THYME Magazine

Citizen Journalism with a Better Flavor


Volume III, Issue IX

Understanding Pain at the Pump

This week the 'other' weekly news magazine's Asia edition dealt with Moammar Kadafi while the US edition published 'Understanding Pain.' THYME goes where few venture to tread, so we're combining TWO covers of the 'other' news magazine to deal with understanding pain at the pump.

It is no surprise that unrest in Libya has sent gas prices through the roof. What IS surprising is that our nation's leaders continue to ignore the need to produce our own. While our President's party tilts toward windmills, real threats exist in lands we depend on for the free flow of oil at market prices.

Gasoline and other fossil fuels are still relatively abundant and the market is telling us so. Green technology requires massive subsidies to compete. Virginia's Governor wants to drill offshore but the President's moratorium, overturned by a Federal Judge, still stands. Ignoring the rule of law and the will of the people, the President continues to promote experimental and unreliable 'green' solutions. I have a 1991 Mazda that gets close to 40 miles per gallon. It does not require the battery array needed for a Prius or a Volt. It will not require the replacement of said array, which is not all that environmentally friendly to produce. It does not need to be charged on the electrical grid. Cars charged on the grid are in effect 60% coal powered.

Improving the efficiency of simple engines might be the best short-term investment besides domestic energy production. Energy independence should be a priority for security reasons along with economic ones.


A rainy day driving on Interstate 81.