[Biggie]

I see that Saudi Arabia wants to do nothing to help us calm oil prices down, which would help our economy calm down which in turn has an affect on the World Economy, so all good things. I say, we must supply them with something, and I say we raise the price on it daily, or we cut em off until they play fair. They own the land that covers the worlds biggest supply of oil, so if you get those rich jerks to get inline, then the rest of the world will probably follow suit. I dont care by the way what anyone else pays in other parts of the world, each country has there lower cost goods and higher cost goods, Gas does not need to be this high and going higher daily for any reason at all. If its 45 cents a gallon in Saudi Arabia, it should be no more than $2.50 a gallon here. Arent they supposed to be one of our friends in this world.

Now when it comes to our own Oil companies they are also flipping the citizens of this country the bird, There profits are so through the roof, its not even funny. I understand making money and all, but they are just stealing from us, when you think about it, and the two biggest Oil Companies are spending no money on research or new refinerys or anything that could help the future of the world and of course there own Country.

I just dont get it and why our Government is doing nothing I dont get either????

Thinking out loud again, Biggie

[Captain Eddie]

Biggie, I too feel your pain. Regarding the oil companies not putting any money into new refineries, however, that is due to all the federal regulations and hoops, etc, that are preventing that from happening. Also, if our government (read: Democrats) would only allow the oil companies to drill for oil in more offshore locations, and Anwar (spelling?), costs would come down. And don't get started talking about it spoiling the pristine wilderness, new tecnologies have a very small "footprint." I'm all for treating the earth with respect, but environmentalists were all in an uproar over how the Alaska pipeline would lead to decimation of the Carribou heard. The Carribou LOVE the pipeline, love to hang around it to keep warm, and have INCREASED their numbers since it was built.

[rarmenda]

We in this country forgot to protest in the streets like they did in the sixties. I am 32 years old and I dont remember anything affecting our soceity more equally than the rise of gasoline (excpet the rich). No matter if your Republican or Democrat, live in the west or east coast, south or north it is affecting everyone. We need to boycot anything that comes from so called friendly nations to get the message across. Did we not protect Saudi Arabia from immenent occupation by Iraq back in the early nineties. They should be cattering to our needs at least for one hundred years becasue Iraq would have occupied them untill there oil ran out.

[dboulais]

To build a refinery in the US you need a permit. The oil companies cannot get the permits, beacuse nobody whats a refinery in their town. Just getting past the environmental impact statements can take 10 years. If they get taken to court it can take forever. The oil companies buy crude oil to put in the refineries. Nothing says the countries that have crude oil to sell, have to sell to us at a lower price than they do to China. The companies have to pay what the country who has the oil demands. We don't produce crude oil in enough quantity in this country to meet our consumption. The OPEC countries have an interest in keeping crude oil prices high. We don't have anything they want bad enough, to force them to lower the crude oil prices (except guns). Certainly not comsumer goods (ours all come from China). Don't hold your breath for alternate energy sources. Not because the oil companies are not investing in them. But because it's not in their interest to cut their noses off to spit their faces. Look to NEW compaines without the existing bagage of the oil companies to develop alternative energy sources.

[trex0770]

My take? We, as a country have ADD. We can't focus on solving one issue, nor agree on a solution to do anything about it and the kicker is we keep coming up with more issues that are unimportant instead of dealing with ones like oil. We're not united, and sadly, probably never will be. Besides that, the average person will always have their ideas/solutions shouted down by the wackos who can be louder and more aggressive (I live in California...land of fruits, nuts and rejects). Happens across the board about everything, not just the oil issue. Sorry about the cynicism but those are just my observations.....as Trex goes back to his perfect diecast dictatorship.

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by Biggie

Arent they supposed to be one of our friends in this world.

The Saudis? That's what our government keeps telling us. Do you believe it?

[trex0770]

Originally Posted by Biggie

Arent they supposed to be one of our friends in this world.

Biggie.....can I interest you in a bridge, junk bond or subprime loan?

[1250ships]

Want cheaper gas/oil? Then deal with the fall of the dollar. Gas would be well under $3 a gallon if the dollar was at parity with the Euro. Because of the weak dollar we are paying a 50-60% premimum for gas.

BTW there is a school of thought that says the Saudis refuse to increase production because they can't- they are tapped out. Much discussion on this in the papers.

[Epapazian]

Because of our political system, with the Democrats and Republicans taking turns "leading" the country every eight years, we lack a consistent and comprehensive plan to deal with this issue. What's worse, most of the world's currently developed oil supply is in the hands of our outright enemies or those who despise our ethical and democratic conventions. And these guys have set up organized cartels to bilk us and sway our foreign policy decisions.

The short term solution---if a sane policy was put into place and both political parties signed on to it ( fat chance )-- would be to allow the oil companies to develop new fields even at the risk of damaging the wildlife and nature's balance, in places like Alaska and elsewhere in what's left of "the free world". Obviously, controls are needed to minimize the damage such activities might entail. Hand in hand with this, we need to create refinery capacity in the U.S. whether or not the myopic opponents of such a move like it. Again, proper care should be taken and the government might "reward" localities who object to having refineries in their area with tax breaks or other incentives

As for the oil companies, once they are granted said drilling rights and refinery capacity, I believe that their prices to American customers should be regulated. Moreover, if they develop new oil fields in areas opened up by the government for them to "exploit", they should be obligated to sell fixed proportions of their output to U.S.customers at controlled prices. None of this free marketplace/ supply and demand bunk here.

Another step that our chicken-hearted politicians must take is to reduce consumption of oil. The easiest way to accomplish this is to mandate new car production with far higher mile -per -gallon ratios than we now have---the car makers could certainly do that if forced to. Second, the government could apply the same standards to foreign imports. And, thirdly, it could legislate the paced retirement of gas-guzzling "
used cars". Obviously, similar efforts would apply, within reason, to trucks, vans, etc.

As far as alternative fuels are concerned, that sounds to me like a long term project that needs a strong governmental hand and consistency in approach. I doubt that converting corn to gasoline is the solution. I also doubt that private enterprise can be counted on to make the requisite investment with sufficient "staying power" to come up with a solution.

Until this country realizes that it is facing an emergency situation and insists on its elected officials really doing something about it----not just posturing for political gain---we better get used to the oil price squeeze and all of the disruption and damage it will do to us.

[nielsvv]

How much do you pay for 1liter Diesel and 1liter benzine?

We in Europe pay about $2,04 for 1liter diesel, and $2,51 for 1liter benzine.