WARNING:The thoughts expressed below do not come from a pre-approved media source according to FT,Seden and company.[/

Democrats Vote To Increase The Price of Gasoline Two measures on the war in Iraq were recently offered in The United States Senate. Both envisioned getting out as soon as possible. Both gave tacit support to Al-Qaeda. Both lost. Thank heavens. I know it's a brutal idea. If America fails to control the outcome in Iraq, the price of your gasoline will go up. And your heating oil. And your propane. And your diesel. And thousands of products you buy. In fact, not only will the price go up, you will have to suffer through the chaos of gasoline shortages. And shortages of diesel, propane and heating oil fuels. Why? There are those who believe our strategy (strategy?) in Iraq is dumb. Senseless killing continues. The war effort has been appallingly mismanaged. Efforts to create an Iraqi democracy have failed. Backed by the United States, the Kurds are in a four way struggle with Syria, Iran, and Turkey for control of the Kurdish ethnic areas of Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. At stake: the oil fields near Kirkuk. Shia factions and criminal gangs are in a three way conflict over who will control Southern Iraq. At stake: the oil fields near Basra. Saudi Arabia and other predominately Sunni nations are backing Al-Qaeda and the Iraqi Sunni population in Central Iraq. At stake: the Sunni's want to control all of Iraq with an iron fist theocracy. But wait. Iraq does have the world's third largest reserves of cheap oil. If America leaves, Iraq will be taken over by people who have no love for the United States, Canada, Australia or Western Europe. There will be a very bloody civil war. Thousands will die. If that conflict can be resolved (not a sure thing), then whatever oil production Iraq can muster will go to nations favored by the winners. Everyone else will have to compete for what's left over. The price of oil will be astronomical. Yes. This is all very ugly. But forget why America invaded Iraq. That's not the issue. The issue is: what do we do next? The Republicans don't have a clue. "Stay the course", they say. That's it? That's all they have to offer? Stay the course seems to lack a certain amount of ¿ um ¿ imagination. So. What do we hear from the Democrats? Have they developed a better plan for Iraq? Have they shown any creative intelligence? Do we see an attempt to create bipartisan support for a plan that will work? Are they willing to deal with the real world? No. The Democrats just want to Cut and Run. They pander to the ignorance of the proletariat: ¿ Oil depletion doesn't exist. ¿ Gasoline comes from the Good Petroleum Fairy. ¿ Higher prices and shortages will not gut America's economy, increase unemployment, or raise hell with inflation. ¿ Competition for declining oil production will not lead to international military conflict. See. There is no problem. If we fail to control the outcome in Iraq, nobody gets hurt. Soothing words. Everything will be OK. Liberalism ignores the downside. Are these people really that stupid? Or are they just lying to us? Walking away from Iraq will translate into higher prices at the gasoline pump. And a recession. Higher unemployment. Rising inflation. Democrats and liberals speculate endlessly about the reasons for going into Iraq. But dwelling on the past will not solve today's problems, or tomorrows challenges. The fact is: we are there, and that has created a moral obligation for the American people. We owe it to the Iraqi people to help them create a stable political environment. We have to deal with the Islamist threat. We must find a way to involve oil consumer nations in a fair and equitable distribution of Iraqi oil. Yes. We have a moral obligation to the Iraqi people to control the outcome. But what is the Democratic response? "Cut and Run" ? Although you are well aware this policy will lead to the blood-thirsty car. The Cultural Economist

But forget why America invaded Iraq. That's not the issue. The issue is: what do we do next? The Republicans don't have a clue.AMEN

Walking away from Iraq will translate into higher prices at the gasoline pump.A real energy policy will result in lower prices at the pump, over time.

AMEN

A real energy policy will result in lower prices at the pump, over time.

As more and more countries compete for oil the price will continue to rise.
The only way you will ever see, substantially, lower gas prices is to develop an alternative fuel, and have it adopted, globally.

FLUFFERNUTTER is exactly right. But it that might prove to be harder than adopting a alternative fuel.... and even harder yet to have it globally adopted.

The only way you will ever see, substantially, lower gas prices is to develop an alternative fuel In other words, have an energy policy. How about this; every time the price of a barrel of foreign oil goes below, say, 70 bucks a barrel, we levy a tax which is used to subsidize research into clean energy alternatives (Hydrogen is my personal fav). GOP would never agree to this by the way because there's a tax hike in there somewhere.

In other words, have an energy policy. How about this; every time the price of a barrel of foreign oil goes below, say, 70 bucks a barrel, we levy a tax which is used to subsidize research into clean energy alternatives (Hydrogen is my personal fav). GOP would never agree to this by the way because there's a tax hike in there somewhere.


Hell, the federal government already makes more money off a gal of gasoline than anyone else in the supply chain. Why not use some of what is already collected? It's sure not being used to maintain infrastructure.

As gas prices go up, alternative fuel will look better and better to consumers. For energy companies, that cash cow will start to grow, and the race will be on.

High prices do wonders for efficiency.

Alternative fuel vehicles & the fuel to feed them need to be introduced in developing nations before they have become completely oil-dependent. Better to build a new series of pipelines / delivery systems where there are none presently & introduce that population to clean fuel ASAP as opposed to the several decades it might take to switch over our own situation.

High prices do wonders for efficiency.But vested corporate interests work wonders in keeping the status quo instead of increasing efficiency. Do you honestly think Big Oil is going to fund research that is going to cut consumption of their own product by 50%? Never going to happen. Where does the research money come from for such a huge project? Auto companies? They can barely affford to pay their own employees. There is only one place: enlightened federal government. By tweaking the tax structure (including subsidies) to promote the kind of massive investment it will take to get this project off the ground.

Better to build a new series of pipelines / delivery systems where there are none presently & introduce that population to clean fuel ASAP as opposed to the several decades it might take to switch over our own situation. Good point, but someone's got to take the lead in this.

Hell, the federal government already makes more money off a gal of gasoline than anyone else in the supply chain. Yes - but the Feds actually took much more in inflation adjusted dollars back in the days of 60 cent a gallon gas and new Caddies for 2 grand. Taxes on gasoline have never been lower.

Yes - but the Feds actually took much more in inflation adjusted dollars back in the days of 60 cent a gallon gas and new Caddies for 2 grand. Taxes on gasoline have never been lower.

I don't think those 2 prices ever co-existed. When Caddies were 2 grand, gas was probably a quarter, if that.