Lynn Maser do drive a SUV?
I'm tired of being held hostage by my government! ...Gas prices are high in the United States today because Congress and the Senate have done nothing to make us energy-independent!
My government is holding me hostage through foreign oil. For years Congress has kowtowed to special interests. Tree-huggers, we like to call them. ... Responding to these limited-interest groups and without reason, rationale, logic or long-term plans, our elected officials have passed bills -- or not -- that affect America's energy health. They have refused to permit the building of more refineries (those we have are operating at full capacity), more exploration or more drilling. We have trillions of barrels of shale oil in our country that lay untouched, thanks to our government's refusal to act. ...
The big battle over the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is absurd. We are talking about another oil reserve, under land that we own, that will go a very long way over the years for us while we take the appropriate time to fine-tune quality, energy-efficient, viable energy alternatives. And we don't drill there because Congress believes the myth that this pristine, natural environment would be destroyed if we drilled. ... We've already successfully proved in Alaska that we can build a pipeline without destroying the wildlife. ...
Yes, we need options to oil. That makes sense. But finding those options -- testing them to make sure they actually represent the "energy efficiency" they are touted to have -- is a long-term process. It takes time to do it right.... As a direct consequence of a do-nothing government we are not only experiencing historically high gas prices, we also are experiencing historically high food prices. As for the other staples in our lives whose prices have risen with gas and food -- well, we will have to decide what we will live without.
We can thank our shortsighted, lack-of-planning, do-nothing government for this. ...
Lynn Maser, North Augusta, S.C.
Lynn Maser do drive a SUV?
Lynn Maser, trade your vehicle in for a horse and buggy! As for the wildlife refuge in Alaska, Are you really willing to shoot down an entire eco-system just for your precious oil? Are you really that stupid or did you pass your high school sci" a "F"? Obviously you didn't get the latest news about how our government is NOT allowing us to waste more of our money to purchase "foreign" oil for reserves. This forces us as a whole to trade in our gas guzzlers for hybrid compact cars that get more gas mileage or use electricity to run on, and I don't see any electric car stations around here anywhere, do you? This means you only get 40 miles per recharge with those, and honey, you think you feel like a hostage now, just buy one of those cars that keep you from moving! How about the fact that they are turning coal into fuel? This is another option that they are spending money on or didn't you know that either? Lady, you really need to pay attention more! Don't quit your day job! This is a depression whether Bush wants to acknowledge it or not, but right now, nothing anyone can do about it as it is World Wide.
The lack of effort by the congress (house and senate) to make America energy independent involves capitulating to the whims of the greenies. No new drilling for oil, no new refineries and no plans to ever allow them. For some reason, as yet unrevealed, the American public has been denied a product, at a reasonable price, that is within easy reach. Instead, we've been given corn as fuel instead of corn as food. What a brilliant idea that was. The distant future holds promise of alternative energy, but for right now there is oil. What is the advantage of denying it?
You're right Retired Army. I have a such a hard time with those two words that I just stopped using "than" and let those who care remark on my fault. It helps keep me humble and saves me the trouble of figuring out which word to use.
But we DO have an energy policy. That was the first order of business for the newly appointed Bush misadministration way back in 2000. Of course it's a SECRET energy policy. Like anything else that might trip up these thieving liars, their meeting with Big Oil was "classified." Though a suit was brought, the right-wing horsemen of the apocolypse assisted with yet another judicial coup carried out by partisans. They refused to hear the case. We can now see very clearly who has benefited from this "Energy Policy". But they merely demonize environmentalists and anyone else who gets in the way of thier bottomless greed. If any of you mugs are still drinking this Kool Aid, you are enablers and therefore share in the blame for the damage these monsters have done to this country. You have also succeeded in destroying the Republican party.
Pat, the good news is, at least we all learn something new--including me. :)
Another writer showing ignorance. You too Patricia. Do your homework. There has only been ONE request for a new refiner in the last fifteen years and the EPA approved that request. The fact is oil and gas prices were low in the 1990s. As most businesses they were looking at their current situation (building refiners at that time was not cost productive and not something they saw as a need..for that time) not down the road.
We must fix this problem ourselves. The tree huggers and government are not able to do it. Individuals and small industry will fix it. This recession, that may get much worst, will help fix it. When industry and individuals can make more money fixing the problem than living with it the answers will come. God gave us all the energy we needed but we have been too dumb to use it thanks to government and tree huggers so now we will see it solved by those who make things happen. Those others will just say "what happened ?" Goverment was established to defend our nation and keep order; not to fix all our problems. Just say to the government "just do your PC stuff" and to tree huggers "keep worshiping the creation instead of the creator" while the rest of the folks get this fixed.
LOL...ANWR ecosystem...obviously Deborah is another poor Government School drone who never investigated the area under consideration...but we ALL remember the disaster the Alaska pipeline turned out to be (LOL). Patricia don't worry good writing, Retired Army sounds like some sort of Used Car salesman, "don't address the question if you will lose the argument. Pick at the minutae"...(LOL)
To many short sighted people with short sighted answers. I see that no more refiners make for less fuel more profit. The lets blame tree hugger is a silly statement all by it's self. If I was a refinery building oil pumping company and I wanted to be able to build a refinery with total disregard for the environment and without any regard for corporate responsibility, I to would blame those tree hugger people and in the mean time lets just milk the people for all we can while we have two elected officials that has given us a get out of jail free card.
The higher cost of your fuel is the result of loop holes in Commodity Futures Markets that allow foreign speculators to game the system. Congress recently closed the loopholes for domestic traders with the ENRON laws. But, they do not regulate foreign speculating traders. Check out the PMAA site www.stopoilspeculators.com and call Paul Broun. Ask him to support the PMAA call for regulation.
Regardless of Comodity Futures Market, had we had an agressive "energy policy" starting 35 years ago, we would not be in this current situation. At the "core" of all of the evironmental groups is a love of socailisim. Ever ill we face in this country from foreign oil dependence to food shortages can be traced to "government subsidees and government controls of business. It started with our savior FDR. Had it not been for WWII his new deal would have collapsed on itself. You can only print so much money with nothing to back it up. That was the heart of the "New Deal". Forcing everyone to be dependent on the government. And as for "spotted Owl and the Polar Bears", that is moot since "clooning". There are no endangered species since we can cloone for nose hairs. Revolution is end. Impotent government is the means.
Two things: 1). The ANWR is able to be explored and areas identified. What you don't want is conventional drilling techniques used to extract and produce it. And you sure don't want a 'boom' period to overwhelm a naturally sensitive environment because this type drilling with 'wildcatters' being prominent has left behind many ruined acres in TX and OK that will take 20 plus years to become habitable again by wildlife. They leave all sorts of uncleaned residues within, underground and above ground that contaminate the earth air and water within several miles of each drilling rig. Clean drilling is not possible nor is it practiced. Take a summer off and go work on any drilling rig on land or sea and then tell me if you think it harms the environment.
2). As for cloning species that are endangered, well, that hasn't happened and unless a natural environment exists for them to thrive in, then you have the same dilemma. DuhJudge has it right. The loopholes that fatten everyone's pockets and leave our markets suffering should be plugged. Quit letting 'speculators' drive our damaged economy and make laws that protect our investments without handing the results to the greedy of the world.
Since everyone seems to think there is no limit to the price of gas and oil it might be a good time to buy "dug" using a 3-5% stop to prevent a big loss.
Well first we'd have to build the roads to get there as there are none. Then we'd have to build the pipeline to transport it. Then after we get the 7.668 billion barrels of oil it would be gone in roughly one or two years as we use over 20 million barrels of oil a DAY here in the US. Yea, sounds like a wonderful idea. Let's destroy this wildlife refuge for one or two years of oil...sounds logical to me. I mean we have already just about destroyed all the rain forest, ruined the air we breathe and the lakes, rivers and oceans we fish from. Why not just flatten all the land, drill on every corner and have refineries in every neighborhood. I mean who will it hurt right? Who cares if our children's children don't have fresh air to breathe or trees to climb...they can't miss what they've never seen right? To heck with the "treehuggers" I say Drill away! After all there's no other option is there?
No need to exagerate the negatives and belittle the investment. The ANWR reserves are important to US energy strategy. They represent much more than a couple of years of consumption, because we will not be rid of imported oil. Remember, that OUR biggest suppliers are Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela. Consider ANWR as money in the bank for a rainy day. It will be tapped, but probably not until China has bought Venezuela's government owned oil company, which they have already tried to do. At some point in the future the ANWR fields will be providing crude when other supplies are exhausted. But before that happens, you will be subjected to gas rationing, much higher prices, smaller cars, carpooling, and lower speed limits. Only the rich and powerful will drive eventually.
Vot'em out and start over. The Repubs failed because they have never known how to control anything even when they are supposed to be n control (of Congress). The DIMs listen to the econuts and will continue to do so if you put them in control of Congress again. We will remain captives to the oil companies and OPEC.