It's not about WHAT you drive, joe-pro, but HOW you drive. We drive a 99 Suburban because, well, they have yet to make an affordable hybrid that can carry 8 passengers. Our Suburban gets 20MPG, however, and it is our only vehicle (besides a gas guzzling hauling truck on which we've literally clocked about 100 miles in the last 6 months). We live 15 miles outside of town, and I rarely top 55mph to maximize fuel effiency. Compare that with a dual income family commuting 22 miles (which is about the average commute) and driving 2 40MPG vehicles, and our usage works out about the same.

However, it does not stop there. In three years at this address, our electricity bill has never topped $65 (and is usually in the $25-40 range), and our gas and water bills usually average about $100.

We're doing our part to conserve, and, contrary to what the pundits would have you believe, the type of car you drive is one SMALL part of being environmentally responsible.

Oh, I agree with you. I really do. And while I talk a good game, I drive all over creation for work between three cities. So our carbon footprint is probably -- well, I don't know.

But my point remains. Higher demand for oil creates higher prices. BTW, read my latest post "Come all ye faithful"...I think you of all people will like it.

I gotta run (getting the evil eye) but I'll catch you later.
M

Also, I GET PERSONAL EMAILS FROM AL GORE. I bet you don't. nah nah nah nah boo boo.
(ok, not personal, but they do say "Dear (insert first name)...)

No, I just get personal emails from Ron Paul!

LOL!

so

Get over it. He was joking, and I simply joked back.

and i wasn't

Yeah. I figured as much.

If Saddam hadn't been removed, there woul be no possibility of putting pressure on Iran.

There is a map of the middle east.

How exactly would the US put pressure on Iran in a scenario where Saddam is still there?

So removing Saddam has been a big positive for the United States.  If you remove the emotions from the equation and look at it in pure, cold, geopolitical realities, the Iraq invasion has been extremely successful.

Whether one AGREES that we should have gone into Iraq or not on moral, ethical, or legal grounds or not is a totally different discussion. 

A non-invaded Iraq would have meant that Iran would have a totally free hand because nobody could, logistically, do anything to them and we would still have Iraq there as well.

Now, personally, I don't consider Iran our problem. If the EU and such aren't willing to step up, then that's their problem. I don't see any rationale for the US to do anything -- precisely because the US already has a very good position in the region -- Iraq.

If we didn't have Iraq, then my opinion would be more like "we're screwed in the long run" and by we, I mean the human race.

The reason oil prices are going up is not a mystery. China's imports of oil have skyrocketed.  It is, as you say, a matter of supply and demand.  There is only so much oil on the market and the demand has risen. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ene_oil_con-energy-oil-consumption

The debate on oil prices is a good one because it's really an excellent opportunity to know who actually has a clue on the issue and who are the idiots.

Anyone who thinks that oil prices are being significantly affected by Iraq or Afghanistan is an idiot. But that is a good thing because I know I can ignore their opinions as I'll be able to just see their name on the comments section and say "Ah, idiot" and skip to the next comment.

10 years ago, China consumed hardly any oil.  Now, it consumes over 6 MILLION bbl's per day! And the US's consumption has continued to climb as well.  It's going to get much worse. By 2020, it is expected that China will use as much as the US.  The days of cheap gas are over.

 

shh don't tell gene about china he thinks that the only country using oil is the USA and thus there is a glut of oil on the market.

I'm hoping you are joking. So is kinda our point. all politicians (even the retired ones!) still play the game.

Oh, man, he wasn't joking. Daniel, lighten up. If this ain't fun it's just not worth doing. God knows we're only preaching to ourselves.

You're funny. Funny LOOKING. Daniel, that was a joke. I feel now I must spell it out. And it was you who blamed Carter for the rising oil prices, unless I misread the thread.

Which is possible. Sigh. Everyone's ignoring my Christmas song. Guess I'll have to ask the chipmunks to do it.

no it was me.


i got that idea off the web.


the government tried to control the price of gas saying that the oil companies could only have so much profit off of the oil in the USA. this left the door open for unlimited profit from outside sources. i may not have this comletely right i am going by memory. but there is a link in one of genes threads to the source.

Well, hmmm, this is not an area I'm up on. You have to shiver at the thought of government sticking their nose into price control, however, when you see Oil companies raping people during a crisis, you understand the thought process. I think an argument can also be made as a result of the lack of infrastructure support and heavy regulation of oil exploration/drilling. Though, I think it's not a bad thing to have that oversight. I side with the Dems on that. I do think that our ideals have conflicted, causing demand to outstrip production, driving up prices.

I also think it's a bad thing in the short term, but a good thing (perhaps) in the long term. I think the development of alternate fuels (such as wind) (I just saw a report on a AIR powered car, 0 emmissions, being developed in France -- let's call it the 'freedom mobile')is the key, and with the rising oil prices alternate energy is being developed for market at an unprecedented rate.

That said, I can afford to take a long term, pragmatic approach: I don't have to worry about if I can afford to heat my house, put gas in the tank to get to work, or other common issues. I just saw a study where the rising gas prices disproportianately affect the middle and lower classes over the highest income earners. Not that I earn tons, but I have other sources, currently, that keep my worries low. So, I can preach lofty ideals.

It's very different for the average joe, I suspect. And this administratin seems to give lip service to high fuel prices but does little by way of action.