RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Congress is the only hope of any relief at the gas pump in the next two years. How do you like your chances? Why is that? They control the House AND the Senate. They will soon (probably) control the White House. How are you doing now?

The republican disarray is so deep, they don't just lack the firepower to shoot back, they don't know which end of the gun to shoot at the enemy. The first time it costs you $100.00 to fill your tank, will you be fighting mad then? How about next winter when it costs you $750.00 to heat your house for a month? Tough days are on the horizon, but everyone's breaking point is different. And the left-wing wackos are dancing in the streets at your misfortune. Now you'll conserve.

They come after China and India. Both parties are guilty. Dems won't allow drilling as well as a few Repubs. Repubs won't pressure US big oil companies because they are in their pocketbooks. No reason for $4/gallon gas right now. This can and should be resolved.

Our Congress sits by and does nothing but bow to the wishes of environmentalists. The left in Congress has blocked all attempts at opening ANWR and any other common sense approach at reducing the extreme pain at the pump! Watch this video of one of the most idiotic people on earth, Maxine Waters, talk about Big Oil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqjFBiPMmBE&feature=related

Quit trying to blame the oil companies, and quit playing POLITICIS! This is a serious issue and the Democratic congress needs to quit voting NO on whatever Bush or the Republicans in congress try to vote for as far as oil exploration, refinering/drilling. As the price of gasoline recently passed 4.00 a gallon Congress sees no need to drill domestically. BOTH parties need to show some bi-partisianship and try to take action. Meanwhile other countries are exploring and drilling just off the coast of Florida (China, Cuba) as well as other places, and I'm sure their having a big laugh at America right now. How high will congress let it go before they decide to maybe drill? 10.00? Its scary, their way of thinking. Maybe that explains why their approval rating is about as high as Bushes

Update: The members of Congress look like a bunch of ill-informed idiots. Dragging in oil execs and waving their fingers at them. At least with Big Oil we can invest and are invited to join in when they perform well. What do we get from congress? Do we get that kind of return on investment from all the tax money they waste? No. When are people going to realize that Congress is part of the problem not the solution. The government takes more from you in taxes on each gallon of gas than the oil companies do in profits. In Chicago, theres a 20% tax on gas! 20%!!!! Do you think oil companies are coming anywhere near making 20% profit on oil? The higher the price the more the governments get.

5/17/08: We can blame ourselves for this because we voted these idiots in office. Charles Schumer wants to investigate gas prices, take a look in the mirror Chuck. Its ridiculous regulations and sky high taxes that are killing us at the pump, but you need a lot of taxes to support the welfare state...I mean road construction.

Democrat politicians = Frying pan.

Republican politicians = Fire.

Which way will you jump?

Not the main source but not exactly helping the problem either.

While not responsible directly, they could put a PRICE CAP out there to lessen our daily rape...

So a moderate level of blame to the US congress. The right will probably point to restrictions on refining capacity (somewhat reasonable point, but debatable how much capacity we should add as it simply feeds overzealous consumers who generally have low regard for conservation). They'll also point to restrictions on ANWAR, which wouldn't be producing any significant amount today even if congress had approved it in 2001. The left will point to refusal to implement measures encouraging significant conservation (CAFE and the like) for whats been approaching on 20 years. You know what? They're both right, to some extent. Either increased capacity or reduced demand would ease prices. Personally, I'm in favor of working to reduce demand, but that does not change the validity of the point that increased production would help reduce prices. The question to me though is if more measures should be taken to help improve the environment rather than degrade it further (obviously, I'd say yes)