What ticks me off the most is our do nothing Congress that for the last 30 years, would not allow free enterprise to drill for oil or use our natural resources to reduce our energy dependence on forign countries. Americans have no idea how congress controls many big companies with outdated regulations. New technologies today clearly prove we can start using these methods to drill for the much needed oil, build new refineries for oil and coal fired energy.

By allowing a small minority of environmental wackos to control our energy policy we are getting what we deserve. The total blame is on the bunch we have in both houses of congress. And now it has spilled over to the presidential candidates in their rhetoric. Since no one seems to believe we should drill for our own oil, refine our own gasoline, use the incredible supply of coal this country possesses, develop nuclear power and also believes in the absolute stupidity of using food for fuel we as a country are in dire straits.

I agree it really is dumb. Its so common sense that if you want to reduce the price of something, you increase supply.

In the short term we need to drill for more oil, and build new nuclear plants. Then in the long term further increase funding to better develop hydrogen technoligies.

I'm lucky in that I live in Snowmass Village here in Colorado. I seldom drive at all due to the free bus service that covers the Roaring Fork Valley. However, gas prices are of concern. Many do not understand that the average item on the grocery store self travels 1400 miles before it get there. The rising cost of fuel is passed on to the consumer.

I saved an article from Stansbury and Assoc. written in Sep 06 that stated the Oil Shale Deposits in Colorado, Utah, and Wyomimg had 8 times more Oil than Saudia Arabia, 18 times more oil than Iraq, and 22 times more oil than Iran. Supposedly our government at that time was getting ready take advantage of this large oil supply!! What happened ? The article further stated that we would never have to depend on Middle East Oil again ! Obviously it never happaned, and probably never will.

Fore closers are important however the price of fuels can drag us down. here in OHIO it already is affecting essential infrastructure maintenance. road repairs, asplat is going up faster than governmental budgets. It's wonderfull being a tax cutter but it will bite you in the AXX in economic times like this. Transportation for industry, business and essential government services rely on good roads and bridges. Flood control programs, we have had two major floods in the same towns 6 months apart. No money in the Corp of Engineers. You pick out a topic and it costs money.

What's an essential service? The EMT Squad, Fire Dept., Highway Patrol and Ambulance that have to race to the scene of your accident caused by pot holes in the highway to save your childs life. Even Life Flight can't help you until these folks arrive. A 5 or 10 minute detour around a closed bridge doesn't seem bad until your the injured person.

Which is why when George Bush cut taxes because we were on the Yellow Brick Road, no fore sight and definitely lack of experience, He forgot you have to keep the Gas Tank full to get to your destination.

Let's get more supply of oil by allowing our technical savvy companies to drill in Alaska and off the U. S. coasts. If congress gets in the way, vote them out of office.

We need to use common sense and start tapping into the natural resources that we have and stop letting a small minority of environmentalists be allowed to dictate our national energy policies. We further need to hold our elected officials accountable for their inactions and lack of foresight in this matter. We need to use any and all technologies available which improves fuel efficiency and conservation efforts. We need to be good stewards of the use of energy and our natural resources, but we need to remember the resources should be used and new thecnologies developed to replace them. Once the technologies are found we further need to use them. Cut off your car if not driving, turn down the heat or air conditioning while not at home. Turn off lights and unplug appliances not being used. Build more efficent homes and with future tehnologies look into future means of energy. Build more refineries, coal can be used efficiently with little or no impact on the environment. Nuclear is safe and should be used. Each time the wind blows, use it. Solar is free and for the taking hours each day, month and week. Then the teerorists in other countries who control and hold their resources hostage can be cut off and down played into being non players.
These and hundreds of other ideas can help all of us to prosper, not a small minority. This is the way things are intended to be, just have the will and energy to force change for the better, not change for changes sake.

They need an all the above box. They are all related. As gas prices go up, so do costs, which mean we look for cheaper products which we can only get outside the U.S. which means jobs transfer outside the U.S. which means banks now have use high risk policies to keep the money in the U.S. which means more foreclosures because banks can't forsee a recession and their risk mitigation policies didn't calculate a high risk for a stable real estate market. We need to change our behavior to adapt or lose what we have. "Individual freedom of decision is not abolished, but restricted by the collective effects of complex systems in nature and society which cannot be forecast or controlled in the long run." Klaus Mainzer

It is truly heartening to read the comments posted on this site. Maybe I live in a too liberal state (Maryland) but such unanimity of sentiment is unheard of there. I always was of the opinion that we had enough of our own oil to make a difference, but am surprised to learn just how significant a difference that could be. I definately agree with the idea of voting 'environmentalists' out of office. November is approaching!!!!!

Behavior change: Major cities switch to all electric, build city infrastructure for electric with electric/carbon fuel vehicle transition outside on a ring. Expand the diameter of the ring of infrastructure over time. Connect all cities with electric infrastructure as technology improves energy storage. Plan for managing waste through recycling.

close off heat vents to unused bedrooms and keep doors closed.

Energy costs across the board are causing problems. It does appear to be having some infationary effects. It is criminal that our politicians insist on pandering to tjose who do not want us to unlock our own energy sources - including nuclear.

Higher energy prices will further societal tension with greedy corporations and the poorly run government. Many people will not, and in some cases, cannot change their energy use. Subsequently, as they slide further into debt, and as their lifestyle and future become further compromised, tension will steadily rise. Perhaps, if no significant relief comes, the elements for a dramatic change will be in the making. Great American spirit is not dead, yet!
Increasing energy prices only compound prior and present tensions. How many people do you know are happy with the offering of potential candidates for president? How many are happy with how the government has and is being run? How many are aware of the kind of control that corporations and significant individuals have upon their lives? Injustice and greed has never won out in the long run. Just look to the past.

I've been employed for over 35 years in the Engineering and Construction business building large industrial facilities (power, pharma, chemical, etc.). I'm old enough to remember the "split wood not atoms" bumperstickers. The irony that they were on environmentalists gas guzzling cars was not lost on me.
Had we listened to their message completely and actually split wood for heating, the tuberculosis rates would be phenomenal by now - not so different from that time a hundred years ago when we did split wood to heat.
I was employed in developing alternative technologies the last time around (1970's)with synthetic natural gas plants (mothballed when built) and Shale to Oil facilities ( a billion $ down the drain) for Jimmy Carter.
Industry isn't perfect. We did have Love Canal (Hooker Chemical Co.)and we do have pollution sources today that need to be addressed with modern technology. However, the simple fact is, that the solution lies with sensible application of technology - not absense of technology.
Generally speaking, the luddites who propose the radical restructuring of our industrial base have nothing to add toward providing solutions beyond their outrage at the capitalist system. Kyoto is a perfect case in point. The notion that we should let third world nations build coal power plants that use 1960's era technology (no scrubbers mandated), just because they are trying to "catch up" is rediculous.
Let's do sensible things folks. New facilities should use the latest environment sustaining technology - period. Let's use as many sensible alternative technolgies (sun, wind, water) as we can. And, at the end of the day, let's use the most modern methodology (Nuclear)to provide the rest of what is required to continue to live in a modern world. Sending our money overseas to buy their refined petrochemical products does nothing positive for the USA, or even the world at large, beyond simply buying us more time to procrastinate and argue amongst ourselves...

We are "rebuilding" iraq on the backs of the middle class, who can barely afford to send their children to college. We are we using taxpayers money to pay overinflated salarys to US workers over in Iraq who are protected by retired US soldires working for private firms making $200k a yr. Why arent we exporting Iraq;s oil to the U.S. while we are rebuilding? We've spent so much money freeing the Iraqi people from tyranny, dont we owe it to ourselves to lessen that burden by supplying our people with free oil?

There are proven reserves located off shore of the North Easter USA to last this nation for 100 years. The only problem is that the individuals who live there don't want to look at oil rigs as they sip cocktails on their back patio.

Simply more oil is not the total solution. But then I totally agree with those who write that we must drill and refine our own. It is senseless to use corn that we also must eat. There are simply too many hugh gas guzzling cars and trucks on the roads. Who really needs a big Hummer for example?

More oil is not the answer, and all of the "experts" seem to agree that Alaska does not hold enough oil to solve our oil problems. Besides, it is my understanding that Alaskan oil does not necessarily come to the US... it goes to the highest bidder.
Also, it is high time that all of the people calling for more oil get behind initiatives that will allow us to move beyond oil. We should have a new Manhattan Project for developing new energy sources. Oil is a finite resource and our only long term solution is renewable energy.
Another point, our politians also keep pushing corn ethanol on us. The problem with corn ethanol is it takes almost as much energy to make/distribute it as it gives off, which does nothing to solve our energy needs. However, it does drive up the cost of food, etc...

Like 1992, these Candidates don't know yet-The Number 1 Issue for voters- its The Gas Prices Stupid. Both Partys should be sued. Thats how I am going to Vote this year.

A recent article in the 2/8/008 Washington Times by Roy Innis stated that onshore/offshore public lands contained enough oil to produce gasoline for 60 million cars and fuel oil for 25 million homes for 60 years. Additionally, they contain enough natural gas to heat 60 million homes for 160 years (plus centuries of uranium and coal). It is absolutely incredible to me that this is not more widely publicized. The American public would and should be outraged by this especially considering these are public lands and the fact that we are sending so much imported oil money abroad with some to our "not very" friends. The congress blocked ANWR some years ago which could be coming on line soon if not already available. My theory is the Democrats with their stock in trade of dependency are trying to make energy so expensive that they can then turn around and provide handout relief to many of their constituency. The blogs need to start the ball rolling on this so it gets to the attention of the American public.Please try and do something with this and get the word out. This policy of restriction is insanity in light of the world energy status.Thanks for listening.

I don't care how someone wants to spend their hard earned dollars, I do care about how stupid the masses are, we allow the enviro crowd to dictate to us our policies on energy and a host of other issues, they are just like the govt they rail against, the have no solutions unless pulling society down is one.

Evan

I just got back from the Social Security Office... They take off my Social Security check $91.00 every month... I have to have a supplemental of $371.00 and I get from Social Security $831.00 month... I live in Calif....

For me the most important economic issue is this:
What would you say is the percentage of media ownership by a group over which you can no longer speak of democracy?
51 %? 75%? 99? Technically, if you own 99% of the media there is still press freedom, even if it is 1%. Don't you think it is time for a US debate on media ownership?

Good Luck

Don Quixot, Spaniard in NL.

My first internet- experience was not successful. But anyway I keep posting from time to time. All information online is for people to discuss. I think this is the most important thing why internet is so popular everywhere

I’ve tried to think it over and I guess this is just a rumor. I hate rumors that ruin private life so advise you not to believe it and leave your comments by yourself.