[brownsfan]

The only conspiracy is that of the left: No coal, no drilling, no new refineries. All of that hurts.

The profit made is irrelevant. The price is set on the open world market. If oil companies are making huge profits, it’s just their good fortune. If we were using alternatives, the oil companies would not make so much.

The collapsing dollar is an excellent point. That’s definately complicating things.

Bottom line is there is a tipping point. Is it $4/gal for gas? Not sure. But wherever that tipping point is, when we hit it, there will be a major contraction of the economy. I say this as someone who lived through the gas shortages, and that contraction, along with Jimmah Cartah, made my decision to go into the USN easy.

Other than staying as debt free as possible, not sure how to prepare for the coming contraction. Might be a good time to sell an SUV, before they achieve white elephant status.

[PrincessB]

The only conspiracy is that of the left: No coal, no drilling, no new refineries. All of that hurts. Ta daa! We have a winner! I bet that if we just pass (not even get there)a bill allowing drilling in ANWR, the price drops a good $20. If we pass legislation that allows drilling in the gulf, another chunk comes off. Allow Louisiana (who needs an economic boost) to revamp the refineries and build a few new ones, another chunk comes off, and with this one technology could help make the refineries more efficient.