BiSB

March 11th, 2011 at 8:58 AM ^

It's the one area in which people can't take a joke.  I can call someone's mother a whore and question his political views, and he'll defend his politics first.

I'm about as partisan as it comes (hell, I worked in Michigan politics for four years), but you won't see a single hint of it here.  And why?  Cause people flip their shit, one person calls another a communist, the other guy makes a Hitler reference, and the thread gets locked.

ijohnb

March 11th, 2011 at 7:59 AM ^

is running out of it.  Say what you will about unrest in the middle east, speculation, and George W. Brilliant, but gas prices are higher on a regular basis because oil is actually becomming a scarse commidity.  Listen, I am no Al Gore, but think of the oil supply as an ocean, sea levels are getting very low.  Are we running out tomorrow, no.   Should our children be concerned, absolulotely.  The entire world needs to understand the problem and unite to find a common solution.  It is very possible that oil prices could reach un-thought-of prices in the next decade.  $10 per gallon = blood in the streets.  It is the single biggest threat to our way of life and to a semi-peaceful existence between nations.  Have you seen There Will Be Blood.  The title of that moive is foreshadowing of things to come, and the film itself is symbolism for the net effect that oil and dependence on oil is having on a once sane world.  Reliabile alternative forms of energy are a must, like, right now.

WFBlue

March 11th, 2011 at 8:04 AM ^

that is not why gas prices spiked in the last several weeks.  I hear there are some shenanigans going on in the ME where the oil is; this has freaked out commodity traders, etc.  Long term, the oil supply is finite, but the recent spike is not about scarcity.

Hoken's Heroes

March 11th, 2011 at 8:19 AM ^

...that we can't touch because of the wacko environmentalists and an administration that wants us to have $8 gas so we can put up more bird killing wind mills and litter the desert with solar panels that will give very little energy. There is absolutely no concrete evidence that we are running out of oil other than from those who stand to gain from saying we are. The issue is availability and ability to tap oil in areas that are hard to reach. Besides it's a theory that we are running out. The controversial theory of Abiogenic oil is there to counter peak oil.

 

Gas prices are dictated by manipulative traders of oil. And that's the problem. There isn't a supply issue. It's not a demand issue. It's about world events that give those traders the ability to manipulate the price of oil. Ever notice how oil/gas  prices go up so quickly but are typically slow to come down? And the US doesn't get the majority of its oil from the Middle East. We get the bulk from Mexico and Canada with Saudi Arabia third. But because oil is a commodity, we get hit. And let's not forget the taxes we pay on gas. It's comforting to know that we get taxed on tax when we pay for a gallon of gas. The initial gallon is first taxed by the feds. That tax is added to the price of the initial gallon and then the state taxes the price of that gallon INCLUDING the fed tax that was added. Nice racket they have there.

 

And notice how there is not outrage like what we saw the last time prices shot up? The difference is that there is a Democrat in the WH and those who complained only did so for political reasons because their party wasn't in the WH. Tapping our oil reserves will do nothing. It's just to make people think something is being done but you'll see not price change at the pump.

 

Bottom line, chances of a 2nd dip recession are becoming more likely. hopefully it won't happen.

ijohnb

March 11th, 2011 at 8:52 AM ^

"Oil, I don't care about oil, I mean who cares right.  I'm winning, right, so what is oil to me.  I just can't, I can't understand all the hate, all the bad things in the world.  I am just about love, loving my children, and just understanding that this while thing is about love. (Interuption for puff on cig).  Look, I got what noone else has, I'm just like who cares, I am living life man, just loving, ya know.  I am my own creature, my own thing.  I just do it the Sheen way.  It's just love man.

Interviewer - Um, OOoookkk.  Charlie are you sure you don't need me to get you anything?  Your alright? 

Sheen - Tiger Blood man, tiger blood.

ItsaDamnGame

March 11th, 2011 at 9:42 AM ^

I agree on The Rule.  Why the hell post this topic on this board in the first damn place?  But I responded and realize that I'm part of the problem today.  Every other time some liberal "I'm not racist because I voted for an inter-racial candidate" posts something, I let it go but not today!

I remember when these stupid posts would get pulled off the board - those were the days... 

CompleteLunacy

March 11th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^

You admit defeat by slandering liberals. Nicely done. You win exactly one (1) neg from me.

And for the record, there's no such thing as a racist person who voted for Obama. So if you think that THAT's the reason why so many people voted for him, then you might want to look in the mirror before you label others.

tbeindit

March 11th, 2011 at 9:57 AM ^

Gas prices are high for a multitude of reasons including (in no order):

Opec, Libya, high demand, oil companies, politics, inflation

However, the idea that oil is running out is a farce.  In fact, most reports show that nearly 90% of the world's oil has not even been touched yet, it still lies in the ground.  I mean, it's not a good plan to rely on it, but it will be there.

 

Well, now back to Michigan football!! haha

Wolverine318

March 11th, 2011 at 8:27 AM ^

meh...this thread is political in nature. Don't blame me, blame the OP for making thread that has a deep political nature.

I could go on and on about my true thoughts about the GOP, but I won't...

If you don't like it, don't read it. Nobody is putting a gun to your head.  I guess some people don't like a 4 year old joke about dubya.

periotrainer

March 11th, 2011 at 8:29 AM ^

....you're delusional.....Gas prices spiked in 2008 on pure speculation, not "wacko" environmentalists. Yes, we need to be working on alternative fuels.....not alternative ways of obtaining oil reserves.....we're at peak oil....the increases we see right now are the result of profit taking, speculation.....you're a nut if you think it has anything to do with democrats or republicans. It has to do with cash. It has to do with Goldman, BoA, etc.....God I wish it was football season

Hoken's Heroes

March 11th, 2011 at 9:01 AM ^

Try re-reading what I wrote. No where do I claim that 2008 spike was due to environmentalists. I agree it was due to speculation as it is now with the added twist that new drilling has been severly curtailed adding fuel to fire. The first point I made is to alude that the fact that the current policy is not to explore and harvest what we have here but to focus on expensive and unreliable alternatives that are not helping those who can't afford higher gas prices. Gas prices have gone up ~70% since 2008 and this administration has done nothing but to hinder our ability to explore, develop and refine oil. If it's your opinion that this should be done at all and people should pay higher gas prices, then that's fine.

 

There are alternative ways of obtaining oil. The research and development is there and always has been there. The gas engine is constantly being refined and improved. We are aswash with natural gas. It's a matter of R&D that will come through via the private sector, not the Government, that will move us into the right direction. As long as the Gov gets involved, expect very little to happen.

 

And yes, alternative forms of energy should be explored but not at the expense of shutting down oil exploration. Do you know anything about Oil Sands? Expensive to get but extremely plentiful. Until the technology catches up with the hype, gas is going to be with us long after you and I are dead.

And on a side note, The Chevy Volt is hardly selling and the Nissan leaf even less so.

Half the cars sold in Europe are Diesel. In the US, and not counting trucks, probably less than 1% and Diesel is the way to go as it's a much more efficient engine and now is "clean" compared to what many Americans falsely think about diesel.

Back in teh early 90's I interviewed a few auto profs at U of M and they believed Hydrogen and alternative fuels would become common place in a decade. I don't think I need to tell you how wrong they were.

Stepping off my soap box and getting back to work. My clients don't pay me triple digits per hour to education you!