As I mentioned in an earlier post, there is much more to the current increase in fuel prices than some politicians would have you think. CNBC/MS Money Central's recent story on the matter, "A long, hot summer at the gas pump" clarifys a lot of the questions. Supply, international and domestic demand, international politics, taxes, limited refinery capacity (environmental), profitability all play a part.
There is a state by state comparison of the fuel taxes, reviewing some of that data, with a little analysis, will leave you scratching your head. Other data will have you shaking it.
Then there is the comparison internationally. Venezuela, one of the primary contributing problems listed has the lowest domestic prices, about 14 cents per gallon. The Dutch, those defenders of liberality and permissivness, have the highest listed prices at $5.83/gallon.
Then there is the biggest shock of all, the current prices are not the highest this country has seen, adjusted for inflation.
Read the article, inform yourself, while you drink you $3 cafe latte ($48/gallon)and $2 Perrier ($21/gallon), and stop whining so much.
Be sure to visit Letters From Iraq
Friday, May 28, 2004
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
The Atlanta Journal Constitution carried a piece from Rep. Jim Marshall (D-GA) making a case for staying the course. While a part of his premise is to not do so is anathema for the Democratic Party, the points made are valid and worth noting, no matter what your party affiliation.
Essentially, the terrorists were coming here anyway whether we went into Iraq or not. To pull out now will be acquiescing the Middle East and Islamic countries to the radical fundamentalist. With that will come increased attacks on the US, resulting in a tightening of security that will make the Patriot Act seem like total freedom.
Combined with that will be massive increases in security costs, as well as rebuilding from destruction wreaked on us and you can forget about any non-essential spending by your government.
The terrorists want us…bad! Abu Musab Zarqawi, the lead foreign terrorist in Iraq and the man who beheaded Nicholas Berg, as written a letter outlining his intentions, they are not good. America is a target rich country this summer and the terrorists are determined to take advantage of it. The International Institute of Strategic Studies' "Strategic Survey 2003-4" says the U.S. remains al-Qaida's prime target, and quotes one of the network's leaders as saying 4 million Americans will have to be killed "as a prerequisite to any Islamic victory." The rest, according to the terrorists, would convert to Islam.
We must not soften. We must not back down. John Kerry wants to go to the UN and have “dialogue.” We don’t need dialogue, we need action. The only thing terrorists understand is power. We have two choices, be the aggressor or be the victim. As long as we are the aggressor, the terrorists must be on the defensive, always looking over their shoulder. The minute we back off, they become the aggressor and they will come after us full bore.
We cannot simply protect ourselves against terrorist acts, we must carry the war to them and destroy them. Anything less than that and al Qaida’s 18,000 warriors will be coming here to fulfill that goal of 4 million dead Americans.
Be sure to visit Letters From Iraq
Essentially, the terrorists were coming here anyway whether we went into Iraq or not. To pull out now will be acquiescing the Middle East and Islamic countries to the radical fundamentalist. With that will come increased attacks on the US, resulting in a tightening of security that will make the Patriot Act seem like total freedom.
Combined with that will be massive increases in security costs, as well as rebuilding from destruction wreaked on us and you can forget about any non-essential spending by your government.
The terrorists want us…bad! Abu Musab Zarqawi, the lead foreign terrorist in Iraq and the man who beheaded Nicholas Berg, as written a letter outlining his intentions, they are not good. America is a target rich country this summer and the terrorists are determined to take advantage of it. The International Institute of Strategic Studies' "Strategic Survey 2003-4" says the U.S. remains al-Qaida's prime target, and quotes one of the network's leaders as saying 4 million Americans will have to be killed "as a prerequisite to any Islamic victory." The rest, according to the terrorists, would convert to Islam.
We must not soften. We must not back down. John Kerry wants to go to the UN and have “dialogue.” We don’t need dialogue, we need action. The only thing terrorists understand is power. We have two choices, be the aggressor or be the victim. As long as we are the aggressor, the terrorists must be on the defensive, always looking over their shoulder. The minute we back off, they become the aggressor and they will come after us full bore.
We cannot simply protect ourselves against terrorist acts, we must carry the war to them and destroy them. Anything less than that and al Qaida’s 18,000 warriors will be coming here to fulfill that goal of 4 million dead Americans.
Be sure to visit Letters From Iraq
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
John Kerry says it's Bush's fault gas prices are high. That the US should become energy independent and oil should be diverted from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
He's really reaching for darts to throw at Bush. First, gas prices always go up in the summer. It's supply and demand, John. Second, the supply is tight because of OPEC, that's O-P-E-C John, not B-u-s-h. OPEC has systematically reduced production in recent months, guess why. To raise the price per barrel. If you want to blame someone, blame O-P-E-C John.
Third, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is for national emergencies John, not to ease the price of gas at the pump. The worst thing we can do is draw down those reserves during a time of war. If something should happen to disrupt the flow of imports, and the reserves are low, like Kerry wants, $2.10 per gallon will look mighty good. If the reserves were full they would only cover the import demand for 65 days at best, most likely for less. Problem is, they aren't full because of draw downs by earlier administrations. Right now they are 14% off maximum levels.
Energy indepencence? Absolutely. But how do we obtain it? Certainly alternative energy sources are a part of that, but they take time and haven't been viable till now because they are too expensive. Increasing the cost of gas makes them much more workable.
The most important thing we can do is to increase domestic oil production and increase the number of nuclear generating plants thereby reducing the depencence on oil.
Problem there is John Kerry doesn't want to drill for oil, increase production or expand nuclear energy useage. Those would "harm the environment." He thinks this nations energy problems can be solved by increasing efficency. Well yeah, that will help, but that, too, will come at a cost to the consumer. And alone it will not address the need.
Kerry won't tell folk that his energy tax in the form of higher cost of goods due to more expensive production costs will be just as difficult to swallow as the current fuel prices.
He won't say that to use up the strategic reserves will put this nation at risk unnecessairly, a far greater risk than the current gas prices have.
He won't say that a large portion of those fuel prices are federal taxes Kerry voted for. He won't say that he would rather harm the consumer's pocket than harm a "beautiful mountaintop."
Thanks alot John Kerry. For reminding us that what we have now is far better than what we would have with you in office.
John, if you need some help understanding the problem, do some research, don't depend on the environmental nazis for information. Something tells me they are a bit biased.
Be sure to visit Letters From Iraq
He's really reaching for darts to throw at Bush. First, gas prices always go up in the summer. It's supply and demand, John. Second, the supply is tight because of OPEC, that's O-P-E-C John, not B-u-s-h. OPEC has systematically reduced production in recent months, guess why. To raise the price per barrel. If you want to blame someone, blame O-P-E-C John.
Third, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is for national emergencies John, not to ease the price of gas at the pump. The worst thing we can do is draw down those reserves during a time of war. If something should happen to disrupt the flow of imports, and the reserves are low, like Kerry wants, $2.10 per gallon will look mighty good. If the reserves were full they would only cover the import demand for 65 days at best, most likely for less. Problem is, they aren't full because of draw downs by earlier administrations. Right now they are 14% off maximum levels.
Energy indepencence? Absolutely. But how do we obtain it? Certainly alternative energy sources are a part of that, but they take time and haven't been viable till now because they are too expensive. Increasing the cost of gas makes them much more workable.
The most important thing we can do is to increase domestic oil production and increase the number of nuclear generating plants thereby reducing the depencence on oil.
Problem there is John Kerry doesn't want to drill for oil, increase production or expand nuclear energy useage. Those would "harm the environment." He thinks this nations energy problems can be solved by increasing efficency. Well yeah, that will help, but that, too, will come at a cost to the consumer. And alone it will not address the need.
Kerry won't tell folk that his energy tax in the form of higher cost of goods due to more expensive production costs will be just as difficult to swallow as the current fuel prices.
He won't say that to use up the strategic reserves will put this nation at risk unnecessairly, a far greater risk than the current gas prices have.
He won't say that a large portion of those fuel prices are federal taxes Kerry voted for. He won't say that he would rather harm the consumer's pocket than harm a "beautiful mountaintop."
Thanks alot John Kerry. For reminding us that what we have now is far better than what we would have with you in office.
John, if you need some help understanding the problem, do some research, don't depend on the environmental nazis for information. Something tells me they are a bit biased.
Be sure to visit Letters From Iraq
Sunday, May 23, 2004
"No one in World War II demanded that President Roosevelt present them with a timetable for the end of the war, much less for when our military occupation would end in Europe. Nor did anyone demand to know how much the war would cost in dollars and cents. But the maturity to think beyond the moment has apparently become far more scarce today than it was in the days of the greatest generation. Will future historians call us the childish generation? How much today's childishness will cost this country in the long run only the future will tell -- and it may tell in blood." --Thomas Sowell
Those of our generation don't care as long as we get ours, the TV and computer works, we can order out pizza, still have room on the card to get the latest fashions and the car looks fast. Future? What about it?
Be sure to visit Letters From Iraq
Those of our generation don't care as long as we get ours, the TV and computer works, we can order out pizza, still have room on the card to get the latest fashions and the car looks fast. Future? What about it?
Be sure to visit Letters From Iraq
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