Bush plans to tackle petrol price

BBC: " US President George W Bush has unveiled plans, including an inquiry into price fixing, to lower the cost of oil and cut climbing petrol prices."

Hm.......now that petrol is expensive Bush feels he must abandon his oil friends for consumers and the environment? Interesting.....

The article also goes on to say that America should get off its oil habit. Given that oil has hovered around $70 a barrel, (yes $70, but its not anywhere near the inflation adjusted highs of 1980, I'm told) for quite some time, this is an overdue statement. Simple steps, like not taking the weekly drive, taking public transit (if applicable) and higher fuel economy standards can all help insulate the economy from shocks in oil prices. A few years ago, Republicans vetoed mandating higher fuel economy standards, and auto companies along with the government saying technology wasn't practical or too expensive, or too much of a drain on the economy. Apparently now, it seems that higher fuel economy standards and increased renewable fuels (ie ethanol) are what God Himself came down and told them there Republicans to do.

I hope that for the sake of the environment, and my grandchildren, that we raise fuel economy standards. Ford already has a hybrid version of its popular Escape brand, getting 30ish mpg in driving. Lets hope this time political rhetoric turns into action.