Eat Your Oil! - Job's Blog - Job's Blog - Tehachapi News

Jul 6, 2008 at 05:07 PM : LOL if only our...

LOL if only our politicians were that bold!!!

Jul 6, 2008 at 05:07 PM : I hear what you are...

I hear what you are saying. True change will only happen when the American people speak up. Isn't it about time?

Jul 6, 2008 at 05:07 PM : If the ABC and the...

If the ABC and the Extreme Home Makeover can build a house in a week, our rich oil tycoons can solve our problem in 6 months. All this rhetoric about we don’t have it is B.S.

After the big earth quakes in San Francisco and Los Angles, roads and bridges were rebuilt in record time.

Jul 6, 2008 at 05:07 PM : That is so true my...

That is so true my friends. Americans are so worried about their " image" , like how good they look on the way there, we should focus on our destination. My bike isn't "all that" like it was back in the day, somehow pulling her down from the rafters & cleaning her up, felt good. truly a little embarrassing to be on a bike, after that it felt good. Surely it is no difference one way or the other what I do as an individual, but , you gotta do what you can. Job & reffup,it's a start, right?

Jul 6, 2008 at 06:07 PM : We have become very...

We have become very complacent. Which is not a good thing when it comes to things we really should be standing up for or against. How do we, as country get out of that mindset? Are we where we are today due to small changes over a long period of time. When did it become OK, for parents to leave their children with sitters 9, 10, 12 hours a day in order to pay for all of their stuff. Now Gas...right now, it's ok to pay 4.00 a gallon, because it sure beats 4.50 or 4.85. Before long 5.00 is gonna be cheap. I'm not sure what is going to happen if it keeps up. Our pay sure isn't raising as fast as the cost of Gas, milk, bread. There are families out there working, just to pay the babysitter and car payment. Another job just to keep Gas and Groceries. No wonder people are losing their homes. It's horrific.

Bigdog will be starting work soon. I'm thinking of injuring him myself, so that he can stay on disablility a while longer. I don't look forward to our gas bill once he starts. I think if I get a good solid whomp in his knees that should do for awhile. : )

Jul 6, 2008 at 10:07 PM : First I will say that...

First I will say that I have said much of what Newt said in the video to friends at work and only a handful agreed with me. I believe this is two fold as to why these people didn't agree with me. One, they listen to only the worthless media that gets more money clover the pain at the pump than to be real jounalist and investigate what can be done. Two, a couple of them are very much agianst using oil and has brought into Al Gore's crap of why the globe has warmed. In fat one friend even said he would rather have gas and diesel as high as possible to stop people from driving trucks and SUV's. When Ipointed at that the increase at the pump also means the increase in shipping, postal cost, food, and everything in the store he just blew me off. Of course a couple days later when Money Watch or whatever CNN has said the sme thing he then agreed with me.

In my opinion, we don't just need to increase demestic production to lower the prices but also to hurt OPEC. Many of those in OPEC are no where near friends to the US, even before Bush became President. Also if you didn't know, and I know the mass media has not clovered it much, if Iran starts the barricade at the Strait of Hormoz we will see 40% of the world oil being cut off. That means Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, and Bahrain. Here is a link to the Google Search results of the topic. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS246US246&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=iran+strait+of+hormuz&spell=1

Jul 7, 2008 at 08:07 AM : The whole thing is a...

The whole thing is a catch 22, oil goes up, the cost of everything goes up. Here is an example. The farmer who grows food for our table and feed for his cattle, pays more because the seed he buys gets trucked in on diesel truck that pays $5.00 gall for diesel so he passes the cost onto the farmer, the farmer harvests his crops with diesel powered equipment so he passes it on to the consumer. The dairyman has his feed trucked in on diesel truck, so the cost is passed on to the dairyman, the milk is picked up by a diesel truck from the processor, so the dairyman passes the cost on to the processor, who in turn passes it on to the consumer. The processor runs on a mix of fuel and electricity, which is expensive so they pass the cost on to the consumer. The trucks that bring the food to the store, run on diesel so the provider has to raise the cost to the consumer just to make some money. It starts at the bottom and works its way to the top, everyone has to raise prices because fuel is costing them and arm and a leg, so they have to make some money back. It also doesn't help that so much of the corn supply is being diverted to make ethanol, which has driven the price of corn up, which has driven the price of feed corn up, with in turn drives up the price of milk and beef products. Sooner or later, no one is going to be able to afford to eat or go to work.

Jul 7, 2008 at 09:07 AM : Jer72,...

Jer72, actually only 20% of the oil come from that region. Regradless, 40% or 20%, it's all the same. We must become less dependent on foreign oil. That will only happen when the American people demand it. Sure I’m concerned about the environment but we can make this work for our best interest.

I suspect that the terrorist would very much like to see Iran attacked so the Strait of Hormuz would be blocked. The terrorist have done a good job at disrupting our way of life and our economy. Our president and politicians get some blame but I think terrorist should be blamed the most. Their smart tactics is what got us here in the first place.

I’m not pleased with republican or democratic presidential candidates. Nothing will change. I’ll say it again; nothing will change unless the American people demand it.

Jul 7, 2008 at 09:07 AM : Concerned,...

Concerned, there is one flaw in your analogy. The dairyman has no control over the cost he/she sells the milk for. That is controlled by the government. The dairyman has no choice but to eat the cost increases and many continue to go out of business every month.

The last time I checked, dairyman get only $1.48 per gallon.

Jul 7, 2008 at 09:07 AM : Job, I read 40% in...

Job,

I read 40% in the story that got my attention, but like you say 40% or 20%, what is the difference. The fact is that we are relying on foreign countries to provide us something tat could stop the nations energy and in affect the economy. Like you said, we the people need to make the government understand who is in power. Right now they are grabbing for votes and are saying what they believe will help them, but the current Dems in Congress seem to not be listening and keep blaming the oil companies for everything. Sorry but it is bigger than just the oil companies.

As for the comment you made to Concerned, sounds like more government regulation that removes free trade within our country. Funny they keep pushing free trade with other countries but limit it within the US.

Jul 7, 2008 at 10:07 AM : I find it very hard to...

I find it very hard to believe that there are not valid alternative fuels available - this is 2008. We've been to the moon, we've got computers the size of a cell phone. Money talks, in this case oil money. They can keep the lobbyists in business forever. How can you not hold the big oil companies responsible? How can you justify the profits recently reported?

Olivia is right, as a nation we've become way too complacent - people don't even bother to get out and vote.

Jul 7, 2008 at 11:07 AM : You are right, milk...

You are right, milk prices are influenced by the market, sometimes are good sometimes are bad. Dairyman are payed for their milk by cwt (hundredweight) not per gallon. The last mailbox price (price that the dairyman actually recieves for his milk) was $20.62, so they dairyman makes about $20 for every hundred lbs of milk he produces, no much when you see how much milk is going for at the supermarket.

Jul 7, 2008 at 11:07 AM : Joty, you are right,...

Joty, you are right, there ARE other sources of energy available. We went to the moon in 1969 on hydrogen fuels cells for gosh sakes!!! Now car companies are touting them as some new exciting technology!!! They can't tell me that it's taken 35 years to perfect the technology, when it was perfect in 1969!!! I'm usually not a conspiracy theorist type, but I wouldn't be surprised about the rumor that oil companies bought the rights to the fuel cell technology 30 years ago and have been sitting on it ever since. I believe the oil companies don't want to usher in new technology until they can squeeze every last drop of oil out of that cash cow.

Jul 7, 2008 at 11:07 AM : There's no doubt...

There's no doubt in my mind there are alternative fuels available. This is a way to make quick easy cash, from people with a need. Kind of like a drug dealer who relies on addicts for a living. The Govt knows that people are gonna continue to drive to work, continue to vacation, if we all pulled together we could put a stop to this...That's a big old freakin' If though.

Jul 7, 2008 at 11:07 AM : Concerned, yes I know...

Concerned, yes I know about how milk is sold by cwt. The gereral public is not aware of that and I used a term most would understand. I used to work on dairy farm when I was 16. One of my high school best friends in N.C. is stll in the business but is hurting.

Jul 7, 2008 at 11:07 AM : Do you...

Do you folks think we get some kind of price break on oil drilled in this country? The owners of oil here in Kern County benefit just as much from high oil prices as the ones in Saudi Arabia.

All this talk about reducing "reliance on foreign oil" is just nonsense. Presidents and presidential candidates have been using that line for decades though...

"Let this be our national goal: At the end of this decade, in the year 1980, the United States will not be dependent on any other country for the energy we need to provide our jobs, to heat our homes, and to keep our transportation moving."

Jul 7, 2008 at 11:07 AM : Just throwin some...

Just throwin some information out there. I grew up on a dairy, my family has been in the dairy business in CA for the last 80 years, my family has several dairies and farms in the Central Valley.

Jul 7, 2008 at 12:07 PM : PD, apparentl...

PD, apparently you are not comprehending what I and others have said here. Let me try to state it more clearly to you.

True change will only happen when the American people speak up and demand it!

So, when is the last time you wrote a letter or sent an e-mail to your elected official?

Jul 7, 2008 at 01:07 PM : I just wrote a letter...

I just wrote a letter to the white house a couple of weeks ago exclaiming what a dirty, rotton scoundrel I thought Mr President was and asked if he could sleep nights? Now...do I go back and apologize after seeing that he hand delivered the Purple heart to Justin?

Jul 7, 2008 at 01:07 PM : Joty, Yes ther are...

Joty,

Yes ther are alternative fuels out there and some have been around for a while. So why hasn't the automakers built them? Then when they do build them, can you afford one? I would love to own a diesel truck instead of the gas one I am driving. I would then have the conversion done to burn bio-diesel, but the added $5,000 prevents me from doing so currently. I aso owned a Ford Ranger that was Flex Fuel before the current hip. ut where was the Ethanol for me to purchase it? The fuel pump went out on it and I had to pay $50 more than a normal striaght gas fuel pump was.

Do some of the oil compnay deserve the blame for the current prices, sure because some like Exxon don't want to search for alternative fuels. As for the profits go, are you still buying it and allowing Congress to prevent drilling? The key is to allow drilling to put more oil on the market, force the automakers to start building more and cheaper alternate fuel cars, and push for more filling stations that deal in alternate fuels.

Jul 7, 2008 at 01:07 PM : Job, it must be...

Job, it must be comforting to you that the cost of oil is my fault - and that if I had only sent an email to Senator Boxer, everything would be better now....

So beyond that I apparently haven't been writing enough letters to suit you, what exactly am I not comprehending? Perhaps it would be helpful if you would outline exactly WHAT change I am supposed to be demanding - I wouldn't want to risk contradicting the message this "everyone jump-up and down and stamp their feet together" exercise of yours is supposed to send.

But since you are apparently not comprehending what I said, let me try to state it more clearly to you.

Domestic oil sells for the same price as imported oil. Political demogues have been doing an "energy independence" con job on us for decades.

Jul 7, 2008 at 01:07 PM : Oh - and before you...

Oh - and before you sputter too much at that, how about explaining to me why it is of such importance to be "energy independent" anyway?

We're not "machinist independent" as we off-shore every decent-paying tool and die job to China....we're not "vegetable picker independent" since we insist on importing cheaper foreign labor for that. We're not even "doctor, dentist, or engineer" independent since we import them from Asia, India, and every other foreign country. We're not "graduate student independent" since imported foreign students have been outnumbering native-born students, especially in technical fields, for decades now. These are the things for which I would be more interested in "demanding change" .

So, why is the simple extraction of unimproved raw materials - which undeveloped countries have traditionally supplied the developed world so important, again? Next you'll be announcing we should be "rubber-independent" and advocating for rubber tree plantations up and down the Central Valley...

Jul 7, 2008 at 01:07 PM : Well, PD, you have...

Well, PD, you have really inlightened me. Thanks.

You’re wrong. Let’s talk about Oklahoma. Oklahoma has consistently had some of the lowest prices for gas in the country. Why is that? Answer: Most of the gas sold in Oklahoma is pumped, refined and stays within the state. Today it is still under $4.00/gal.

Jul 7, 2008 at 01:07 PM : PD, really now, devils...

PD, really now, devils advocate once again. We need to get off foreign oil because they have us by the you-know-whats. I don't see vegetable pickers, doctors, dentists, engineers or graduate students gouging us for every dollar we have.

Jul 7, 2008 at 02:07 PM : Well Jer,...

Well Jer, if you had invented an alternative fuel that would cost just pennies, and big oil companies offered you a gazillion dollars to NOT market it, I'm willing to bet you'd take the money and run too, just like the auto builders. You think for one second big oil hasn't paid them NOT to produce smaller, more fuel efficient automobiles/trucks? Ironically, auto dealers are now loosing money and shutting down plants, and considering omitting certain makes like Saab and Saturns. There goes all those jobs now. C'mon, wake up and smell the gas.

No, I do not want our coastline or the pristine tundras of Alaska to be drilled and spoiled because Americans are too complacent or even lazy to do anything but bitch.

My family owns mineral rights to property in Mississippi. There's oil down there..."it's too deep to try to drill for" but they keep trying to buy those rights from us!

Jul 7, 2008 at 02:07 PM : And Olivia...no, you...

And Olivia...no, you don't owe an apology to Mr. President. And I'm sure Justin would much rather have his legs than a medal...

Jul 7, 2008 at 03:07 PM : Oklahoma is 10%...

Oklahoma is 10% cheaper than California? Wow!! And this is because the oil is produced there? You haven't noticed that oil is produced and refined right here in Kern County?

Gee, maybe there are some other reasons why gas in Oklahoma might be 50 cents less than here...like maybe the gas tax collected by the state, which is 7 cents less. And the fact that Oklahoma doesn't collect sales taxes on fuel sales, which California does at the cost about 30 cents a gallon. Oh - and Oklahoma doesn't require the use of oxygenated gas which is more expensive to refine, and maybe because Oklahoma truck drivers and gas pumpers get paid less, the minimum wage in OK being $6.55/hour compared to California's $8/hour, or because construction costs and lot rents are less, or because delivery trucks don't spend hours a day sitting in traffic between stations....

These are just a few of the reasons why there is a difference in price....all of which are lot more reasonable than your notion that the oil companies give Oklahoma an especially great deal, which is laughably idiotic...

Jul 7, 2008 at 03:07 PM : GregL, what...

GregL, what makes you think I'm being the "devils' advocate"? I never play the devil's advocate, and certainly wouldn't do it here where there is so much danger of being misunderstood.

Why do "they" have US by the "you-know-what's" while and not Europe and Japan, who seem to be perking along even though their oil and gas production is much more anemic than ours...

Its because nations become wealthy by adding value to products - it is the conversion of iron ore into steel and steel into cars that adds the most value, not digging up iron ore. Making raw materials into valuable products requires technical savvy, and our falling production of THAT, not oil production, is the big threat to our wealth.

It just cracks me up to see the same politicians who claim that "free trade" agreements that force American workers to compete with third world countries and have led to the loss of millions of jobs formally held by highly trained American workers are good, then flip around and say that the minimum wealth creation exercise - basic mineral extraction - must remain here. You see they're either really dumb, or they think you are.

Jul 7, 2008 at 03:07 PM : heh. forget it...

heh. forget it Job. Don't strain yourself trying to make sense out of what you said. I just wanna know

WHAT True change will only happen when the American people speak up and demand it?

What am I supposed to demand?

Jul 7, 2008 at 03:07 PM : This...

This change? I've heard a lot about change from this guy....

Jul 7, 2008 at 03:07 PM : Olivia, I cant resist,...

Olivia, I cant resist, I am going to ask what others here are probably thinking, what does the President giving Justin a Purple heart have to do with gas and Oil prices?, Ok, we know you hate Bush, I dont like him much either, but it sounded silly here,

Jul 7, 2008 at 05:07 PM : Joty, I agree with...

Joty,

I agree with your statement about the pay-off to keep alternative fuels off the market. If you don't take the money they will bury you just like the big three American Automakers did with the Tucker (sic) Automobiles. I for one would like to think I would have the integrity to help people instead of the pay-off. I would like to believe there are still people of integrity who would make America better without trying to make a killing.

PD,

If you remember just a few months ago we the People did tell the Congress what they better do. We sent petitions, letters, and emails to them they better not vote yes to the Immigration Bill that was being put through. It is a matter of enforceing the issue on them and if they chose not to listen, vote them out of office at the next election. We need to quit play my side verses your's and vote in who will listen to the people.

Jul 7, 2008 at 06:07 PM : Count me in for Power...

Count me in for Power to the People, jer72, however since both Obama and McCain agree on the need for "comprehensive immigration reform", i.e., amnesty, the people's victory in that fight is likely to be short-lived.

Kind of like how the people spoke out against the Iraq War and turned the Republicans out of office in 2006 - and wasn't it great to get out of that war?!?

Jul 7, 2008 at 07:07 PM : Starbucks, I...

Starbucks, I don't speak politics well. Just thought I'd add my 2 little cents I guess. Why are you trying to bust my chops? Do you have a personal problem with me? I don't mind discussing it if you do.

Jul 8, 2008 at 07:07 AM : PD, Yes, I know both...

PD,

Yes, I know both the BLANKs we have running were for the immigration reform. Heck McCain even co-authored the "reform".

I also agree that the Republican Congress was voted out due to their do nothing appoarch, but was replaced by a do nothing Democratic Congress.

Jul 8, 2008 at 07:07 AM : Check out the link...

Check out the link below. It give a pretty good explaination of the problem.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=68994

Jul 8, 2008 at 03:07 PM : Jer72, thanks for...

Jer72, thanks for posting that link. Good article. I even ordered one of the magnetic bumper stickers.

Jul 8, 2008 at 09:07 PM : That site is one of my...

That site is one of my favorites and have found many news items that no one else covers in the big media.