It's not Friday, and it's not about Vanagons.  Take it off list, please!
I didn't subscribe to this list to talk politics and global issues; there's
other lists for that.  Go there.
 Vanagon content only please!  Where's Jim when you need him?

Thanks,

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 7:23 PM
Subject: Re: A friend bought a NEW Camero Z28 in the midst of the first oil
crisis

> Roger, Jim and All,
>
> This thing is not just about the oil, and fuel for our vans, home
> heating, etc, etc. It is about the overall disasterous predicament we
> are in financially because of the political leadership we have had in
> this country for the past couple of decades. It has been coming on us
> for some time. Stop and think about what it means to be trillions of
> dollars in debt, fighting a war that is costing billions per year,
> funding that war with borrowed money, and a tax cut right in the middle
> of it, and one major financial debacle after another - the latest being
> the real estate debacle - all being bailed out by the taxpayer, and the
> CEO's and other top officials walking away with million upon millions
> while we the taxpayer sweat it out.  The politics and economics of it
> all are insane!!
>
> The first thing that needs to be done is a cap put on the speculators
> that are driving the prices - across the board. Then there needs to be
> some regulators put in place to monitor speculator activities. This
> needs doing NOW! You are right, we are going to have a mess this winter
> with the hundreds of thouands across this land that live on the margin,
> and are going to be forced to deal with and live with the fuel costs
> that will be forth coming this winter. It ain't going to be pretty. I'm
> no socialist, but I do believe that NO ONE should have a choke hold on
> those things that are essential for life and health, and this is one of
> those things. One might say - well you can walk, and spend the money
> saved on home heating oil. Yeah, right! Our society,  unlike that in
> Europe and other countries, is simply not set up that way. In my area we
> are already beginning to hear complaints by employers that they are
> losing employees who can no longer afford to commute to work. They are
> taking lesser jobs closer home. This hurts everybody. If gas prices
> continue to rise, it's going to really get bad. Not only that, because
> oil id a commodity that energizes nations, this could trigger a world
> wide depression. What a nightmare that would be. I think the Saudi's may
> sense that, given they are planning to increase oil production. Yes, our
> representatives went hat in hand and asked for an increase, but I think
> they were handed their hat, so far as the request goes. But they are not
> stupid. I think they also can see the handwriting on the wall, if they
> don't do something.
>
> But Saudi's pumping more oil is not the ultimate solution. Short term
> something must give to keep from collapsing our country. Long term we
> have got to get off of oil, period. In the interim, between loosening
> the grip on the immediate oil situation and getting prices down to
> reasonable, and the getting off oil altogether, we have to have
> something to smooth the way, and it makes sense we use our own
> resources. There is a big danger in that. That danger is Corporate
> America. There is a lot of talk right now about drilling in ANWR, and
> the OCS, and a few other places. Corporate interests are already rubbing
> their hands in glee. But it is the totally wrong approach. There are
> ALREADY enormous attracts of leased to the oil companies for oil
> development, but they just haven't done it yet. Until they do, they need
> to keep their paws off these other places, and ANWR should be last place
> to go drilling. Ironically, everyone talks about drilling in ANWR, but
> there is only about 10 years worth of oil there - at present consumption
> - and after that - then what. The whole point is that we need to be
> moving as rapidly as possible onto sustainable fuels, not the finite
> stuff buried in the ground, and sustainable fuels doesn't mean corn
> either.The corn thing going on right now is about the stupidest thing I
> have ever seen. It is all about corporate interest.  With corn as the
> cornerstone, the prices of absolutely everything related have jumped up.
> And some companies are adding 10% corn ethanol to gasoline to stretch
> it. But guess what folks? That ten percent lowers your fuel mileage per
> gallon because that alcohol doesn't have the btu's that the gasoline
> does that it displaced in that gallon. So you are getting less bang for
> your buck, plus you are paying the same price per gallon. It's a rip
> off. And what is going to happen the first time we have a drought and
> that corn doesn't make?? Then what? Corn ethanol for fuel is a stupid
> idea. Far better to use Kudzu. Ferment it, distill it, Now that is and
> idea whose time may come soon.
>
> To paraphrase somebody "it's about the economy, stupid"!
>
> If you want to really get a picture of what this is really all about
> visit the link below. It will take some time to dig through it, but it
> well worth the effort. There is some chilling info there.
>
> WWW.Perotcharts.com
>
> Ross Perot hits the nail on the head.
>
> OK, Rant over. Soap box is put away and I have just put on my
> flame-proof  long-handles.
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> Roger Sisler wrote:
>> The way I see what Bush is doing, is that you don't actually have to do
>> anything to get the  price of oil down, and it needs to come down now.
>> Only
>> need to make people think that you are going to do something. A side
>> benifit
>> to actually doing something. Beats what anyone else has done. If the
>> investors that are speculating on the oil think the balance between
>> supply
>> and demand is going to change, they will sell on the rumor. Thats what
>> investors do. They will find someplace else to put their money. Nobody
>> has
>> been able to do that so far. I just don't know how people are going
>> afford
>> heating oil this winter, and I feel sorry for those folks. The price of
>> diesel fuel is $5 without the added competition of heating homes with it.
>> My
>> groceries are 20 percent higher in just a couple of months. Not the 5.5
>> the
>> CPI says. These people on the margins won't have the money to buy oil
>> this
>> winter,and there are a ton of them. I have never voted republican ,but I
>> liked what he did. Believe me, I am reluctant to give a republican credit
>> for doing anything. My thoughts were of the Iranian hostages and how
>> Reagan
>> dealt with that situation. He didn't talk. Been done earlier and didn't
>> help. The Iranians released the hostages the day he came to office
>> because
>> they feared nukeage. Gas prices need to come down now for America.
>>
>> Sorry list, for the content here today,  but I am concerned for the
>> Vanagon
>> as it doesn't get good gas mileage. Wanted owners to maybe see a trend of
>> lower gas prices coming. I think it will now happen, and I am glad. Lots
>> of
>> luck.
>>
>>
>>