[jayscobras]

BEEN WATCHING THIS THREAD FROM THE START. LET'S PREFICE...I AM IN THE OILFIELD BUSINESS...NOT PRODUCTION BUT DRILLING EQUIPMENT SUCH AS DRILL STEM. BEEN DOING IT OR INVOLVED IN IT SINCE I WAS A KID.

MANY PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT GAS PRICES. PERSONALLY I NEVER LOOK AT PRICES.

NOW TO THE MATTER AT HAND. THERE HAS TO BE SOME GREAT ECONOMIC GURU'S ON THIS SITE THAT EQUATE FROM 1969 AT 29 CENTS A GALLON TO TODAY JUST BY INFLATION INDEXES.

AFTER THAT YOU NEED TO ADD IN GOVERMENTAL CONTROLS SUCH AS OSHA, EPA, CLOSING REFINERIES, DIMINISHED REFINING CAPACITIES, HIGHER TAXES, REDUCED EXPLORATION, STATE TAX INCREASES, FEDERAL TAX INCREASES, HIGHER STEEL PRICES, UNION INCREASES, HIGHER CORPORATE TAXES, DECRESAED DEPRECIATION,,,ETC.

GOT A FIGURE YET? THEN ADD TO THE EQUATION THE NORMAL LY ACCEPTED STANDARD OF LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY. BOTTLED WATER IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN GASOLINE. MOST OF IT FROM CITY WATER SOURCES RUN THROUGH A FILTER.

THEN ENTER THE AMERICAN CONSUMER, SUV OWNER THAT PUTS THE KIDS IN THE CAR, GOES TO McDONALDS, DRIVES 3 MILES TO BASKIN ROBBINS AND PAYS 99 CENTS A SCOOP FOR ICE CREAM FOR THE KIDS, THEN TO THE COFFEE SHOP FOR A $3.75 LATTE FOR THE WIFE AND A $2.50 CUP OF REGULAR FOR THE HUSBAND...AND THEN THEY GRIPE ABOUT FUEL PRICES.

THEN FIGURE IN WHAT THE ENRON DISASTER COST NATURAL GAS PRICES THAT ARE USED FOR REFINING AND FOR PRODUCING ELECTRICITY.

ANY ANSWERS YET?????

HERE IS A GOD EXAMPLE,,,MILK AT BRAUMS...$1.99 PER GALLON. FUEL GOES UP...$2.19 PER GALLON. WAIT A MINUTE! FUEL ONLY WENT UP 2 CENTS. LADY WHO LIVES 1/2 BLOCK FROM BRAUMS GETS IN THE SUV SO SHE CAN GO THROUGH THE DRIVE-THOUGH WINDOW...A MAKEUP DEFFICIENCY.

PEOPLE...IT IS THE WAY WE LIVE AND WHAT WE EXPECT NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

WE ARE A PETROLEUM BASED ECONOMY...AND YET WE ARE PENALIZING OUR OWN PRODUCERS. GEENSPAN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS. OUR LIFESTYLE DOES.

I HAVE A GOOD FRIEND THAT OWNS A MOTORHOME AND RV COMPANY....BAD FUEL EFFICIENCY. HIS BEST MONTHS AND YEAR WERE AFTER 9-11. PEOPLE CHOSE TO BUY MOTOR HOMES INSTEAD OF AIR TRAVEL.

YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE...PAY ATTENTION! DON'T BLAME GASOLINE PRICES. BLAME THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE LARGE AND WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THEIR OWN SELF INTERESTS.

*****ING AND NOT DOING DUE DILIGENCE DOES NOT WORK!

BOY AM I GONNA CATCH HELL FOR THIS ONE BUT IT'S TIME FOR US TO LEARN AND TAKE PART IN WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS COUNTRY.

JAY NORDSTROM (AN UNPAID EDITORIAL)