[backhoe]

Allow me to drop out of Lurk and Link Mode for a rare bit of commentary- we need to get serious about our dependency on foreign sources of energy, and use our own resources.

Our consumer-based economy is driven by readily-available, reliable energy-- choke that, and we'll be back to using one rotary dial phone in the dining room and driving one car per family-- probably a Hudson Hornet...

We need to

1) end the nonsensical ban on offshore drilling off California and Florida

2) build a lot of next-generation nuclear power plants, not just for electricity, but for any process requiring heat, power, or steam

3) end Jimmy Carter's idiot ban on recycling nuclear waste, and reprocess the stuff rather than fighting over where to bury it

4) use the 300-500 years worth of coal we have on our own land, using the new clean-coal technology

5) and finally, there's nothing wrong with conservation- but you can't conserve your way out of a shortage- we need to get serious about this before we get strangled by a bunch of petty thieves and dictators who don't like us much.

My tongue-in-cheek collection of energy-related links:

Sticker Shock-$3 a gallon gas? Click the picture:

And note well-- the first reply to this post ( when gas was less than $1.50 a gallon ) was derisive... who's laughing now?

[mysterio]

$3? Wouldn't surprise me. And then we can be entertained by the stockbrokers here telling us how competitive and free the market is, no colluding, etc.

[rockabyebaby]

It's $2.53 right NOW at the gas station I use, I'm guessing in another week or two it'll be up to $3, by summer, hell, it'll be $5.

[rattrap]

Well I can say this much, if the Gas prices are still outrageous in October/November there will be a lot of politicans looking for new jobs.

[vpintheak]

Only if investors start getting FEARS about possible FEARS in the future, and that causes them to have FEARS. In that case, I FEAR that it might happen, I am AFRAID to say.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Still under $2.60 in the Peoples Republik of Madistan, WI.

But, never fear! Governor "Diamond Jim" Doyle is forcing Ethanol down our throats, so pretty soon the Government will be paying ME to drive my car because 'Corn is King!'

That's how it works, right? *Smirk*

[Clemenza]

As I've said a million times:

1. Get a smaller car and/or more fuel efficient car.

2. Move closer to work, even though it may mean a smaller house.

Until then, quit whining. It annoys the rest of us.

[Doctor Stochastic]

I don't think so. Maybe $4.00 or even $4.50, not $3.00.