[DefiledEngine]

MOST people will probably never admit that they themselves were to be credited for forming the coming population bottleneck.

[yesplease]

I think that criticism of the government's energy policy, such as CAFE, is valid. If they freeze a fuel economy initiative with loopholes so large that manufacturers can build an auto fleet that averages ~30-40% worse mileage, I'd say that's a policy deserving of criticism. People for the most part can only drive what the auto companies make, and if the auto companies build nothing but inefficient vehicles, then the consumer will be stuck w/ those vehicles. Very profitable for those who sell oil thanks to huge loopholes in the energy policy, but not so good for the American consumer getting bent over at the pump.

[wisconsin_cur]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Drifter', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', 'P')eople for the most part can only drive what the auto companies make, and if the auto companies build nothing but inefficient vehicles, then the consumer will be stuck w/ those vehicles.

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Drifter', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', 'P')eople for the most part can only drive what the auto companies make, and if the auto companies build nothing but inefficient vehicles, then the consumer will be stuck w/ those vehicles.

[Tyler_JC]

If DC had gotten out of our way, we would be on a much more sustainable path right now.

Who is artificially surpressing the price of gasoline? Who is creating incentives to use fossil fuels while ignoring the externalities? Who was building the mega highways while cutting funding for mass transit? Who stopped the construction of new nuclear power plants and new refineries and offshore drilling and wind/solar projects? Who created the ethanol mess? Who created "excess" profits taxes? Who is making Brazilian sugar ethanol impossible to sell in the United States? Who invaded Iraq and destroyed that country's oil production capacity? Who boycotts Iran and hinders that country's oil industry?

I could go on for hours...

The politicos in DC have more influence over our energy market than you think.

[socrates1fan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Drifter', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', 'T')hey can if they are given time. I have been trying for almost 5 years to get a comperible job closer to home. Now I am close, but still trying to close the deal.

[centralstump]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', 'I')f DC had gotten out of our way, we would be on a much more sustainable path right now.

Who is artificially surpressing the price of gasoline? Who is creating incentives to use fossil fuels while ignoring the externalities? Who was building the mega highways while cutting funding for mass transit? Who stopped the construction of new nuclear power plants and new refineries and offshore drilling and wind/solar projects? Who created the ethanol mess? Who created "excess" profits taxes? Who is making Brazilian sugar ethanol impossible to sell in the United States? Who invaded Iraq and destroyed that country's oil production capacity? Who boycotts Iran and hinders that country's oil industry?

I could go on for hours...

The politicos in DC have more influence over our energy market than you think.

[Windmills]

I don't buy the "we've been force-fed SUVs" argument. Regardless of all the political and corporate action, the ultimate decisions in this case always rest in the hands of the consumer. The moment of truth comes down to the buyer walking on to the car lot and picking out a vehicle for himself, by himself. There's no one there with a gun at his back. People have willingly chosen to walk past the more fuel efficient models--which have always been available--and buy the guzzlers. Right now, consumer pressure is driving the auto makers into more fuel efficient models almost overnight, despite Detroit whining it would take hundreds of years and put 2/3 of the world out of work to make a car that gets better than 19 mpg. This same type of pressure would have been as unstoppable 10, 20, or 30 years ago as it now is. The only real issue here is that it didn't exist in the right magnitude or duration to force change. Now it does.

[Tyler_JC]

The American People aren't given fair choices in most elections.

We either get anti-nuclear power Democrats or anti-renewable energy Republicans.

Which one are we supposed to vote for if we want both?

Politicians have the ability to affect public opinion. If they all agree that something is good, they can give speeches and convince people that they are right.

Congress and the President could have created a Patriot Gas Tax in the wake of 9/11 but they chose not to.

The connection between oil revenues and terrorism is not a giant leap that would be beyond our understanding. But our politicians choose to ignore this for the sake of their own agendas.

Did the American voters demand corn ethanol? Or was it the corn ethanol lobby?

Did voters choose to ban offshore drilling? Or was it the actions of a tiny minority of radical environmentalists?

Did the American People believe that we should create a new tax subsidy for Hummers or did GM have something to do with that?

American democracy isn't perfect and the influence of loud minority groups often leads to crappy public policy that the majority would never approve of.

[mobil1]

>According to a Consumer Reports Auto Pulse Survey released Thursday, 77% of consumers said the root of high gas prices lies with the government's failure to implement an effective energy policy. That compares with 75% of drivers who blamed oil companies, 70% who said foreign oil producers were at fault and 68% who thought the Middle East conflict was a leading cause for record fuel costs.



Typical.

blame the gov't (gov't of the people, by the people...).

blame the "greedy" oil companies and foreigners.

blame the middle east conflict.

blame anybody but themselves/ourselves.

Waahhh, it's THEIR fault, I did nothing but THEY are scr*wing poor innocent me ! I have the right to cheap gas... Wahhh ! Fix it mister gov't !! I'm just a poor baby who needs my gas bottle....

[socrates1fan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Drifter', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('socrates1fan', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Drifter', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', 'T')hey can if they are given time. I have been trying for almost 5 years to get a comperible job closer to home. Now I am close, but still trying to close the deal.