A recent bumper sticker read “When Bush took office, gas was $1.69 a gallon.” The other day when I filled my tank, gas was $1.25 a gallon. So, should we be praising George W. Bush for current low gas prices? Barack Obama is not yet in office, so he can’t take credit.
The president, oil man or not, does not have the power to affect fuel prices. So, when fuel prices rise again — and they will — please refrain from blaming George, Barack or the following president. Members of Congress, Democratic or Republican, have done nothing to affect oil prices, regardless of their vote-pandering, grandstanding speeches.
We still need to drill for oil domestically, or the U.S. will continue to be at the mercy of foreign powers, many of which are hostile to our national security.
Greg Hertfelder
North Kansas City
viet vet shows us once again that he has no grasp of economics or common sense.
The US has enough gas to cover us for enough time for us to find a reliable alternate fuel source. Sitting around and not getting it while relying on those that can make the price anything they want is stupid. Trusting other governments to look after our own best interests is also stupid.
The only smart thing we can do is to prepare for the worst by making sure we have enough for our own use. In addition, having our own supply gives us bargaining power.
Posted by: kcstar_is_one_sided | December 20, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Viet-vet, obviously you do not have much inertaction wihtin the energy sector other than acquiring your data from CNN.
Hardly is a 14% net margin robust. In addition, if you are so against oil, stop buying ANY petroleum based products. You best get out there in this freezing weather and rid yourself of the tires on your vehicle and the ketchup bottles in your fridge, both petroleum based. Of course you have no problem with the government having the largest profit (truly windfall) from a barrel of oil or gallon of gas.
Posted by: NoMoreMrNiceGuy | December 20, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Drilling in an Artic wasteland is the same as drill on the "National Mall in D.C.?
Give me a break. Wake up people. Do not allow the left to once again give us $4.00 a gallon gasoline.
http://www.americansolutions.com/actioncenter/petitions/?Guid=54ec6e43-75a8-445b-aa7b-346a1e096659
Posted by: Kee | December 20, 2008 at 09:32 AM
Greg, the price of oil would not budge if the U.S. drilled everywhere from the National Mall in D.C. to the last acre of tundra in Alaska.
Why?
Because the oil market is a WORLD market, not a U.S. market. WORLD supply and WORLD demand determine the price of oil, not U.S. supply and demand.
And since the U.S. has only 2 percent of the world's oil reserves, even unlimited drilling here would not move the WORLD market.
Oil companies would like us to end all controls on domestic oil drilling. Why? Because they would reap enormous profits.
But would the price of oil be affected?
No.
Posted by: viet-vet1970 | December 20, 2008 at 09:07 AM