays are your hot button issues, dude… Don’t ya think there are some more important issues and problems effecting us?

By DK

May 1, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this

Hey Dave,

With your lack of intellect you shouldn’t be laughing at anyone unless you’re looking in a mirror. It’s bad enough that you’re trying to browbeat others by using flawed logic; you do so from an imagined position of superiority.

First, while I have no problem with conservation, we can’t “conserve” our way out of this. You also show the typical hypocrisy shown by environmentalist alarmist when you chastise others for the problem like you share none of the responsibility for the current situation. To evidence this, I point to your bragging that you drive a car instead of a truck or SUV (as if the drivers of trucks and SUV’s are the cause of rising gas prices). I submit that you’re just as much a part of the problem as the rest of us (BTW, I drive a Prius and I’m also a part of the problem). If you really believed the doom-and-gloom nonsense that you spout, you’d drive a bicycle (dirty, of course) or walk everywhere, have no electricity hooked to your home, and you’d eat no corporately raised food (good luck with that). Lastly to you Dave, all I can say about your not living in Georgia anymore - thank God and Greyhound you’re gone (although I’ll bet you drove that oil burning car instead of using public transportation, like Greyhound).

Hey and Copyleft

As America isn’t a part of OPEC, domestic oil would not have to go into OPEC’s pool, or the world market for that matter. ANWAR and off-shore drilling can be regulated and controlled. Oil taken from public lands (like ANWAR) could be restricted for domestic sale only. If your theory about domestically drilled oil not lowering the price of domestic gas was true, why is gas sold for pennies a gallon in countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela?

We have a real problem here and spouting ideology (anybody’s ideology) isn’t going to solve this problem. It’s true that the solution requires us to conserve and change certain living habits, we also need to offer incentives to energy companies to find non-petroleum based energy sources and stop subsidizing them as their recent profit margins prove that they don’t need subsidies. However, we also need to increase domestic production of both the raw product and the refinement of the raw product. I too want a clean environment but there is a difference between sensible environment policies and environmental lunacy. Environmental lunacy is what has stopped more domestic drilling and refinement; environmental lunacy that we can no longer afford.

By Skeptic Tank

May 1, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

How about getting our hands on some of that good Mexican crude oil? Seems to me they owe the American taxpayer a few pesos anyway.

By CB

May 1, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

This is NOT a left or right issue and the answer won’t come from either side. As we yell at each other as Demicans and Republocrats, we still use too much oil, ignore obvious resources we do have and don’t make it easy to conserve. We have to stop arguing about need the oil in ANWR and off the coasts (more oil from anywhere will lower world prices), we need wind power wherever that’s feasible (“oh, but it’s unsightly and birds might die!”) and nuclear makes me nervous, but objectively, it’s safe and relatively clean. We need to make it cheaper and easier to conserve than waste it, tax incentives for giant trucks and cars need to end now… tax them heavily and apply the subsidies to small cars, two-wheeled transportation and alternative fuel vehicles. For the forseeable future, a NASA-style effort needs to be put towards making hydrogen and other fuels viable. But ethanol is a waste as it is, consuming as much fuel to produce as it conserves. End that subsidy now. Public transportation always sounds nice, but not if it’s expensive, feels unsafe and doesn’t go where you want it to. And there’s no reason on earth that it should take 30 years to build a MARTA extension. Find a better way to run things.

We need to quit pointing fingers and arguing about motives and compromise to reach rational, workable solutions to our energy use.

By J Moore

May 1, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

Is this some kind of a trick question?

By DK

May 1, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

Jay,

The problem with your 10 - 20 year argument is that 10 - 20 years will pass. If we do not start now, we’ll be in the same boat 10 - 20 years from now. One could also use that logic to oppose finding alternative energy as it will take that long, or longer, to develop alternative energy as well. As I said in my earlier post, we need to put ideology aside. We need to do everything we can to solve this problem and we need to start doing it now!

Copyleft - What evidence do you have to support your position that passing any of the previously failed attempts to raise CAFE standards would have saved more oil than is contained in ANWAR. Why not raise the CAFE standards to require cars to get 500 miles a gallon? I’ll tell you why we don’t do that, and should be careful about raising them period. The American car industry (and the hundreds of thousands of American jobs that depend on the industry) are in enough peril now. If rising gas prices are unique to America because of the falling dollar, more fuel efficient cars would not necessarily be appealing outside of the US. Making American cars more expensive overseas while not making them more appealing would probably be the last nail in the industry’s coffin.

By Skeptic Tank

May 1, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this

Drilling for new oil in the US will not have one iota of an effect on gas prices here, despite claims to the contrary by our backpeddling, finger-pointing, blame-the-environmentalist ‘friends’ in the Republican right.

The reason gas prices are abysmally low in Saudi Arabia, Iran or Venezuela is because gas prices are HEAVILY GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED, folks.

Fact-checking the right-wing propaganda machine is a full-time job, no doubt about it.

By Crafty

May 1, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

Thor, Yep, there are more pressing issues but there isn’t a thing democrats are going to do about it. They have the power and yet they do NOTHING.

By Skeptic Tank

May 1, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

Crafty:

So you’re willing to excuse 12 years of Republican-controlled Congress and their inaction, but feel comfortable blaming a 51% Democratic Congress that’s been seated for a little over a year?

Hmmmm. Methinks a double-standard applies here. Typical.

By DK

May 1, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

Skeptic Tank,

I’m the one who pointed to the price of gas in oil producing countries and I am a Democrat that voted for Hillary Clinton. If anyone doubts this, I’ll be happy to show you the picture of my wife and I posing with Bill and Hill at her fundraising concert in NY a few weeks ago.

Gas is also subsidized in the US and many other industrialized countries. As both markets are subsidized, why do they pay less? You’re just another Kool-aid drinking ideolog that is more interested in winning a senseless argument that being an open-minded problem solver. Maybe you’re too busy trying to argue ideology to think the problem through.

By Skeptic Tank

May 1, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this

DK:

Touchy, aren’t you? I’m hardly an ideologue. But for you to point to SA, Venezuela and Kuwait’s relatively diminutive gasoline prices: “If your theory about domestically drilled oil not lowering the price of domestic gas was true, why is gas sold for pennies a gallon in countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela?” - then you’re being intellectually dishonest by not reporting MASSIVE gas subsidies in those countries. It’s not apples to apples, DK. That’s my point, and you know it, too.

By roger

May 1, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

The only sustainable and cost effective solution is Nuclear power. Drilling and refineries will take at least 10 years and at some point will run out. Only republicans would be so short sighted to scream “open the ANWR”, etc. Open your eyes.

By roger

May 1, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

The only sustainable and cost effective solution is Nuclear power. Drilling and refineries will take at least 10 years and at some point will run out. Only republicans would be so short sighted to scream “open the ANWR”, etc. Open your eyes.

By roger

May 1, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

The only sustainable and cost effective solution is Nuclear power. Drilling and refineries will take at least 10 years and at some point will run out. Only republicans would be so short sighted to scream “open the ANWR”, etc. Open your eyes instead.

By DK

May 1, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Skeptic Tank

Call it touchy if you want but I’m not going to let trivialize my point by misrepresenting my politics, just as I’m not going to let you mischaracterize my motives as being deceptive. Why do you think these countries can afford to give these “massive” subsidies on oil based products? Do these same countries also give massive gold subsidies?

You’re not an ideolog, huh? More like you’re not honest ideolog. You were willing to call me a right-winger (me, the person who has consistently said that ideology from either side will not solve this or any other problem). Lastly, you said “Fact-checking the right-wing propaganda machine is a full-time job, no doubt about it.” This statement shows exactly which side you stand on; the side of mindless ideology.

By Skeptic Tank

May 1, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

DK: Check my original post. I never mentioned you OR your message. It’s not the first time such malarky has been spewed on this blog, and it deservedly needed to be shot down. But let’s face it, DK: you’re not only touchy, you’re arrogant and stand-offish. Sorry, but you write on a right-wing blog and spout right-wing altruisms, I’m going to assume you’re a propagandist for the Republican party.

By sean

May 1, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this

what are we waiting for. Yes we should have more conservative vehicles but this is going to cause more and more problems. Corn into fuel! Can there be any more “domino affect” problems with less and less money for the working family!

By comp133xi7y

May 1, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this

Most economists agree that the increase in the price of crude oil has been caused by speculative investment. The spiraling decline of the dollar has caused investors to divert their investments from dollar-based equity and debt instruments to commodities. Oil is foremost among these.

These same economists will point out that supply has neither declined significantly NOR has demaned increased significantly enough, even with the heavier usage of emerging industrial economies like China and India, to come close to accounting for the dramatic rise in prices per barrel of crude.

As for ANWAR and other domestic drilling initiatives, it’s been rightly pointed out that the best estimates indicate that it would be at least 10 years from the day of ground breaking before any measurable production could be achieved.

Instead of throwing good money after bad, we should be focusing on the development of alternate energy and fuel sources. We should be investing in second-generation biofuels, like those that can be rendered from switchgrass, which not only is at least twice as efficient in terms of energy gained as corn and other food-based biofuels, but grows quite readily on land that is arid or rocky, and is unsuitable for the cultivation of food crops.

This isn’t about “liberal vs conservative” or “republican vs democrat”. It’s about recognizing the complex issues involved in the economy and the petroleum industry and coming up with solutions to those issues that don’t simply involve more of the same.

By neta_beta

May 1, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this

No we should start walking and biking to our work or schools. Find a job closer to home. GET RID OF OIL SO THE BIG OIL COMPANIES LOOSE MONEY SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.

By Derek

May 1, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this

. This is really simple …

Q. Should U.S. drill for more oil?

A. Yes … .

By Joe

May 1, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this

We can drill for all the oil in the world have 100’s of drill rig’s/platforms off the coast of Fla, poplar bears could sleep on all of the new oil wells on the North slope, and Opec could double production,and they could even start production in South Ga.”yes belive it or not there is oil right here at home” But the bottom line period is, if you don’t have a place to refine the “crude oil”, then it just sit’s off shore until it can be processed!They could even raise the CAFE limits, even run mass transit out in the Atlantic ocean, with what point? Don’t drink the cool-aide “lol” this is a lot bigger problem than GW or Billary, it should have been a wake up call in this country, back when Jimmy was still in office when we had trouble then!

By comp133xi7y

May 1, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this

Those of you suggesting that more refineries will solve the gas price problem really should do more research.

The up-front costs and lead time involved in building a new refinery are so large that the petroleum companies are not willing to invest in them given today’s uncertain market.

The capital investment required to build a new refinery is tremendous, and it takes years to get said refinery up and running. Even with the large profits that the Petrol companies are returning, they are not willing to invest in new refineries that may or may not be profitable by the time they come online.

Please - stop listening to talk radio hosts who know nothing about economics.

By DD

May 1, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this

How can you sheep still be able to believe Bush when he says we need to drill ANWR. He lost all credibility when he said he wanted to invade Iraq over WMDs and should have been impeached.

Both of the lies will be paid for by generations to come not the greedy generation that caused it.

By joe

May 2, 2008 12:53 AM | Link to this

To comp133xi7y, I have done most of my homework, and yes building more capacity is part of the solution. However this is like a 30-40 billion question mark!I bet you didn’t know that the new Alaskan pipeline is budgeted around 25-30 billion, just to run a new pipeline down through Western Canada into washington state! By the way they are building a new refinary in Yukon area of Canada, as part of the devop of the oil sands project! This current problem really started back in the late 70’s, and Dem’s & Repub’s have done nothing while “Rome” has burned.

By Lar

May 2, 2008 5:58 AM | Link to this

Yes, Drill and drill now! Drill everywhere you can. We should regulate our own oil. But for every well, there whould be a wind farm and a solar farm of equal energy dividends. Encat legislation for every household to have solar assisted water heating by 2012. Provide $$ for this to happen. Isreal has had that for years now. Between Wind, Solar,Dams and recycled bio-diesle, we can really make a difference. You might just have to put up a rare Nuclear plant, but that won’t be for long. Green up America.

By Dave

May 2, 2008 7:00 AM | Link to this

I think the federal government should drill ANWR put in a pipeline and cap it and make it a second strategic petroleum reserve owned by the government. All of us think it is highly likely a nuclear weapon will be detonated by some nut in the middle east probably with the next 15 years. This will keep our economy from being wrecked by terrorists. We need to reduce our oil consumption 10% with ten years and find a way to eliminate buying the 23% of our oil from the middle east ASAP. We are wasting trillions of dollars worrying about the middle east nuts it is time to do without them from now on. They care little about us that is why we are paying over $100 for oil now.

By Hans Apology

May 2, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this

We need 100mpg cars. It’s possible. So what if oil is 120 a barrell. Ooo, I’m so scared. If we had cars that made sense, basically light airbags on wheels, then we’d have no problem. But you cant reason with pig people who drive SUVs. Ooo, I’m so impressed with soccor moms and spandex, and thier pathetic frog legs, (that taste like chicken).

America deserves what it gets. India and China comprise 1/3 of the population of earth, and they’re coming of age, so the demand will force oil to 1000 a barrel soon.

Ride bikes. The big topsy turvy. China used to ride bikes. Now they drive forcing gas prices up. Now AMericans should ride bikes.

WE could learn alot from the chinese, like how not to be gluttons. A handful of food is all you need each meal, not a whole cow, piggies.

Everywhere there’s lots of piggies, living piggy lives. You can see them out for dinner, with their piggy wives, clutching fork and knives, to eat the bacon…..(george harrison),

By gman

May 2, 2008 7:06 AM | Link to this

Only a moron(Democrat)would be against the US drilling for new oil reserves. Advances have been made in new drilling technologies that have greatly reduced damages from oil spills. As gas nears $4 a gallon, and $5 only a summer away we had better get busy fast. Yes we should invest Billions into finding new ways to power our cars and heat our homes, but in the near term we must still drill FOR OIL!!!

By A little memory

May 2, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this

Does anyone remember that the Alaska oil pipeline was built with the stated purpose of increasing the US’s supply of oil? And where does that oil go? Other countries in the Pacific basin, mostly. How much is imported into the US?

None.

Don’t believe the oil companies now. They’ve lied before, and they’ll lie again. Send the existing pipeline oil to the US and quit selling it abroad.

By Copyleft

May 2, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

At least the uninformed are admitting they haven’t done their research.

Yes, raisiing fuel-economy standards would save more oil, NOW, than we’d get after ten years of development efforts in ANWR. http://www.policyalmanac.org/environment/archive/crscafestandards.shtml

Only a moron/Republican would still support the Big Oil b-stards who’ve been wrecking our infrastructure for their own short-term profits and now want to drill more because they think the only “sane” environmental policy is not having one. (A policy, OR an environment.)

I guess you’re all for national security up to the point where we ask the energy and car industries to actually DO something, eh? Then getting off our dangerous oil habit is suddenly “unreasonable and unworkable.” And national security be damned.

More proof that Republicans are basically ignorant cowards.