hike!

Oh look, just when you thought it was safe to buy a gallon of gas (huh).
But no, OPEC, grown used to the fat sums of money that've been rolling in these last few years, has decided that since oil prices have fallen back down around $100 a barrel, that it's time to cut back on Supply so that Demand can do its price-raising magic. No doubt this will excite the interest of speculators, also. Perhaps we can get that roller coaster going again.

And do any ideas for getting the oil monkey off our back come out of Washington? Not really.
Yes, there's a lot of talk about alternative energy, but even more about drilling for more domestic oil. Guess what folks? In order to unlatch from the teat of OPEC, we would have to increase domestic production by at least 150%, and then sustain that level.
And where is the talk of conservation? Simple things like lowering the speed limit (physics dictates that going slower uses less energy - it doesnt matter how efficient your vehicle is, it will use less fuel at 55 mph than it will at 70. Period.) or taxing larger, more gas-guzzling vehicles at a higher rate. How about big tax credits for home improvements which increase energy efficiency?

Nope, sorry, all we get out of Washington is Drill! Drill! Drill! (But not in my backyard)!*

I wont even get into the issue of greenhouse emissions.


* I would argue that the primary reason that fuel prices have dropped lately is that it's become a foregone conclussion among speculators that the U.S. will drill, thus raining on the parade of speculators.