We need to drill in Alaska to temporarily increase our own supply (with appropriate environmental restrictions). The massive reserves in Alaska (and possibly a few other areas) would give us many years to work to the ultimate goal of a more economical and bio-friendly fuel. This is the best short-term solution. With the $ we would save by increasing our own supply, we would also put some increased funds into biofuel research & development.
Drilling Alaska is not the answer. If people got 3 more miles per gallon from their cars, it would save 1 million barrels of oil a day, which is exactly what the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, at it's best, in Alaska would produce.
1I am a fan of protecting our planet but there are areas that are oil rich where we can drill right now which would vastly ease the financial crisis and reduce our dependence on middle eastern oil. We won't be using oil forever and this would be a temporary solution that buys us time.
BioFuels as well are not the answer. The attraction to Bio-fuels is that they are renewable, ...however, bio fuels divert a tremendous amount of our food supply which results in higher prices worldwide. We have people eating dirt sandwiches around the world because the price of corn and other food staples has shot through the roof. In addition, biofuels produce more NO
x than fossil fuels which is bad for the environment.
Oil prices are hard on everyone but the truckers are getting killed (which affects all business and food)
Ain't that the truth. What is occuring right now... is basically a "thinning of the herd". There was a time when independent owner operators could make a good living in the trucking industry, ...however, the price of fuel is having such an adverse effect on truckers, because the freight rates have not increased along with all the other costs. Brokers are still paying 1970's wages, ...but the truckers are paying 2008 insurance premiums, 2008 maintenance costs, 2008 fuel costs. This above all else is what is squeezing the truckers the most. Like all other industries caught in this crunch, ...the little guy is edged out in favour of the huge multinationals who have the ability to secure huge volume discounts on everything from parts, insurance, fuel etc., ie: Walmart for example. While you and I may be paying $1
.99 for a 2 ltr bottle of soda, ...Walmart and it's massive buying power through volume discounts is able to acquire that same bottle of soda for perhaps $0
.30 That makes a huge impact. in addition, many brokerage firms do not pass on the fuel surcharges they collect from the clients onto the drivers. This too is impacting the drivers. I have spoken to some drivers who have been offered loads at rates that wouldn't even cover the cost of the fuel to get them there. There are approx 1800 ind truckers who are going out of business everyday in the USA as a result of this. When times are bad, only the very strong, and the very talented survive. Who does it leave? ...the big multi-national trucking firms, ...and those independants who have an edge.
Cutting the gas tax on memorial day as McCain suggests is also not the answer. like Obama said, it is a mere pittance. Just more political smoke and mirrors in my opinion. What I would like to see though is an exemption from tolls. A few days ago, I was up late chatting with a few trucker friends who had loads they were hauling through the night along the eastern seaboard. One guy had paid about $400 just in toll charges. He's a real smart, savvy trucker, who knows just about every backroad and rt turnoff to avoid as many tolls as possible, ...but by the time we got off the line, ...he had still paid about $400 in toll charges. That's not right! These guys are the ones who keep the economy going.
There are resources out in the marketplace that will give fuel consumers an edge. Independant truckers, as well as ordinary consumers who're also seeking relief from the high prices, (provided they're permitted to hear about them) Those who take advantage of these resources will be the ones who survive.
1: Senator Joseph Leiberman in his debate with former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, during the 2000 Presidential campaign ( a remark which Cheney did not contest. http://www.debates.org/pages/trans2000d.html