Anyone NOT Worried About the Upcoming "Crisis"?

[MattM]

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[MattM]

Ummm, GOP pretty much controls the Supreme Court, and fringe environmental groups are not sitting on a pile of cash, so this argument makes no sense.

Yes, I do think gas prices being where they are, is a result of this administrations energy policy. I believe they had hoped to both profit and provide our country with cheap gas when they invaded Iraq. However once Iraq's pipelines where sabotaged, cheap gas was no longer part of our economic policy. But the oil companies were still able to benefit from the sharp rise in the price of oil, so all was good.

It would be interesting if Cheney's secret energy policy was made available to the public.

Cases like that rarely will get to the Supreme Court, due to the lack of constitutional issues. They are handled more in district and appeals courts. So really, that argument doesnt make any sense either.

And as far as the rest of your post, I think you're right. It was all part of Bush's plan to destroy the world...maybe even the Universe, along with Cheney's secret energy plan.

I didnt get any rain at my house last night, but my parents did. Its all Bush's fault!

Bush-Derangement

 

[Kay1]

Where in the world would you get "information" like this?

Amazing, isn't it?

 

[Kathi OD]

Not trying to interject politics in here, but…remember that we're getting our "news" about the economy from a national media of whom the vast majority are actively campaigning for a certain presidential candidate. Their objective is to paint an entirely bleak picture to pave the way for their candidate to win. Moreover, the vast majority of "reporters" know as much about economics as they do about astrophysics. Consumer prices are rising because the cost of oil is rising, due to a huge increase in demand, mostly from China. Since everything we buy is trucked around the country, those fuel costs increase the costs of goods. Our political class has chosen not to drill for oil in this country, where we have vast reserves, making us dependent on foreign oil.

Many of us are getting our "news" about the economy based on our own personal experiences of lay offs and higher prices wreaking havoc with our budgets. We don't need a biased media to tell us what we already know.

 

[Kathi OD]

You guys really think our government has that much control over the price of oil? One of the huge issues is that the dollar is worth much less than in was, due to our spending ways (both Democrats and Republicans have been spend happy - just on different things). When the dollar is worth less, the cost of things from overseas goes up.

add to that the craziness in the oil speculation markets and you have a recipe for disater.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Here are some examples of how the environment is being damaged, (though not YET destroyed) and the reasons why we would not benefit economically from the drilling in ANWR:

Oil Drilling Is Harming Arctic Ecosystems
March 27, 2003 (Adapted by Victoria Schlesinger and Kathleen M. Wong, California Academy of Sciences) - Oil exploration has permanently
harmed the ecosystems of the Arctic, according to a new study. A blue-ribbon panel assembled by the National Academy of Sciences has shown that 30 years of roadbuilding, noise, and oil exploration has affected the behavior of animals, harmed vegetation, and caused erosion.

www.arcticrefugeaction.org/newsroom/myths-vs-facts.pdf

Some people will believe anything. Anyway, The question was concerning "oil drilling" and not "oil exploration" and why do you think any "blue ribbon panel" by any academy is gospel truth? They are going to report only what they want the rest of the world to know, whether it is based in fact or not.

 

[Mo-Yo]

Some people will believe anything...They are going to report only what they want the rest of the world to know, whether it is based in fact or not.

I agree completely. They don't offer any proof to support their beliefs, and they discount supportable evidence as fabricated.

It's really a bizarre situation, isn't it?

Since I'm not a scientist, I'll trust scientists like those at the National Academies of Science and Engineering (aka "the Blue Ribbon panel"...sorry I didn't specify) to help inform my opinion.

And just curious...can we drill without exploring? What is the practical difference? I am not an expert in the field of oil and don't pretend to be, so it would be great if someone who actually does know the relationship could explain it.

 

[DisFlan]

Well, oil is down to $125 today, so let's hope the "bubble" is bursting. It'll likely never be $58 again, but there's a chance it won't be $150 or $200, either. At least not in the near future. $125 might keep a few airlines out of bankruptcy for a while longer, too.

DisFlan

 

[bluehen]

This point and this point alone needs to be broadcast 24 hours a day on all of the networks. This price increase did not happen by chance. With the rest of the world seeing the direction of our Presidential campaign, get ready to be fleeced on a lot of things in the future. They smell weakness because it's clear there is no will to defend ourselves if the GOP isn't there anymore. Sure they aren't perfect, but the alternative will be disaster.

The same old Republican scare tactics. sheesh

 

[Kathi OD]

Some people will believe anything. Anyway, The question was concerning "oil drilling" and not "oil exploration" and why do you think any "blue ribbon panel" by any academy is gospel truth? They are going to report only what they want the rest of the world to know, whether it is based in fact or not.

Using your logic, that actually works both ways. Who is to determine which group of experts is better than another? Each side will present only what they want to get out.

Nothing more than PROPAGANDA....both sides of an argument use it equally in an effort to sway those who really don't have any real way of knowing.

 

[Mo-Yo]

Kathy OD, I agree.

But I think its still important that we try to get past the misinformation and try to make wise choices...even though it sometimes seems futile.

What I find disturbing is that lack of quality conversations on the issues that will most certainly impact our future. Attacking each other's views and failing to bring substantive arguments to the table only exacerbates the problem.

 

[alstroemeria]

There was this saying: God, give me the strength to change what I can and to accept what I cannot change. Well, most of it is politics and media I'd say.

 

[Kathi OD]

Kathy OD, I agree.

But I think its still important that we try to get past the misinformation and try to make wise choices...even though it sometimes seems futile.

What I find disturbing is that lack of quality conversations on the issues that will most certainly impact our future. Attacking each other's views and failing to bring substantive arguments to the table only exacerbates the problem.

 

[MrMarv]

The media has definitely 'gone negative' and is definitely as cynical as can be.

But comparing current economic conditions to the Great Depression is insane and reeks of sensationalism.

 

[kellia]

We live in Michigan. We have way too many family and friends laid off with no job prospects (college educated, not just factory workers) and too many foreclosures on our street to not be worried. Dh was laid off in Dec. from a very "secure" job (thankfully found another in under a month). We both drive over 50 miles one way to get to work just so we can have a job (which is not good with gas over $4/gallon). We are "ok" now, but it is very scary and sad around here.

 

[kadesha]

The economy is affecting us terribly! My husband drives hundreds of miles a day for his job, and he doesn't get paid back for the gas. I drive 60 miles (total) to a low-paying job. I get sick to my stomach everytime my gas tank gets low. We are giving up anything extra to be able to take our anniversary trip. No eating out, etc. Any money we aren't spending on basic bills is being put up for Disney, and it's still going to be so difficult to save enough by our deadline. (We're staying at a value resort with base tickets) If the economy keeps going in this direction, I don't know how we'll even survive in a year or two!

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'm not worried, but I do feel alot of people overextended themsleves without considering the later economic consequences of their actions. Lots of people charge up stuff on their cc's that they don't really "need" [honestly, we don't "need" cell phones, iPods, Coach bags, and LCD HD TVs, but the lower and middle classes are clamoring for these "luxury" items and more or less deeming them necessities]. People bought houses imagining a quick flip and tens of thousands in profit, rather than looking for a place to live in for the next 10 - 20 years. Women got breast augmentation and men got pec implants rather than save the money in an emergency fund. People will still pay $4 a day for a damn latte at Starbucks, $5 for a pack of smokes, and $12 for a 6-pack of beer then cry that they're poor. No one wants to take any personal responsibility for anything. Too bad, so sad, but times are not nearly as tough as some of these ridiculous sob stories would make you believe.

Woah, I guess we hang in different crowds.

 

[mpls_mm]

Woah, I guess we hang in different crowds.

I know, I hadn't realized pec implants were as common as lattes and $12 6-packs.

 

[Purrrrfecta]

Using your logic, that actually works both ways. Who is to determine which group of experts is better than another? Each side will present only what they want to get out.

Nothing more than PROPAGANDA....both sides of an argument use it equally in an effort to sway those who really don't have any real way of knowing.

Yes, I say this works both ways as well.
The media who is pro DNC will say we are headed for a recession.

The GOP says we are paying more because China is using more oil.

I want proof to back it up. I want figures. I want to see how this oil money is being spent.

Don't just throw something out there and expect for me to believe it because I have faith in the person saying it.

As far as I am concerned. The oil company used Katrina as a reason to raise prices the way they did, and they never looked back.

 

[MermaidsMom]

The same old Republican scare tactics. sheesh

I agree completely. They don't offer any proof to support their beliefs, and they discount supportable evidence as fabricated.

It's really a bizarre situation, isn't it?

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Geez, while MermaidsMom was away.....

What do Republican scare tactics have to do with the FACT that the price of a barrel of oil has more than DOUBLED since Democrats took over the House and Senate in 2006? Is it a scare tactic to say oil prices are being manipulated while we sit on top of all the oil we would ever need? Since Democrats have blamed everything on Bush I guess that turn around is fair play. And c'mon, speaking of tactics, Democrats using their own scare tactics managed to turn 1/2 of their OWN party into racists recently. No Republicans needed.

The bizarre situation I find here is of people giving off the attitude "I have some leftist literature, believe it". Unfortunately due to years of leftist lies about extinction of certain animals/insects that weren't really extinct (their science was used) so they could get federal funding. Or the complete hysteria concerning climate change. Credibility is lost when science is used to lie. Excuse me for not rushing to read literature suggested by someone who is clearly hostile/sarcastic to my musings.