Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:23:48 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: A friend bought a NEW Camero Z28 in the midst of the first
oil crisis
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2008061817501524@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Roger, Jim and All,
This thing is not just about the oil, and fuel for our vans, home
heating, etc, etc. It is about the overall disasterous predicament we
are in financially because of the political leadership we have had in
this country for the past couple of decades. It has been coming on us
for some time. Stop and think about what it means to be trillions of
dollars in debt, fighting a war that is costing billions per year,
funding that war with borrowed money, and a tax cut right in the middle
of it, and one major financial debacle after another - the latest being
the real estate debacle - all being bailed out by the taxpayer, and the
CEO's and other top officials walking away with million upon millions
while we the taxpayer sweat it out. The politics and economics of it
all are insane!!
The first thing that needs to be done is a cap put on the speculators
that are driving the prices - across the board. Then there needs to be
some regulators put in place to monitor speculator activities. This
needs doing NOW! You are right, we are going to have a mess this winter
with the hundreds of thouands across this land that live on the margin,
and are going to be forced to deal with and live with the fuel costs
that will be forth coming this winter. It ain't going to be pretty. I'm
no socialist, but I do believe that NO ONE should have a choke hold on
those things that are essential for life and health, and this is one of
those things. One might say - well you can walk, and spend the money
saved on home heating oil. Yeah, right! Our society, unlike that in
Europe and other countries, is simply not set up that way. In my area we
are already beginning to hear complaints by employers that they are
losing employees who can no longer afford to commute to work. They are
taking lesser jobs closer home. This hurts everybody. If gas prices
continue to rise, it's going to really get bad. Not only that, because
oil id a commodity that energizes nations, this could trigger a world
wide depression. What a nightmare that would be. I think the Saudi's may
sense that, given they are planning to increase oil production. Yes, our
representatives went hat in hand and asked for an increase, but I think
they were handed their hat, so far as the request goes. But they are not
stupid. I think they also can see the handwriting on the wall, if they
don't do something.
But Saudi's pumping more oil is not the ultimate solution. Short term
something must give to keep from collapsing our country. Long term we
have got to get off of oil, period. In the interim, between loosening
the grip on the immediate oil situation and getting prices down to
reasonable, and the getting off oil altogether, we have to have
something to smooth the way, and it makes sense we use our own
resources. There is a big danger in that. That danger is Corporate
America. There is a lot of talk right now about drilling in ANWR, and
the OCS, and a few other places. Corporate interests are already rubbing
their hands in glee. But it is the totally wrong approach. There are
ALREADY enormous attracts of leased to the oil companies for oil
development, but they just haven't done it yet. Until they do, they need
to keep their paws off these other places, and ANWR should be last place
to go drilling. Ironically, everyone talks about drilling in ANWR, but
there is only about 10 years worth of oil there - at present consumption
- and after that - then what. The whole point is that we need to be
moving as rapidly as possible onto sustainable fuels, not the finite
stuff buried in the ground, and sustainable fuels doesn't mean corn
either.The corn thing going on right now is about the stupidest thing I
have ever seen. It is all about corporate interest. With corn as the
cornerstone, the prices of absolutely everything related have jumped up.
And some companies are adding 10% corn ethanol to gasoline to stretch
it. But guess what folks? That ten percent lowers your fuel mileage per
gallon because that alcohol doesn't have the btu's that the gasoline
does that it displaced in that gallon. So you are getting less bang for
your buck, plus you are paying the same price per gallon. It's a rip
off. And what is going to happen the first time we have a drought and
that corn doesn't make?? Then what? Corn ethanol for fuel is a stupid
idea. Far better to use Kudzu. Ferment it, distill it, Now that is and
idea whose time may come soon.
To paraphrase somebody "it's about the economy, stupid"!
If you want to really get a picture of what this is really all about
visit the link below. It will take some time to dig through it, but it
well worth the effort. There is some chilling info there.
WWW.Perotcharts.com
Ross Perot hits the nail on the head.
OK, Rant over. Soap box is put away and I have just put on my
flame-proof long-handles.
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Roger Sisler wrote:
> The way I see what Bush is doing, is that you don't actually have to do
> anything to get the price of oil down, and it needs to come down now. Only
> need to make people think that you are going to do something. A side benifit
> to actually doing something. Beats what anyone else has done. If the
> investors that are speculating on the oil think the balance between supply
> and demand is going to change, they will sell on the rumor. Thats what
> investors do. They will find someplace else to put their money. Nobody has
> been able to do that so far. I just don't know how people are going afford
> heating oil this winter, and I feel sorry for those folks. The price of
> diesel fuel is $5 without the added competition of heating homes with it. My
> groceries are 20 percent higher in just a couple of months. Not the 5.5 the
> CPI says. These people on the margins won't have the money to buy oil this
> winter,and there are a ton of them. I have never voted republican ,but I
> liked what he did. Believe me, I am reluctant to give a republican credit
> for doing anything. My thoughts were of the Iranian hostages and how Reagan
> dealt with that situation. He didn't talk. Been done earlier and didn't
> help. The Iranians released the hostages the day he came to office because
> they feared nukeage. Gas prices need to come down now for America.
>
> Sorry list, for the content here today, but I am concerned for the Vanagon
> as it doesn't get good gas mileage. Wanted owners to maybe see a trend of
> lower gas prices coming. I think it will now happen, and I am glad. Lots of
> luck.
>
>
>
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