Quote from ByLoSellHi:
Anyone who thinks an economy built on an interstate highway system, an average 37 minute commute (by car) to work, suburbia with larger homes and yards, and the all-American shopping mall (and powercenter with big box stores such as Target, Best Buy, Costco) - can survive without taking serious fundamental damage with gasoline prices 300% higher than they were 3 years ago, is clinically insane.
Notice that I didn't even mention the knock on effects of the inflation caused in other areas as heating costs, shipping costs, etc. skyrocket, too.
2 (two) outstanding points, that I have been argueing and proposing quite frequently and often, as well as other more realistic and practical important people like former US Labor Secretary Robert Reich....
We Americans drive more and longer than any other populace, including Austrailans....
Our domestic backbones are built upon highways and interstate commerce. Our domestic policies geared toward exports are intertwined with usage of trucks, intermodal transport hubs and shipping centers / ports on our coasts.
Also,
the stupidity of so many in proposing the insane notion that we in the states should be happy that our prices remain lower than in Europe are as intelligent as those who say that slavery was good, benevolent and took care of housing and health costs of their capitves.
In Econmics, Sociology and History, one can look back with wild abandon and irresponsible conclusions being drawn that have nothing to do with intent, reality, factual statements or otherwise, but seem like good arguements being made.
Also,
for the very same reasons as stated above, the lies being told of the effect of China, India, Brazil (net exporter), Russia coming online with gasoline demand as justifcation for these obviously manipulated oil and oil product prices is just as lame. These countries for the most part (recent article both in NY Times and WSJ regarding recognized commute and distances driven by their citizenry) do not have long distances to drive, irrespective of so many new cars, if they really are being put in service, causing all this excess demand.
The ultimate insiders, Saudi Arabia must know and they keep saying don't blame us, its you ".....ish"Americans driving up the prices.... wonder whom they were cursing at?, hmmmmm
there's a horrible backlash coming over these wild abuses being done under this supply side idiocy of the Bush II economy....and the world is paying the price, right along with us pitiful americans