The Venezuela question ? My guess is Venezuela will continue to sell as long as it is in both states interests and so long as the US doesn't get all imperialistic on them. But what is worth remembering is that Chavez has publicly called on a reduction in world oil production to push up the price even further (another reason fo his unpopularity with some) and arguably for environmental reasons.

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Viva Fidel

If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism

They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America?

I don't think he was promoting state ownership, I was referring to the taxes imposed on the purchase of petroleum products, i.e. the gas taxes.

Considering how much America is so dependent on automobiles, there's not much that can be done without violating the Constitution and imposing price controls (something I don't advocate). There needs to be enough Americans who are so disgusted with the high gas prices that they're willing to give up their cars and, thereby, so reduce the demand that the oil companies will be forced to lower prices just to entice people to buy gasoline. People deciding not to drive their cars for a day isn't going to do it (I've seen the chain e-mails encouraging people to do this). The only way to get the corporations to comply with the will of the consumer is to hit them where it hurts: their profits.

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A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.

"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes toward the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.

"I'm a panda," he says at the door. "Look it up."

The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.

"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."

You probably consider this sacrilege, but you could always change the constitution and bring it into the 21st century.

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Viva Fidel

If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism

They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America?

I don't consider like that. I would love to see it updated to the Constitution 2.0

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Set your destination with your heart, get there with your mind.

"The wisest men follow their own direction." - Euripides

oh yeah it wasn't aimed at you, you're level headed enough to be open to change. My comment was more for the benefit of those who know no philosophical argument, but rather clutch to the constitution like a holy text.

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Viva Fidel

If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism

They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America?

For the sake of keeping this on topic, we'll not go into that. If you like, you can start a thread about that, but don't make it too baiting (as that would be an infraction of the rules).

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Set your destination with your heart, get there with your mind.

"The wisest men follow their own direction." - Euripides

Yes, eventually. The process of humble overtures and grovelling needs to start somewhere.

We need to make clear that we intend to be neutral and noninterventionistic, which is (as far as I can tell) mostly what the ME wants. You don't go into a car dealership badmouthing the car company and the manager, and expect to get good service and a friendly deal.

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"Oh, bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round...

At least fix that goofy-arsed spelling and capitalization.....

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"Oh, bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round...

I will somewhat disagree on the extent that we can really address our consumption all that much. Of course, it's laudable to do what we can, especially the carmakers, but our consumption is simply going to increase. That's almost a given.

But from having to study mass transit and growth strategies (I am in county planning), this country is far too big for at least a nationalized mass transit system to work. We had one, called Amtrak, but it died.

Other than somehow mandating certain fuel standards, it might be too much to ask to force people to "give up" certain cars they view as "rights" these days. (Although there is no "right" to drive a Hummer, I can just hear the uproar...)

The airlines have to get their crap together, get leaner and meaner, and the government HAS to get very serious about efficeincy standards NOW, not in 25 years or whatever the "plan" is now.

I think the key to all of this, and our ultimate salvation, is going to have to be a massive re-thinking of our foreign policy and a refocus on the domestic agenda. It's all about politcal will, courage and consistent leadership committment.

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"Oh, bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round...

Amtrak hasn't died. It's just on life support.

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Set your destination with your heart, get there with your mind.

"The wisest men follow their own direction." - Euripides