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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
Comments: To: Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
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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