We do have a major leap in energy prices here in this country. No one can deny that.  The problem is that we have some knuckleheads in Congress dealing with the problem.  Instead of looking were we might come across some more oil for example, Congress narrowly defeated a bill to tax the oil companies more.  Their Profits are too high says those in Congress (mostly the Democrats lead by Pelosi and Reid).  Who gives them the right to decide what is too high?

The oil company profit margins are quite low compared to many other industries.  Look it up.  I believe they are in the range of 6-9% while some computer software companies have it up to the 21% range.  Does the give Congress any ideas to go over and raise those taxes too.

All this would do is make energy scarcer and more expensive.  Regulation like price restrictions only create shortages.

Now, some steps forward that are vehemently opposed by the environmentalists (who the Democrats are in bed with) might be to build some Nuclear Plants (very successful in Europe, it isn't only wind power there), and drilling for oil here.

We have 8.5 billion barrels of oil off our coasts of known fields and it is estimated 86 BILLION in undiscovered oil resources.  We have up to 16 BILLION barrels up in ANWAR but won't drill because of the Caribou.  The Caribou population which was to have suffered because of the oil pipeline in Alaska has thrived since it opened.  They like a warm spot I guess.  We also have up to 460 TRILLION untapped cubic feet of natural gas we aren't drilling for.

In our oil shale we have up to 1.8 TRILLION barrels of oil.  This is the largest oil supply in the world.  It is enough to meet current oil demand in our country for 2 centuries.

Maybe I am a little simple.  Yes I like the idea of alternative enegy, just maybe not as much as the next person when we have gobs of the good stuff here to use now.  You think China wouldn't be drilling for it there?  The oil suppliers laugh at us while they cash our checks.

I hope that this simple idea reaches the inner minds of those that matter.

Roy Hurst
IL State  Captain RLC