Memo to SUV owners:
Are you waiting for gasoline prices to decline? Don't hold your breath.
Headline in the LA Times Business Section today (July 24th):
Will Mexico Soon Be Tapped Out?
The article goes on to describe a rapid decline in output from the Cantarell oil field, the second largest in the world after the Ghawar field in Saudi Arabia. Mexico is the fifth largest oil producer in the world, but more significantly for the US, they are our second-largest supplier, after Canada.
Production from the Cantarell field has dropped 7% since the first of the year, and 15% since 2004. The precipitous drop this year has analysts worried that the field may be "rolling over"…oil-speak for drying up.
This is bad news for us in several ways. First, of course, oil supplies are tight all over the world. A decrease in supply from a major world producer will only put more pressure on supplies…and prices. But it also means increased dependence on Middle East oil, further enriching people who fund most of the global terrorism network. And finally, the Mexican economy is totally dependent on income from their oil production. The government relies on oil money to fund most of their domestic programs. The result will almost surely mean economic troubles, and increased outflows of people looking for work in the US.
How much longer will we continue this insanity, bankrupting our nation to fund our enemies? Are we bent on self-destruction? When will we start meaningful conservation programs? When will we develop efficient, non-polluting urban mass transit systems for our cities? When will we sock a dollar-a-gallon gas tax on motorists FORCING them to conserve?
We must do these things if we are to survive. But will we do them in time?
Or is it already too late?
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Comments: 20
1. Oil will drop by 4-8% in October in the run up to the election as Saudi releases more oil into the market.
2. Home heating will spike by december 10% higher than its peak last year
3. Regular unleaded average US price at the station will be 3.65 next spring, jumping to 3.95 - 4.50 next summer.
4. In the runup to the 2008 elections, a (temporary) gas tax moratorium will pass the house and senate, and signed by Bush - this will be offset by decreases in infrastruction spending. This will provide some immediate relief to drivers' who will forget they are still paying over $4.00 a gallon - but since less than 5% of all district electrions are competitive - there will be no landslide for democrats, and while they may regain the majority, it will be by only 2 or 3 seats. Not enough to get anything done.
-W
Enoch...Sara thinks so. I hope not, but...
I'm riding a motorcycle for commuting now (can't beat 45 mpg) but it NEEDS premium gas, so I think I'm losing all my savings...
Still, it's nice to fill up for $20 or so...
If at all possible, of course ; )
It may sound radical but, at this point, any suggestion helps, right?
If he wants to be taken seriously here, he needs to offer something more than that.
But isn't it the nature of us humans that we mostly don't do change until it's almost too late.
It is the nature of the democratic process...or at least OUR democratic process...to delay taking action on anything that will cause political pain until the absolute last minute.
In this case, we have an additional factor working against any kind of corrective action...we have a federal government that is in thrall to oil companies and other corporate interests. Even if the people were willing to pay the price to fix the problem, this government will simply not allow it. Not until their corporate sponsors have extracted every last nickel of profit from their current products. And then, not until they have acquired a controlling interest in the "next big thing" in mass-produced energy...whether it's ethanol or biomass or nuclear-produced electricity. Whatever it is, we won't get there until the robber barons decide it's time.
He has nothing to say at all except insults. The epitome of trolldom.
What a surprise.
The chickens haven't come home to roost yet. I will repeat my earlier question...I thought we agreed to stay out of each others' threads. I want nothing to do with you, but if you insist on being a troll in my comment threads, I will do the same to you. Are you reneging on our agreement? If so, it is all-out war.