Great article! The AP has outdone itself.

> exotic bath washes from Angela Crawford

Who is Ms. Crawford and where do we sign up?

> She said switching to bar soap from
> a favored lotion is one of many
> "little small luxuries" she has given up

How sad that she has had to give up switching to bar soap.

> switching to bar soap from a favored lotion

And I've got news: using soap instead of lotion, or vice versa, is probably going to be murder on the skin.

> "I feel fortunate because maybe someone
> else eats beans instead of hamburgers."

Yeah. And maybe someone eats chicken instead of fish. And maybe someone eats peas instead of broccoli. And maybe some eats yogurt instead of cheese. Oh, the humanity!

When we elected President Bush the price of gas was about one dollar and forty seven cents a gallon.

Today it is over four dollars a gallon.

Oh you say he and Cheney are former oil men?

Gee could there be a relationship?

Could my vote have been misplaced?

It's time for Americans to understand that had a nice 50 year run of cheap energy, but that our future is going to be more like the current European lifestyle. We will have smaller houses, and smaller cars, this will be especially hard on the consumptive conservatives, but we will adapt, and a less materialistic country will be good for us.

Actually Liberal Larry, we will only wish that our lifestyle was more like Europe. Unfortunately we spent those 50 years building an infrastructure for living that only functions well at twice the energy consumption. We will be struggling and improvising to keep it working at half it's customary energy diet.
A prudent person today would be working on becoming debt free, more self reliant, and much less dependent on driving for their daily affairs. And it might be a good idea to have a chat with your oldest living relatives while you still can about economic depression coping strategies.

Thanks to the Bush and Cheney team we have seen the world turn into turmoil - thanks to those who voted for this wonderful economic package

I fail to understand, Liberal Larry, how this will only affect "consumptive conservatives." From my view, there are plenty of jet-set consumptive liberals, such as Hollywood boo hoos, and the liberal Boston folk. In sum, a vast majority of us will adjust, but multi-millionaire elitists, lib or conserv, will go on as if all is well in Oz.

The out of control and untouchable environmental movement, that has curtailed domestic oil exploration and closed refineries rather than remodel and reopen them, is to blame. As well as the liberal agenda that fuels and supports the whole "Preserve things the way they were 100 years ago" philosophy. The gap between what our environment can sustain with common sense conservation and what the current environmental regulations allow is HUGE. Alternative energy sources are all fine and good but thats like fighting a house fire with a garden hose. We need some sweeping common sense solutions that are not likley to come from a Liberal controlled congress or an Obama Presidency. That combination would spell "Disaster".

It is us conservatives that live in rural America and produce the food and fiber that keeps the nation going. Because of our rural locations we are far more vunerable to high energy costs as we don't have mass transit to fall back on and the fuel costs of producing your food would stagger you. That being said, we are far better prepared than most to survive anything close to a depression era lifestyle. One of the main things that make Liberals the way they are is the fact that they are too far removed (generationally) from the land. The farther you get away from the land, common sense becomes the endangered species.

To blame Bush is Lame | 7:43 a.m. July 1, 2008

Not really, as it was the Bush/Cheney policies of the past 8 years that have led us where we are today, with the exception of Fed keeping interest rates artificially high for part of 2006 and much of 2007 (which caused the housing and credit crisis), our problems stem from Bush’s programs and efforts.

Inflation is caused by the Fed spending Billions on Military, Homeland Security, Police, etc, spending that does not increase our Nations production capacity for goods available for purchase by the public. Time to cut all these programs and spend the money on projects like NAWAPA, MAGLEV TRAINS, RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS.

The war in the Middle East is an $8 Billion per month subsidy to Big Oil, that keeps the true price of World Market Oil lower, and benefits Europe and Asia more than the USA, because they are the ones getting the Middle East Oil.

ALMOST EVERY BUSH/CHENEY POLICY IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE NEED FOR A FREE AND SECURE NATION.

Since the libreals took over congress two years ago gas prices have gone off the chart.There is not one suggestion in this article on how to bring the price down.Supply and demand has been completly done awat with by a congress that supports the very laws that are on the books that have curtailed drilling in this great land of ours.Law suits and regulations if not changed will drive America back to the horse and buggy age while China and Russia will take our place as world leaders

Seems like quite a streach to point a finger at the white house with the liberals in control of congress and the "Enviros" in control of almost everything else relative to energy.

A great comment, I agree.

When I was in England last fall the gas was $10 a gallon. And because I was there to revisit the old stomping grounds when I was a child, we had to do a lot of traveling by car. Our gas cost us over $1000 total.

It doesn't help our situation here but just to let you know it could be worse.

All,
This is what’s wrong with America, too many people arguing about Bush or the Liberals. Lets stop arguing and start working towards SOLUTIONS. Lets make all sources of energy: Renewable, Nuclear, Coal, Hydrogen, Solar, Wind, Natural Gas, Oil. Lets do them all. So instead of arguing lets think up ways to fix our problems.

Lets put the blame right where it should be--on US!!!

We are the ones who continue to vote these people into political office based on republican or democratic leanings, keeping in power the same old office holders year after year. We are the ones who let the news media tell us how we should vote based on their biased reporting of those running for office. We have let others do our thinking for us--and now we are saddled with do-nothing politicians who are sitting in their offices doing absolutely nothing to solve our real problems in the USA.

This situation is going to continue UNTIL we, the citizens, decide that we have had enough---and start demanding change with our votes.

Big money is running this country and RUINING this country---------because we are letting it happen!

Losing beach vacations and fancy lotions and soaps? Oh NO! My heart goes out to them. Lets not think of the kids going hungry because food prices have gone up and they don't qualify for govt. assistance because the income guidelines have stayed the same while everything else has gone up. These "poor" people giving up fancy soaps sound about like my sister in law with a huge home who says she needs a bigger house because her kids clothes touch the dresser that has to be in the closet! Pathetic!!!

Do people who think Bush is responsible believe that he calls up the CEO of General Motors every morning and tells him not to make alternative fuel vehicles?

Somebody explain to me how George Bush is at all responsible for high gas prices? The real reason for high gas prices is because we have more demand and less supply, something they teach in 8th grade.

If Bill Clinton had not vetoed the bill to drill in Anwar in the 90's, we would have had a lot more gas today. Thus, our gas prices would be much lower. Pretty simple.

The liberals want you to pay more taxes so the GOVERNMENT can research alternative fuels. The GOVERNMENT thinks that their scientists are smarter than privately employed scientists.

To many group's to just STUDY thing's for the next 2 years or more, and don't "GIT-R-DONE" the right way. The Bush administration has put a two-year stop to solar energy projects on federal lands in Arizona and other Western states while it studies their environmental impact. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Department of Energy will study the impact of solar energy production and other facilities that could be developed on public lands in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California, Colorado and Nevada. There are 125 applications by solar energy companies to build facilities on public lands in those states. The review will take two years worrying a solar energy sector looking to expand in the western U.S. including Arizona. A number of U.S., German and Japanese solar energy companies want to locate or expand in Arizona and other Western states amid concerns about high energy costs and emissions. Critics have questioned the Bush administration policies and links oil and gas companies saying the administration is too cozy with those energy sectors.

Boo hoo. So we have to make little sacrifices to stay in budget sometimes. That's just part of life.

Bear One, you're correct - the blame should be on us. But you're blaming us for the wrong things.

Who we voted for (whether it be a Democratic Congress or a Republican President) has nothing to do with oil being in short supply. Who we vote for in November won't have any effect either - notice both candidates have said there's nothing they can do about it. Politicians didn't get us into this mess and they can't get us out

We should blame ourselves, but for other reasons. We are to blame for living 50 miles from our jobs. We are to blame for not investing in public transportation or alternative fuels earlier. We are to blame for believing it's our God-given right to tow boats behind a 10-mpg SUV. In short, we are to blame for insisting on a lifestyle predicated on cheap, plentiful oil which is now gone.

Due to our lifestyle, we have reaped what we've sown and the next 10 years are going to be very difficult because of it.

OPEC!

To Why the HIGH fuel prices?
One of my pet peeves is that people these days don't know how to pluralize. The plural of group is groups, not group's. The plural of thing is things, not thing's. Apostrophes are used to show ownership, or for contractions. NOT plurals!! Also, the first word of your comment should be too, not to.

Can't wait until Obama is in the White House. Gas prices will start to decrease immediately after that. This guy is a genius, plus he will be the first president to bring style into the White House.

Would you Bush / Cheney haters please explain just how THEY drove oil prices up?

Get over it!

Drill here. Drill now. Pay less.

Oh, yes. The European's have so much to offer us.

No thanks.

Our economy is oil based. No oil = stoneage.

Again, no thanks!

Drill here. Drill now. Pay less.

Those who continually blame others for their problems will always have lots of problems. Good luck with that.

yeah, obama in the white house, he is a genius, just think, lower gas prices, no death penalty for child rapists....he is so brilliant!

To compare the cost of gas here in the USA vs the EU or the UK for that matter is insane.

Yes we are paying more. But most of the increase is lining gas wholesalers pockets.

In Europe the majority of the price of fuel is government taxes. How do you think the Europeans can afford nationalized health care? Its the same in Canada. They get some added value out of the increased fuel prices over there. We don't.

Capitalism works, but greed, avarice and heavy-handed foreign policies are hurting and eventually will ruin this country.

Boosting our production efforts will likely make things less bad than they would have been otherwise ten years from now, which will still be much worse than now. Is that a good argument to do it? Probably.
But it is pure absolute fantasy to think it will bring a return of less painful fuel prices. That era of our history is over. More adapting, less whining will be more effective to reduce the pain.

Who gives a rats-behind, this is not a classroom, nor are grades handed out either. Who died and made YOU teacher and head of our class?. You missed the full POINT to what I posted word for word. Why?. Comment on that. That's what blogs are for.

^

anonymous | 9:51 a.m. July 1, 2008
To Why the HIGH fuel prices?
One of my pet peeves is that people these days don't know how to pluralize. The plural of group is groups, not group's. The plural of thing is things, not thing's. Apostrophes are used to show ownership, or for contractions. NOT plurals!! Also, the first word of your comment should be too, not to.

the oil markets.

If you think preemptively attacking Iraq based on faulty WMD reports is okay, then you will never understand how the oil markets work. There are two wars in the middle east region. With threats for a third being started any day. Of course the oil markets are reacting to this.

We are now paying for the many years of Cowboy diplomacy. We can't just shoot up a country, effect a regime change and expect no negative impacts. What were you all thinking was going to happen when you voted for Bush in 2000? Then re-elected him in 2004?

We are now stuck in war we can't pullout on for moral and ethical reasons. We are undermining our national security through bad energy policies and seeing the "raping" of the American consumer at the gas pump.

Years from now when we look back on this time, will we will still wonder how things ever got so bad? Or will we learn and remember and make changes to never allow it to happen again?

Its not about Republicans or Democrats, it is about selecting a mental midget for the highest office in our nation. What a huge mistake!

Maybe if you could write more clearly with fewer spelling and grammar mistakes we COULD understand your comments and make an accurate rebuttal.

Please try harder next time. Thank you.

lowonoil:
"Boosting our production efforts ... is pure absolute fantasy to think it will bring a return of less painful fuel prices."

Wow, that is so logical!

-Giving a thirsty man water won't quench his thirst.
-Giving a hungry man food won't make him full.

"Try England! | 8:46 a.m. July 1, 2008
When I was in England last fall the gas was $10 a gallon. "

No sir. Gas was about $4.50 a gallon. Tax was about $6. Get the facts, before you go around spreading lies and falsehoods.

When Nancy and Harry took over, they said they would lower gas prices, and in typical liberal math, $4.50 is less than $2.....

Drill now, drill wherever, open ANWR, and go offshore. Drill

For those who fall for that baloney about it taking 10 years to get that oil to the market, consider the Manhattan Project, and remember that we went from shooting man straight up and straight down, to the moon, less time. You are saying its harder to get oil out of the earth, than to figure out how to land on the moon?

Amazing that folks hate the government, and don't trust the media or big business, but when the government, big business and the media say "it will take ten years" you accept that as gospel facts.

How ridiculous that is.....

Saudi Oil Minister al-Naimi stated there’s “no justification for the current rise in prices". They haven’t disrupted oil supplies nor created any shortages in production. They’ll increase output. From 2003-2007 it rose a mere $32; but in one year rose $70 . Why?

The 2007 GAO report to Congress, indicts Washington’s reckless internal “financial reporting”; the non-safeguarding of “assets”, the non-compliance “with significant laws and regulations”and points to government’s accrued liabilities of ”$53 trillion” as major factors in the US’s current delicate financial picture, worldwide. In1970, the exchange-rate was four Swiss francs and 360 Japanese yen–to one dollar. It’s barely worth over one Swiss franc and less than 100 yen! Oil, like gold, mirrors the devaluation of our dollar. Sellers abroad demand more dollars to hedge against the dollar’s declining value.

Blend-in the covert sanction of Federal Reserve’s OVER-manufacturing of paper money, and they form a recipe of disaster by denuding the dollar’s value and hyper-inflating the economy. The ripple-effect is SPECULATION!

Congress IS culpable and CAN solve the high cost of fuel! By limiting the ‘federal’ Reserve’s over-manufacturing of money, to put an end to Wall Street’s and banko-America’s wacked-out “speculation” madness! Before we all go mad!

90% expect gas prices to hit hard

100% think they already have!

I am choosing not to participate in the so called recession and for that matter in the Gas price hysteria. It costs me about $2. more to travel to salt lake and back than it did last year. Not that big of a deal. Annoying but not going to stop me. I am just going to make more money if I need to.
Now if we want to bring our prices down we will....
Vote Republican - The war will end more quickly with a republican president and a republican congress. We need it to end in a good light and they can bring that to pass.
Vote out the Democrats-- they like to stop drilling and they like to take away freedoms by making us dependent upon the government.
Drill in Alaska
Develop Hydrogen Energy
Teach our oil companies how to make money off of alternative fuels so they are not ruined by these alternative things.

Although Bush, and his neocon buddies, are the political equivalent of the "gang who couldn't shoot straight", we do owe them a debt of gratitude for their bungling of our countries energy policy. By mismanaging everything from the economy, to the war in Iraq, they have prematurely run up the price of oil to record heights. In five, or ten years, when peak oil brings on the "real" energy crunch we will be much more prepared for it, thanks to Bush and Cheney, and their managerial incompetence.

Blame Ourselves-----------

You have some valid points in your reply.

I do think though, that the politicians have got a lot to do with this. The politicians are behimd the weak dollar that has had major impact on the price of crude---
The policitians could figure out a way to curb the rampant speculation (commodities trading) in oil---

Between those two problems, the price of crude is aprox. twice what it should realistically be.

Hang on to your hat!!!! I see us going from a stable, decent economy right through a recession and into a depression quite like, but not as bad, the depression of '39.

The cause: Overall greed of the American people, who want everything---------and the do-nothing attitude of our government leaders---to the apathy of US who are so busy trying to keep up with the Jones, or just trying to survive, that we pay no attention to voting for better people for office.

The presidency doesn't have a whole lot to do with gas prices. Obama isn't going to fix it anymore than McCain is. As long as demand is up and supply is down, the cost will be high.

We need to DRILL and look for alternative sources.

Someone at 11:07 wrote:
"lowonoil:
"Boosting our production efforts ... is pure absolute fantasy to think it will bring a return of less painful fuel prices."

Wow, that is so logical!

-Giving a thirsty man water won't quench his thirst.
-Giving a hungry man food won't make him full. "

It makes perfect sense. Superimpose the likely production curves of the proposed new sources of oil upon the depletion curves of the sources we are currently exploiting, and take into consideration the projected increased world demand. It's clear things won't be getting better. They will only be getting worse at a slower rate.

Giving a man more water at a slower rate than he is perspiring it out will not quench his thirst.

Feeding a hungry man more food at a slower rate than he is metabolizing it will not make him full.

You and I don't propose a federal budget, the President does.

You and I don't have Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations, the House of Representatives does.

You and I do not write tax codes, Congress does.

You and I do not set fiscal policies, Congress does.

How does all the above come to be? 100 Senators, 435 Congressmen, and one President -- 536 human beings who are legally, morally, and individually responsible for this country. And who placed these 536 individuals in office? The voter, you and I.

Greater responsibility lies with whom? Them? Us?

Remember, only the nine Supreme Court Justices are not voted in by “the people.”

Do the math! $4.50 and $6.00 let me see. um! Oh yea it's $10.50 Sorry I lied. And by the way. In England they don't get tax rebates on fuel, so $10 is what they pay period.

Drill Here.

Drill Now.

Gas will still be over $4.00

Keep driving that truck/SUV, it'll cost more - just make more money.

Keep buying those big houses in Herriman, Saratoga Springs, Centerville - just get up earlier to commute to work.

Keep having all the kids you want - we'll build more schools.

All is well.

Bear One | 9:18 a.m. July 1, 2008

Well Said

AFFORDABLE SUSTAINABLE OIL IS A THING OF THE PAST!

VOTE ONLY FOR THOSE WHO PLEDGE TO END THE OIL BASED ECONOMY.

Do we break out our photon blasters and go war over the spice?

I will say it slowly and loudly for those of you who might not understand.

THERE IS NOT YET A REPLACEMENT FOR OIL AT THIS TIME.

Solar, wind, and clean coal may have ease our pains for electricity, but for the mobile economy we now live and enjoy, cars and planes, there is no easy answer.

Hydrogen is one path for future testing, but its extremely dangerous. Anyone remember the Hindenberg?

There are no easy answers.

One question I have is: how does America benefit from growing third world economies like China and India? These countries are taking our manufacturing and backoffice (IT) jobs. They are closed to foreign ideas and will not buy our products, yet we have to remain open in return to this unkind and unfair trade policy.

The answer is that AMERICA DOES NOT BENEFIT FROM INDIA AND CHINA'S GROWING ECONOMIES.

If anything its the downfall of our standard of living. We are flattening out to a lower globally based standard of living. Our commodities pricing is reflecting this, which of course includes gas prices.

All this babble! If we want America to regress, keep the gas prices high. Sure we can become like 3rd World Countries. Maybe we can use Camels and live in Tents. I'm sure the Government would be happy to "take care of us" under the liberal democrats. Wake up, people! Hold those in leadership accountable and put accountable people in leadership!

"They will only be getting worse at a slower rate."

I can't believe the one-dimensional attitude of the libs. Our economy is bleeding and yet they say slowing the bleeding until we can find a new alternative fuel is out of the question.

If I'm dying of kidney failure at the hospital should I tell the doctor that I don't want them to help me ease the pain with medicine until a brand-new kidney is found?

No, of course not, the new American Communist Party headed by Obama wants us all to suffer until we find a new source of fuel. In the mean-time we're all just supposed to "deal with it" by cutting back on travel, buying smaller homes and cutting back on groceries.

You know, there are lots of families out there that are living on less than $20,000/yr income. THEY DON'T HAVE SUVS OR HOUSES. What are they supposed to cut back on? Oh yeah, Obama will take care of them too: with tax-payer housing, food stamps, healthcare, schooling etc, etc, etc, until they are slaves to the govt.

I can't wait until Obama is president and the fools will see that NOTHING changes.

Conservation IS slowing the bleeding. Production is opening up new veins so you can be bled out more quickly.

Who set ANWR and costal drilling off limits? The president, or demos/environ wackos?