Ah, yes, the TRUTH WILL OUT inconveniently, it seems. First, our vaunted Congress refuses any/all domestic oil drilling while freely jetting around the world in fuel guzzling transportation reserved for “important national ‘security’ mandates” while sucking Joe Blow Citizen’s pockets dry as he walks, and secondly, get-outta-town-quick for an extra month’s uninterrupted sleep in bed rather than at a desk. Wait until the declining USA’s Save the Planet Socialistic phase soon embeds ever deeper! Approval rating of some 17%?! More like 2% by the wildest stretch of imagination!

This is an excellent article.  I would like to see, in addition, an article about how we have hampered ourselves by ostensibly “going green.” In this, of course ethanol is a part, but the biggest crime is the rise in diesel fuel prices, supposedly because the low sulfur fuel is more earth friendly. Just like ethanol added to gasoline, the new low sulfur diesel fuel gives 10-15% less gas mileage.
Just when diesel engines had improved technologically that they might have been a universal source for conserving oil resources, diesel fuel became more expensive than premium gasoline, wiping out any adherent advantage.  I sense that something is not right with this picture.

PC is where it is all done backwards. or wrogn verses right. Ethonal gives last mileage plus puts more carban in the air. wind mills are just hot air. All Gore is a madnam. do as I say, not as I do. Taking corn is causeing animals not to eat so farmers quit growing food for corn just to not go bankrupt. and America and the world is starving. How many know the drilling in Alaska is not even near amimals. We have oil in seven states, and we have more oil than Saudi or any of them have. Even so, to think animals are more important than people,,what insanity. To say nothing of the enemys drilling on our borders and old Russia planing to put their name on Alaska, and they all do not have equipment to keep oil spills from happening. And the banks and foreclosers..IF Government bails them out..morgages too, then you see government will own us. and look at the debt we owe just to China.. and behind our backs Clinton sold secrets to China and ports too, as so did Bush. We all voted to kick the UN out, off our soil. who we give more to human causes world wide than all countries put together and now obama hussein wants to give 845 billion to Africa..NO vote for us, that says WE the PEOPLE don’t count. How many of you look in the dictionary and see a Democracy they are all pushing is where the people vote and they do as they please,,gov that is. WE ARE a REPUBLIC,,where we vote and the government serves US....Mot everyone on both sides of the isle is hell bent on global,,and they need to see us fall so the EU can rule from there. Go see what the dictionary says about a republic, and go read your Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independance. We have 545 people in government ruling us. We need to truly throw them out, impeach them and put real Americans in. TODAY..they all want a one world government, no borders and they want to be rich to rule the poor. Proverbs 22:7. Believe it or not, both sides are working together, media is paid off, and I can still remember when caught on tape, the clints and busses , kissinger etc were laughing during the voting for Bush. they all know who will be president long yrs before. The bible says men do not learn from history, we all need to do it. No one wanted to believe Hiler was evil either. but too late they did, and we are letting it happen. Between out sourcing our jobs, gas, food and debt, open borders while they keep minds on stupid news and anything to keep our minds away from what is happening !! Forget the praties, go INdependant. and McCain who signed and sealled the papers so we cannot get the rest of our troops out of Nam..even was going to become a democrat.In truth, he is as bad as any left...What a choice, look beyond the two parties,, both are wrong. Go Independant. or kiss our country bye. Throw Al Gore off the train. what a phoney. All these freaks think they know better than G-d. Take a good look around. and remember when Russia got big, the US , UK and Saudi got together to make Russia feel threatend by Afghan, so finally Russia attacked..jihad trained by the UK, Saudi and US and others sent Jihad there to kill Russian troops..Most of us know the big nations , will rule all of us, and world war is coming. We should have hit Saudi where our barracks were hit, the Cole and 9/11. ever ask why we didn’t. do your homework, we are in danger. Supporting illegals is dead wrong. there is only one way to do anything the Right way. not to forget G-d told us all governments are ran by the god of this world. How much do you have to see and feel, before you wake up..look back to the sixties, then the eighties, gas lines. this is a gaft,,we are fools ..Some wanted to drill over 30 yrs ago, takes ten yrs to build a refinery. And right now, sisty % of our own oil is being sold off shore, forty goes in reserves. HELLO..this doesn’t have to be. folls are falling for the lies on both sides. Do you want gov to own you..lock stock and barrel? to have IRS is against our Constituion. We are nation building , training the enemy, aiding them too. HELLO,,,all the things our forefathers and even Reagan warned of is coming true, and we are letting it. Wait till you get hungry,,or your kids. and for one example.Ford who layed of and closed plants..are over seas getting richer than all get out. ever see the big planst there?? shame on us for bowing to anyone and anything and throwing G-d out. Got to turn it around NOW...Just to deport the illegals and those in prisons and jails, put our tanks on the borders..and bring back our jobs. or you won’t have a country..this would pay off debt which Islam and China owns..and they also bought out most stocks and guess who buys the land, the UN...of course..Hitler would be so proud..best think hard of who you want in the white house. so many are hurting now they believe gov will save them..not so..Wake Up America...and remember it is gov that shoots missiles and trys to change weather. they like to think they can and see what we have...We are letting madmen destroy us..and we have to stop them...wake up America

...and one on Obama’s recession-bringing tax “policies”

http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB121728762442091427.html

AHHHHH it is amazing how one forgets history isn’t it?  And before 2000, the Democrats were in power for 40 years!!  The biggest and worst program perpetuated by the Democrats was LBJ’s Great Society!  He turned this country into the most socialistic, lazy and entitled society that existed. 

Rather than cast aspersions on Republicans, research your own liberal history in the book, LIBERAL FASCISM by Jonah Goldgerg, and see that both parties have been profligate spenders!!

ALL on both sides have wasted so much money we could be debt free andhave the strongest economy in the world!

In the book, look at the “heroes” you hold up as paragons of economic administration such as FDR and JFK.  These men were not the paragons of virtue you think they were.

For example, Kennedy who helped get through civil rights also said that “he wouldn’t leave sleep over the problem of the negro!”

And what about FDR wanting to get rid of the 18th amendment which gave the BLACK MAN the right to vote tells volumes about him also!!  He was also a believer in Eugenics as was Hugo Black the Supreme Court Justice!

Further lets take a look at current spenders of our taxpayer money! DID you know that OBAMA was rated as # 2 PIG in terms of spenders of taxpayer money and Hilliary was # 1?  Their PORK BARREL spending alone would cancel about three years of interest on our nation debt if it had been used to pay down the debt!
For every fact you come up with I can counter with one about the Democrats. 

Stop with the name calling and the blame game and other stupid things people discussing politics do!!  INSTEAD, come up with solutions to solving our problems including stopping pork barrel spending and the wasteful legislation that ALL of congress do today!!

Just look at the 60 BILLION bill passed by The DEMOCRATS in the last two days where earmarks of 27 million dollars went to the “raising of orchids!”

Instead of castigating those who are of the opposite party, write and call YOUR congress person TODAY and DEMAND that they do not on vacation until we have an energy bill!!  Make your time useful instead of wasting it on name calling.

To Ms. Sabin:

If your post is referring to mine, immediately above yours, I sure didn’t hold anyone up as paragons - - other than stating that Clinton had a few balanced budgets during his term.

I stated the simple fact that more than 90% of the current national debt occurred during the administrations of Reagan, Bush I and Bush II - - and that the national debt is now approximately 10-12 times higher than it was when Carter left office.  End of case.  Fact.

90% or more of our current national debt has accumulated over the last 28 years - - and neither Reagan, Bush I or Bush II EVER had a single balanced budget in their 20 tries.  Clinton had a balanced budget in several years of his tenure.

And, I simply reminded wsummerford806 that the current Democratically-controlled Congress has only been in existence for some 19 months - - and that from 1994 through 2006, Republicans controlled the Congress.  And, from 2000 to now - - the national debt is about another three times higher than when Clinton left office.

The truth of the matter is that the entire, historical national debt that accumulated from George Washington through Jimmy Carter (some 190 years and more than a half-dozen or more wars) - - was nearly tripled during Reagan’s eight years.

And, since, that astronomically rising national debt has been destroying the value of the American dollar - - which may well lead us (and maybe the world) into another serious Depression.

And, of course, the President has to sign off on the budget. So ...

And, of course, insofar as budget earmarks and pork are concerned - - there are giant PIGS (as you put it) in EVERY poke - - including your Republican poke!

And, I have no clue as to why you decided to rant on about FDR, JFK, LBJ, The Great Society, Hugo Black, etc., other than pure, ideological partisanship and hatred of Democrats (???)

In the last 56 years - - since 1952 - - if my memory serves me right - - there have only been FOUR Democratic Presidents serving a grand total of 20 years - - and SIX Republican Presidents serving a total of 36 years.  So, it would seem, if you have gripes, complaints, and hissyfits to throw over the quality of governance in America during that period - - it would seem those hissyfits should be directed at the guys who were actually in power and responsible for leadership for the vast majority of time during that period ???

And, by the way, my comment was about the previous poster’s “tax and spend” comment referring to the here and now.  How do you convolute that all the way back to 1960 and the negro, the Black Man, and The Great Society?  Are you still ticked off because a Democratic President ended segregation???  Far out, man!

Note:

Mr. Bush’s War is costing approximately $150,000,000,000 (that’s “Billion") per year in direct costs - -about $3,000,000,000 per week (that’s “Billion") - - about $425,000,000 per day!  (That’s “Million” - - PER DAY!

In 2008 dollars, the cost of our military engagement in Iraq has appraoched or surpassed the total cost of our involvement in Viet Nam from 1954 through 1974.  Thus far, since it’s beginning, total costs in Iraq are near the $1,000,000,000,000 (that’s “Trillion") - - and with the final de-escalation, continuing necessary military health care and related benefits afterward, plus interest on the whole mess - - the total cost is estimated to be at least $3,000,000,000,000 (that’s “Trillion").

In the last 28 years, the accumulated national debt works out to about somewhere around $35,000-$40,000 for every man, woman, and child in the country - - and the Bush War total costs may well ultimately double that.

But, hey, he CUT taxes!

Idiotic!

“...The truth of the matter is that the entire, historical national debt that accumulated from George Washington through Jimmy Carter (some 190 years and more than a half-dozen or more wars) - - was nearly tripled during Reagan’s eight years...”

Nice talking point based on a totally meaningless fact. Try comparing national debt to Gross Domestic Product and adjust for inflation for a realistic and meaningful dollar-to-dollar comparison, TK.

Before the “voting stimulus bill” that was passed earlier this year, the deficit was ~$180B: after it passed the deficit was ~$400B. That is, the deficit was doubled by our feckless Congress and President in a blatant attempt to “do something” about the slowdown of the economy.

Government (and politicians) cannot control the economy. The “planned economies” of the former Soviet Union and Communist China provide all the proof needed.

STOP!!  I think we ALL agree that BOTH sides have been bad in spending and wasting our tax dollars!!

We could gve each other facts and figures ad nasuem but that is getting us nowhere!! 

The question is....what are WE..WE..going to do about it?  Sit here and argue with each other or...start using our energies to CALL And WRITE congress and DEMAND that they stop wasting our money?

I for one am absolutely furious over pork barrel spending where they make their cronies or their personal business investments grow through using our money!

Not one comes out of congress less than a multi millionaire and that doesn’t happen by being honest and putting America first! 

Obama was # 2 in the pork barrel spending category and you can bet one of his fat cat donors is now millions of dollars richer due to it. Reverend Wright perhaps?  No one questions where the money went that the church collected for Hurrican Katrina victims - where did that money go?

HE also didn’t get that low interest no point no fee below market super super jumbo loan for his speaking ability!!  And Rezko’s wife didn’t lose money on her investment just so he could enrich the value of his house for nothing!

We can find instances of where they ALL enrich themselves through wasteful legislation or pork barrel spending. But what are YOU going to do about it?

I want each one of you to pledge that you will do the following:

CALL congress and tell them NO MORE PORK BARREL SPENDING

CAll congress and tell them to stop legislation that enriches all but America.  For example, take a look at Obama’s Global Poverty Initiative which he was trying to get passed in February and is waiting in the wings until he thinks he will be president!  $845 BILLION dollar boondoggle that not only ignores the poverty in this country, but ignores the terrible economy we are facing.  It also funds the RUSSIAN MILITARY!!  http://www.aim.org/aim-column/obamas-global-tax-proposal-up-for-senate-vote/

IF we took that $845 BILLION dollar boondoggle and used it properly, we could build 282 nuclear plants or refineries to refine the OIL and GAS we have here now but congress will NOT allow to be extracted!  How many jobs would that create?

If we took that $845 BILLION dollars we could fund research into clean coal technology which gives us the most energy for the dollar cost and is plentiful -we could use coal for 300 years as we are plentiful in it!

IF we took that $845 BILLION dollars we could fund research into using our garbage and grass clippings for bio fuel and stop using FOOD crops to get energy! 

For those of you frothing at the mouth at me for telling the truth about Obama, I say, McCain is almost as bad.  His Kennedy McCain immigration bill was another wasteful legislation for which we would pay both financially and nationally! 

What we need to do is put our petty arguing aside and get politically active!  You can start calling the worthless pieces of crap we call congress people and “encourage” them to act on our energy policies and stop wasteful speding!

IF they don’t, start agitating against their being chosen again for the office. Don’t re-elect them!  If we stop re-electing these people, they would stop their greed as they wouldn’t have access to our pocket books!

NOW - your reaction?  Are YOU going to do something other than blog on this site? OR do something for your country and our economy?

WE put these worthless self serving people into office and we can take them out - but YOU need to start doing that by letting THEM know how we feel - both Democratic and Republican!

The problem is that one man’s pork is another man’s entitlement.

Since “entitlements” are the biggest hunk of pork in federal spending, the collectivist foundation of our welfare state, and a blatant violation of individual property rights, lets attack collectivism, the welfare mindset, and crony capitalism.

Remind our politicians that the government’s primary and only legitimate Constitutional duty is protecting the lives, liberty, property, and pursuit of happiness of its citizens.

When you demand your well-being from the government, the government demands your enslavement in return.

Mr. Galt:

“Your rants are based on only half the facts.”

And - - of course - - you own the other half of the facts - - and - - of course - - your half of the facts are the correct and “good” facts!

See what I mean about abject ideological partisanship?

To you, the other guy ALWAYS has only half of the
facts and his half are ALWAYS WRONG!

Here’s my half: 

This president and his administration are absolutely the worst in my lifetime of 12 presidential administrations.  Even Nixon and the boobish Ford were FAR better.  And, the deficit spending of this administration after insituting tax breaks is the most absurd plan for financial well-being I have ever seen.  And, spending $450,000,000 a day (for over 5 years) in some third-world country, and on some erroneous or falsified pretense, should be grounds for prosecution of all the top officials involved. 

Rightwing zealots can get themselves unhinged about “commies”, “The Great Society”, “socialism”, “entitlements”, “liberals”, black presidents, woman presidents, Clintonism - - or whatever else their darling dark hearts can come up with to sling at the wall - - but the fact is - - recent economic philosophies and policies, beginning with “Reagonomics” and continued by the Bush I, Clinton, and (the worst) Bush II administrations, favoring Big Business, Wall Street, and “the investor class”, have led us to the precipice of national bankruptcy and another Great Depression - - very similarly to the way Coolidge and Hoover led us to the last one!

And, to me, the candidacy of McCain/McBush portends only more of the same.

And, the hypocrisy of Republican zealots ostensibly being “anti-communist” - - while at the same time supporting the subordination of American interests to free trade with Communist
China while promoting China’s financing of our budgetary deficits - - is astonishing.

Today’s young marrieds should recognize that their kids will have to learn to speak Spanish in the neighborhood and Chinese on the job!  The Mexicans are on their way to taking back the American Southwest without firing a shot - - and the Chinese are on the way to taking over the American economy without firing a shot!

And, say “Goodbye” to the Chrysler Building and the General Motors Building in NYC - - which have just become additional properties in the portfolios of Arab sheiks from the Emirates!

Dueling choirs, their directors, and the preachers who preach to them should go the way of the Dodo.  Screw Republican and Democratic partisans and extremists. Somebody else needs to take over and stand up for “America First”!

TK, I would simply recommend you read “Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal,” a collection of essays by Ayn Rand. I would also recommend you read Federalist 10 by James Madison discussing factions and how to control them: http://federali.st/10 and Federalist 12 by Hamilton about the proper revenues (taxes) http://federali.st/12

Much of the discord in politics these days is because each side DEMANDS the other side COMPROMISE their belief and philosophy in order to get a bill passed and sent to the President. Those COMPROMISES are typically focused on various larding attached to the basic bill.

For example, the President asked for a bill to fund the troops in Iraq. That is a single issue that needed to be addressed, but various politicians saw it as a “must pass” bill and larded it up with their special projects: e.g., extension of unemployment welfare to the tune of “only” $5B or $6B.

The Congress decided they “must do” something about the credit and mortgage crisis, so they set up a $300B (!!!) bill to bail our Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but certain politicians insisted there be an additional $4B - $5B to fund ACORN housing and voter registration projects!!

You see where this goes? Republicans didn’t want the welfare but did want the military funding, so they had to COMPROMISE their belief and vote for the welfare. Republicans didn’t want to be funding political agitation groups like ACORN who exclusively benefit Democrat candidates, but they wanted to bail out Fannie and Freddie, so they had to COMPROMISE.

What is needed is COLLABORATION that is narrowly focused on a specific issue. In the current jargon, that means no spending earmarks or additional spending attached to a bill. Bills should be single-issue without amendment and with yes/no roll call voting.

What is also needed is smaller bureaucracy (i.e., fewer people on the government payroll) as what happens is certain bureaucrats survive changes in administration and continue pushing their own agenda, as they ultimately control how and where the money is spent. Minor functionaries put in place as political favors tend to hang around forever: there is no better example than the current dysfunction in the State Department and CIA. While the top bosses are appointed by the current Administration, those bosses bring in their own cronies who survive the Administration. Bush’s Administration is chock full of “lifer” bureaucrats who were brought in by previous Administrations.

The only solution I see is a radical cutback of Federal power and bureaucracy. The only way to do that is to stop feeding the beast and repeal most of Federal taxation and eliminate most regulatory bureaucracies and departments.

Mr. Galt:

Many years ago, I taught history and am quite familiar with the sources you cite.  In truth, I’m more of a Jeffersonian-Jacksonian than a Madisonian-Hamiltonian sort.

If we NEED to get down to making distinctions between “bipartisanship” and “compromise” vs. “collaboration” - - then I certainly agree, to one degree or another, with your position on that issue.  I certainly agree wholeheartedly that bills should be single-issue.

In regard to your coments, I believe the congressional system, as it currently operates, is set up to benefit “politics” and “politicians” - - NOT “The People” nor “The Nation”.  And, of course, I believe every reasonable person is against expanding “governmental bureaucracy” - - except those who might believe that in a few short years - - “the government” will be the only entity hiring in this country!

My personal objection to the current state of affairs is two-fold:

(1.) Over the past 15 years, I believe both political parties came under the control of an extremist minority element which does not represent the Traditional values once held by the parties, but, rather, represents monied special interests whose financing supports the party extremists.  As a result, neither party represents nor is responsive to the broader interests of the general, middle-of-the-road American public.  Additionally, both parties have promoted a sense of blind partisanship that, to me, is little different than Serbs vs. Croats or Sunnis vs. Shiites or South vs. North.  It’s only possible end-result is destructiveness.

(2.) By observation during the 12 presidential administrations of my lifetime - - I believe the most dangerious problem facing this country today is the poor result coming from the political choices made as regards domestic and international economic policies over the last 25 years.  I believe today’s economic problems began with Reagan and have been compounded by each administration since.  Most simply, I believe “Reaganomics” took the focus of American economic policy off “fair trade” and placed it wholly on “free trade” and “deregulation”, while simultaneously also taking the focus off “the American workers” and placing it on “the investors” (American or not), i.e., from Main Street to Wall Street.  And, of course, I sure as hell cannot logically recognize how deep and repetitive tax cuts and record-breaking deficit spending go together!

Personally, while I’m registered as an Independent, today, I would be embarrassed to allow myself to be labeled as either a Democrat or Republican - - or a liberal or conservative, for that matter.  I’m an Independent Traditionalst in the Mid-Century Modernist style! 

Politically, I detest “Wall Street Values” AND “San Francisoc Values” equally - - and as long as that kind of extreme partisanship and ideological gulf exists - - we’re going nowhere but downhill.

I’d like to see Congressional processes changed as you suggest - - but I think the only solution to the current mess is for an activist, grassroots, populist and popular, “collaborative” third party to develop which will refocus governmental priorities back onto Main Street, while re-emphasizing States Rights and state government over federal government.  Except for their support of unregulated free trade (I’m definitely a “fair trader” and an “America First” person), I suppose I might be able to become a Libertarian.

I could have voted for John McCain in 2000 - - but, now, he’s too damned old, too slow on the draw, and he’s definitely wandered off the McCain trail and is now blindly following the Bush trail to who the hell knows where?

And, flipflopping?  McCain was against tax cuts before he was for them; he was for campaign finance reform before he was against it; he was for a path to citizenship for illegals before he was against it; he was not concerned with an open border before he was against it, etc., etc., etc.  And, he’s apparently also had some unpleasant problems in a tumultuous first marriage - - an involvement with the Keating Five in the criminal savings and loan scandals - - and some lobbying conflicts of interest(???).

And, the Dems?  Geez!  In ‘64, Dem Johnson beat GOP’er Goldwater by the largest margin ever in a presidential election - - 64% to 36%!  After the debacle of the election of 2000 and eight years of The Texas Ranger and El Dicque - - I thought the Dems would most certailny beat that plurality record in this election!  But they go and put all their eggs in the basket with a woman that all GOPs love to hate - - and an very young, inexperienced, and unknown black guy!  (And - - I believe there are still PLENTY of people out there who would NEVER vote for a woman or a black guy - - regardless of party or political persuasion!)

Back in ‘04, more people voted for The American Idol than voted for G. W. Bush!  Maybe that’s how we should pick the next president?

To be honest, as I recall, there were originally 18 individuals who offered themselves as candidates for this election?  Of those 18 - - none really impressed me.  Pretty sad commentary.

To Drill or Not to Drill? 
By Dr. Mark W. Hendrickson
FrontPageMagazine.com | Thursday, July 31, 2008

High fuel prices have produced a tectonic shift in the United States’ political landscape. Recent polls indicate a strong surge of support for Uncle Sam lifting government restrictions against domestic drilling for oil. Blocking the development of domestic energy resources was a luxury we used to be able to afford. At current prices, though, the calculus has shifted. The reasons for proceeding full-speed-ahead with domestic drilling are compelling. They include:

1) Compassion toward relatively poor Americans. Those who oppose domestic oil production often are those who claim to champion “the little guy.” They can prove the sincerity of their professions by permitting increased domestic production of oil, thereby exerting downward pressure on the market price of the fuel that consumes a growing share of Americans’ incomes.

2) Reducing the merchandise trade deficit. For years, politicians left and right have decried the United States’ enormous trade deficit. Since imports of oil now account for more than half of that deficit, one of the most effective policies for reducing it would be to produce more oil domestically.

3) Creating more jobs, especially high-paying blue-collar jobs. Why does the party that aspires to be known as the friend of labor suppress the creation of thousands of high-paying jobs for American workers?

4) Showing more respect to the rest of the world. There is something pathetic about the president of the United States traveling to Saudi Arabia to plead for them to increase production while we refuse to increase our own. Liberals are uncomfortable with any manifestation of American exceptionalism, yet aren’t we practicing exceptionalism when we expect the rest of the world to produce our energy for us?

5) Increasing national security. Who benefits the most from today’s astronomical oil prices? Ideologues reflexively point the finger at “Big Oil,” but the major beneficiaries are the House of Saud—the sponsor of Wahhabism—and such mischief-makers as Venezuela’s Chavez.

6) Keep taxes on middle class Americans from being raised. If fuel prices stay high, don’t be surprised if Congress proposes new, costly federal energy assistance programs for poorer Americans. Shades of agricultural subsidies and food stamps! Once again, the American taxpayer will take it on the chin twice—first, by having to pay more for gas and heating oil as a result of government’s suppression of domestic production; second, by tax dollars being channeled to those hurt most by those unnecessarily high prices.

The following objections to a pro-drilling policy are weak and clearly untenable under present circumstances:

1) Oil and gas wells are not aesthetically pleasing. True, but neither is human hardship. Are well-to-do “green” sentimentalists willing to see an occasional derrick in exchange for millions of poorer Americans gaining critical relief from high fuel costs?

2) An accident could occur. No fooling? But if we are going to outlaw risk, why not ban driving? Automobile accidents claim over 40,000 American lives annually. The environmentalist assertion that oil companies won’t take sufficient precautions to prevent oil spills is a prima facie absurdity. Oil is valuable, and if American oil companies are half as greedy as their critics claim they are, then they will strive mightily to prevent spills which hurt them in two ways—loss of valuable product and incurring the huge cost of cleanups. Those fearing oil spills should take heart from the fact that a thousand oil and gas wells were smashed by Hurricane Katrina, yet no spills occurred. Technology has improved.

3) Oil company profits are “obscene.” Why discriminate against oil companies? We don’t think twice when other businesses—cell phone, beverage, retail , software, etc.—earn greater profits when they provide more of what people want. In you really resent oil company profits, you should favor opening up drilling to all comers, because increased production puts downward pressure on prices and increased competition squeezes profit margins.

4) Increased drilling won’t boost supply right away. True, but pointless. It is because people accepted this myopic premise years ago that we are in our present predicament. Let’s do a better job of planning ahead. Future oil prices will be lower with increased supply than without it.

5) We need to develop alternative energy sources to replace oil. Okay, but what will we do if those technological breakthroughs don’t occur as early as we hope? We will need affordable energy regardless, so it would be prudent to increase the supply of oil, just in case we find ourselves still needing it.

The time for drilling is now. Let’s get on with it.

BITE yourself and do some research - DEMOCRATS got us into WWI, WWII Korea and VIETNAM!!  IF CLINTON Had done his job of going after bin laden when he had THREE chances to do so - BUSH wouldn’t have had to go to war!

AND...bite yourself again, oh blind one - consider that if CLINTON had NOT spent down the military and Intelligence budgets and reduced the military to the point where they were so strained we would not have had to REBUILD the military!!

He was attacked five times under his watch and did NOTHING!!  The first TRADE TOWERS attack was under his watch - so go BITE YOURSELF AGAIN!!

To John Galt - #29:

Regarding your comment:  “Does anybody find it humorous or horrifying to consider Obamassiah’s latest ploy on gasoline prices?”

You know, this is the political season - - and the two major political parties are engaged in their usual middle-school-style hissyfitting - - all the usual puzzlewits - - and all this yapping by BOTH candidates and parties about “gas prices” and “the economy” - - is nothing more than the politicos’ version of Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” - - in this case - - dueling, attention-grabbing, publicity stunts between McCain and Obama to garner precious soundbites and facetime on TV.

First, for my money, unregulated, crude-oil futures speculation (Republicans in Congress have refused to raise crude-oil margin-trading margins from the current 10% to 50% - - which would reduce the scope of the speculation) is the single biggest reason for the run-up in gasoline prices.  (Not unlike the run-up in residential real estate prices from 2003-2006 caused by the “no money down”, “easy money”, speculative “flippers”!)

Second, in my opinion, re-regulation of the oil companies and crude-oil futures trading (back to the pre-2000 rules), serious conservation (let’s start with re-instituting the national 55 MPH speed limit - - which is a PROVEN response), and a “Man on the moon this decade"-type committment to (1.)properly utilize EVERY doemstic source of oil and natural gas we have ASAP, and (2.) to find and perfect EVERY alternative source of energy that we can ASAP - - will immediately reduce the retail cost of gasoline by 40%-50% overnight!

Unregulated and, now, run amok capitalism has apparently convinced Big Business that it has no basic corporate or social responsibility whatsoever.  (Big Business needs to be restrained as much as it did at the turn from 19th to 20th century!))

Also note that the CEOs of the five predominantly “American” oil companies have annual salaries ranging from about $22 million to $82 million - - plus perks and benefits.  Obviously, this kind of excessive remuneration extends to other “top” management as well - - and, obviously, record-breaking profits undoubtedly result in record-breaking perks - - with the end result that as much money is being wasted in these oil companies as is wasted in government.  Probably more!

So, I’d talk softly to them at first - - and threaten “the big stick” - - with the idea that if they don’t willingly cooperate in an effort to reduce their overhead expenses - - and in turn reducing retail prices - - then we’re going to resort to punitive regulation and taxation while pulling out all the stops to find alternatives to their products - - even if we have to subsidize the development of alternatives - - and even if the price escalates while we’re doing it!

If we have to “suffer” (temporarily) in the process, e.g., rationing, higher prices, etc., so be it!

Also - - note that in terms of domestic oil exploration and drilling in ANWR and along the continental shelf and in the Gulf of Mexico - - those areas are ALL PUBLIC LANDS - - and - - “If you’re (the American oil companies) making profits off of publicly-owned resources - - you have a RESPONSIBILITY to give something back to the public!” - - would be my mantra. 

In reality, with both parties catering to Big Business for the last 25 years, we’ve got a situation not too unlike the situation that Teddy Roosevelt confronted with his anti-monopoly and “trustbusting” policies.  If we don’t get back to that - - Wal-Mart, Big Agriculture, Big Insurance, Big Financial Services, Big Utilities, Big Pharma, etc. - - will do the same thing to us as has the oil-producing cartel!  The result: Back to serfdom and economic slavery for the majority of us in the middle class!

As it is, Big Business has been running this country in ever-increasing degrees going back to their getting a foothold via “Reaganomics” and the business de-regulation of the ‘80s.  Frankly, in terms of their respective effects on the working middle class, extreme, unfettered and run amok capitalism (see: The Robber Barons) and communism are equally as bad (???)

I think the Obama and McCain campaigns are saying a lot of things off the tops of their heads (McCain’s “summer gas tax holiday") just to get attention!  And, long ago, both major parties gave up serving the people:  now, they serve themselves, and the only objective is “winning”!

“… Unregulated and, now, run amok capitalism has apparently convinced Big Business that it has no basic corporate or social responsibility whatsoever. ...”

UNREGULATED!!!??? Dude, you should look at the mountains of conflicting regulations that business contends with.

RUN AMOK CAPITALISM!!!??? You mean “Crony Capitalism,” the blatant power- and money-grabbing exhibited daily by our fine politicians and corrupt businessmen?

Why should business accept “social responsibility” when the gubmint has already claimed that turf?

To John Galt:

Geez!  Talk about “pontificating”, Bub!  Wow!  According to you, even Teddy Roosevelt screwed-up - - despite having received a hundred years worth of credit from a lot of academicians in quite a few different disciplines. (???)

And, note, there are as many different economic philosophies as there are political philosophies - - and mine are obviously different from yours - - and, I must say, happily so!

Apparently your economic and political persuasion is Compulsive Contrarian.

It must take an awful personal toll on you being such an expert - - and such an unappreciated one, at that!

Hope to see you again, next time I visit your planet!

Homines quid volunt credunt!

“… Apparently your economic and political persuasion is Compulsive Contrarian. ...”

No, my economic philosophy is laissez-faire Capitalism. My political philosophy is Constitutional Republican.

The contrarianism you perceive is my dedication to facts and reason and opposition to pandering, obfuscation, and hypocrisy.

Sorry I don’t understand Latin.

I think TK needs to read the book, Liberal Fascism, by Jonah GOldberg, to get his facts straight!!  TK - read it and then look at YOUR posts here.  You will see why you are quoting “politically correct” history - not the true history of the US.  I support your right to your opinon, but not to the facts which you are “spinning”, I think. 

You might also read the book, Robber Barons, about those who set up the railroads in our country!  This is an interesting book.

Also consider reading the book, STATE OF FEAR, by Michael Chrichton and look at his FACTS posted to support the point that government only rules by fear and crisis and the major or # 1 crisis which is phony and self serving is global warming!  Look at how our congress jumped on this issue and hopefully MCcain will wise up - I think he has in a post I saw today! 

AND TK - if you want, I will send you TWO links to articles from nations who have moved away from the Kyoto Treaty as they have discovered the faulty science and hype behind it along with the fact that the world has been cooling since 1991.

One is India and the other is Australia - the latter article being written by the man who is in charge of the GW project for his country!  He now states he was wrong!  Want the links?

Here is a post we ALL need to read from an Iranian protestor.  Look at the steps posted and see if this is something you would like to consider for our country. If so, post here and let me know your ideas.  Post on ALL blogs to which you belong or comment and post the “consensus” of their thoughts.  IF this can be done in Iran, it can be done here where we have more freedoms than they do: 

http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=78723809-820A-4D99-B720-7A7B033F4B2A

Some of you ask what can we do to get rid of our corrupt congress and to stop the socialistic trend we are heading in by our country and to stop OBAMA from bankrupting our country and putting it UNDER the auspices of the UN!!  Go read that article above and get back to me on the thoughts posted there. 

TK - if you read the book Liberal FAscism, -Obama is doing exactly what HITLER and MOUSSILINI did to take over their countries.  Look at the four steps HITLER took especially:  the great myth (Obama’s CHANGE), control of the media and communications (CNN, MSNBC< CBS etc are in LOVE with Obama and will not print his missteps, his flip flops, his statements that show he is a socialist, etc), Passionate and power oratory (Obama reads well off a teleprompter) and exciting rallies where people get pumped up!  Did you know that n GERMANY, two popular bands played for the crowd BEFORE OB spoke?  They weren’t all there just to hear him speak, TK!!

AND my great grandparents were in Italy when Moussilini was there and the country was brutal, violent, corrupt and restricting of personal freedom. That is why the emigrated here.  I remember my grandmother talking about almost starving to death as they wouldn’t join Moussilini’s farm collective!  He wouldn’t let them sell their produce to make money! 

AND TK - Don’t think it can’t happen here folks - they said that about HITLER also!  Look at our own countries responses to WWII and the internment of Japanese AMERICANS!!  My neighbors were imprisoned as children and their properties taken away - their parents DIED while in the camps!!  To all of you:  DON"T tell me it can’t happen here! 

And TK - if you bother reading the book and look at the documentation, you will see that it is mainly DEMOCRATS who have screwed up our country.

Republicans have had their excesses also, but we were started on the WRONG track by liberal leaders!! Wilson and FDR and LBJ with his welfare state - really read it carefully! 

AND if CLINTON had gone after Bin Laden as he should have, we wouldn’t have had the IRaq war! Consider that Bin Laden was a SAUDI and the SAUDI’s even today are paying CLINTON $$$$$$$$$$ for his “library” and speaking engagements!  A coincidence?  I don’t think so!! 

For all who are oconcerned about the direction our country is heading, The question is, what do we do about it?  Go to this link above and read the steps Iranian dissidents are taking to get a democracy set up and see if that is something we can do and get back to this blog with your opinion = TK - you especially I would like to see your responses.

“… even Teddy Roosevelt screwed-up ...”

ERRARE HUMANUM EST!

Rockefeller screwed up joining the South Improvement Company attempt at forming a railroad cartel (which by the way played an instrumental role in bankrupting Ida Tarbell’s father—her claims to having no dog in the fight to the contrary), but Roosevelt screwed up in going after the Standard Oil Trust in that the charges were wrong and unjust. Rockefeller was one of, if not the greatest businessmen and creators of wealth this country has ever seen.

His laser-like focus on efficiency and re-investment in production resulted in price reductions, never in price increases. His share of the kerosene market dropped from its highest point of about 90% to around 60% as his methods and improvements were copied by his competitors and oil was discovered in Texas and California. Contrary to popular pandering, most of the companies he bought sold willingly to him once he showed the owners his books and demonstrated that they could not compete against his COSTS of production and still profit. Many of those owners ended up joining Standard Oil (much like Warren Buffet’s model) and became extremely wealthy in the end.

So, yes. In my opinion, Roosevelt was wrong to target Rockefeller and Standard Oil.

To John Galt - #36:

To me, you’re a nihilist.  At best, maybe an ordinary anarchist.

And, with regard to your comment ... “dedication to facts and reason and opposition to pandering, obfuscation, and hypocrisy” - - as I stated in a previous post - - “And, of course, YOU own the other half of the facts and, of course, YOUR half of the facts are the CORRECT and “GOOD” facts!”

And a final note:  “Laissez-faire capitalism”, carried to its extreme, will result in enslavement of the working class as readily and to the very same extent as does Communism.  The run-amok capitalist planter-class in the American south and the run-amok new industrialsts of the Robber Baron era achieved their riches via the complete and total abuse of the workers who, while under one kind of economic slavery or another, made the capitalists extreme level of wealth possible without the workers receiving fair and just compensation and acceptable treatment themselves ( which is why, in both cases, the government, in a wholly rightful manner, did contravene both sets of these circumstances of “capitalism run amok").

Whatever your perspective - - to me, it’s narrow-minded and extremist - - and you blithely reject the real world facts and persons which/who do not agree with your pre-determined conclusions.

And, of course, for the most part, this is a website dedicated to extreme right-wingism - - so it’s my own mistake to expect anything other here!

I do agree that “men will believe what they want” - - and, most certainly - - that many of them believe things that are wrong.  And this forum surely highlights many of the latter, including, I’m afraid, youself.

Only an ignorant fool or a cynic with a collectivist agenda would equate laissez faire Capitalism with slavery.

FACT:
Laissez-faire Capitalism is based on the FREE and VOLUNTARY exchange of value for value among people. If a worker doesn’t think he is getting a fair exchange of his labor, he is FREE to seek a more beneficial exchange elsewhere. An employer is FREE to set the value (wage) he is willing to pay for the workers’ labor.

FACT:
Slavery EXTRACTS value by FORCE from laborers. A slave is not FREE by definition. (It could be argued that Unionism is slavery of employers, forcing the employer to either grant the union officials’ demands or go out of business. It could also be argued as I have that the income tax system is tantamount to slavery, as it forces compliance under threat of imprisonment.)

FACT:
The form of “capitalism” practiced in the Southern United States up until the late 1930’s was in fact SLAVERY, both acknowledged as such prior to the Civil War, and unacknowledged under the names of “indentured servitude” and “peonage” until the late 1930’s.

FACT:
Anarchy is NO government. I am in favor of a Confederated Republic form of government (as defined in the Federalist Papers). The problem I have with the current government is that I believe the Federal government has usurped too much of the powers that should be granted to the States and that it has usurped too much economic power.

FACT:
A nihilist is one who believes that existence has no objective meaning or value. I certainly do not fall into that category.

I am a person who makes judgments, but I am open to changing my judgments based on facts that show my judgment to be based on incorrect information or flawed reasoning. I suppose I’m “narrow minded” in that I demand facts and logic, not feelings or emotion, back judgment.

You would be surprised to find that I don’t fit the “right-winger” label in many of my judgments about individual rights and liberty. I would be closer to Jefferson than you think, although he was much closer to libertarianism and anarchy than I am.