[fabsroman]

Americans are plain soft.

I quit a good paying job 3 years ago to go out on my own and see what I could do. The last three years haven't been easy and I have been working a lot more than I did at the firm, if that is humanly possible.

Like I said, I read a book about World War II over my honeymoon and it seems as though the entire World War II events are starting again, just with different characters.

Ten years before World War II, the USA suffered the Great Depression and everybody had the feeling that we should take care of our own problems before looking for others in Europe and the Pacific. Problem is that the problems found us via Pearl Harbor. Then, the Germans and the Japanese were heading to take over the Middle East and that was a huge concern for us.

Today, can you imagine how pissed off China and Russia would be if we took over the Middle East? China is already pissed that Congress is getting involved in a oil company purchase because we are saying it is a matter of national security, which it probably is. Lets keep in mind that both Russia and China have nukes.

Bottom line is that Americans have to suck it up and learn to drive less or use tavel means that are more gas friendly. Gas in Europe was close to $5 a gallon back in 2001 when I visited, but the economic situation didn't seem to be too bad over there. They learned to deal with it.

I have a 2003 F-350, a 1989 5.0 Mustang, a 1998 Taurus and I drive the Taurus way more than any of them because of the gas situation. The truck only has 3,800 miles on it. The wife has a Hyundai Sonata that gets about the same gas mileage as the Taurus, maybe a little better.

If you commute a lot and need a truck for work, you need to seriously consider how much of your time is wasted driving and how much money is wasted on gas. If you get a lower paying job that requires a lot less driving, you will save on gas, your vehicle will last longer, and you will have more free time. In the end, it is up to your personal goals. I had one client, a body man, that was driving 2 hours each way for work because he made more money where he was working and homes cost a lot less where he was living. However, he went through cars left and right, got plenty of speeding tickets, lost his license, etc. It might not have been worth it.

I know that the wife and I will be getting a hybrid when we have to replace one of the cars. Hopefully, the technology will be really good by then. Or in the alternative, we will get a diesel. Right now, we are looking at the Escape Hybrid and hoping that the make an Explorer or Expedition hybrid in the future. Personally, I would buy the Escursion in diesel, but the wife doesn't want to drive something that big.

The issue of taking over the Middle East isn't that simple. Yes, sometimes I think the entire world would be better off if it were under US rule, but I am probably biased.

Do you guys really want to go through a World War over oil?