1) I think I'm confused. May I have more information please?

2) Sorry. I was a bit vague. What I meant by the Free market was leave Big Oil alone and demand will come down therefore causing a surplus in oil resulting in a price reduction. 3 Large ford Trucks that got 14 mpg were replaced with 2 motorcycles that get 50 mpg and a contour that gets 25 mpg. The free market will work itself out.

3) I got it and your right. I went from and Explorer to an Escort 3 years ago.

4) Yes, I'm in agreement somewhat. As the price rises, less will be bought and burnt and demand will go down.

5) Unfortunately, demand going down won't mean the price follows.

Think about water... We've been in a massive drought, and the government has been telling everyone to conserve, conserve, conserve. So we, as the consumer, have been. The water company wasn't making enough money, so they "temporarily" raised prices. (Interestingly enough, the prices haven't gone back down now that the water restrictions have been lifted.)

Even if the economy is free, we still rely on at least some gasoline/oil. (50 miles per gallon is great, but there's still a gallon of gas in there.) The gas companies know that we can't go without altogether... as much as we'd like to try... just as we can't go without running water.

In this particular case, I don't know if the free market will do what you're thinking.

6) Regardless of the prices not following, we are conserving more and spending less...eating out less, less movie-going, less frivilous shopping, etc.--we are only purchasing what we need. We also only drive our "large" vehicle (my Tacoma) when necessary; otherwise, we use Bill's Saturn Ion, which gets over 30 mpg. We're also doing our errands on one day/evening vs. running here and there several times per week, which means we're staying home more often or taking walks and such for entertainment. So if loads of Americans who are in similar situations do the same, won't comapnies have to reduce prices at some point?

7) The big three are on the verge of going out of business, and have been for decades now, and survive because they've had the man in their back pocket, or down their pants? We all get screwed because of bs 'hands off, free market economy' politics. They have a plan, and we are not part of it. They will find many ways to screw you for lifetimes to come. We will drill for oil offshore, and it will only add profits for them and prolong our oil addiction. Don't be fooled by the hype.
You happen to be smarter than a lot of people by actually adjusting your lifestyle, but I don't expect voluntary minor adjustments by few to get us out of the mess we're in.

8) I shower once a week to save water. Demand for my sweet love has definitely dropped, as well as the price. Talk about backfire.

9) Still a bit vague.....

IF.. IF.....IF... we had a free market. Our current system is so far away from being a free market.

I agree with you Matt, especially on the BS Hands Off Free Market!!! We are no where near being in a free market. There are way to many restrictions and tax credits on companies for the wrong reasons in order to attempt to call ourselves a free market. My picture is just some shred of evidence that a full free market system would work.

And yes Kristen... Water Company/Government will raise taxes/prices if they are not making ends meet. Once again, we must be in a true free market for this to work.

If I wanted to drive my Big ol gas guzzlin truck(Which I do sometimes) I should be able to. I want to reserve my right and others rights to drive their Gas Guzzlers if they want to. We may have to pay top dollar right now to drive them, but we can still drive them. If the government puts restrictions on how much oil we can have and what we can drive then that will impead on my rights to drive my truck. The stronger Big Gov closes its fist around us the closer we come to socialism.

10) What's wrong with socialism? No more billions for oil companies or the other huge corporations that might as well be government endorsed and supported. No more health insurance bills in the hundreds every month?
I am probably a libertarian liberal. Give me all of it and do it well or leave me alone and give me my money back...neither one is likely though, so I say raise sales tax to 20% on everything but food and get rid of income tax. That truly would produce a free market. If you can afford it, then you buy it, but at least I don't have to pay for it.

11) Now you are talking Matt!!!!! I like the libertarian part.... I am more libertarian conservative though. I think that you and I could have some great conversations over some beers!!!! I say leave me and my money alone. I know we have to have some sort of government to protect us from invasion, terrorism, and to keep our crazies from killing us all, but I think the less the better. I don't want the Nanny State telling me how to manage my money. If you don't work hard to pull your own weight, plan, and save, then you don't fare so well. There are to many people out there that take advantage of our social systems (created for a just cause). It is a loose loose situation for Joe Workalot such as you and I. We work to keep everyone else up. I say, let them fend for themselves and we will take care of ourselves.

As far as socialism goes..... it didn't work out very well for Russia.

Matt, Do you backpack???

12) That was a communist dictatorship no matter what they called it and...yes, I backpack...and drink. Pick a weekend in the fall. Sounds like a good time. It's been too long since I've had a good political conversation with someone that has a different opinion. Although I think we have similar priorities.

13) Cool Beans Man!!!! I am an avid packer!!! Driggs is going to be a packer one day. Maybe we can get some miles in November.... Maybe??? It will be a little cooler then and maybe Bek will allow me to leave home then???

14) You can pack Driggs in Happy's saddlebag and off you go!

15) I agree with your tax plan Matt but can tell you that there are lots of things wrong with socialism.

First, it doesnt work. Just look at Russia or Cuba.

Second, there is always an "elite" ruling class who thinks that the rules dont apply to them. These "pigs" (from Animal Farm) think they are smarter and are responsible for the well being of the masses and thus get to enjoy more of the benefits than others.

Third, it does not promote growth. You have no incentive to excel. Whether you are the best producer or the worst, you get paid the same, so why bother putting in the extra effort?

I would strongly encourage reading "Animal Farm". It is a well written short story that highlights the pitfalls of a socialist system.

16) I've read Animal Farm, although it was years ago, and I agree that there are problems, but we have most, if not all, of those same issues in our current capitalist society. Do you REALLY feel like your vote counts? I don't. Even if the person I vote for is elected they will make choices that I never would.
Jumping over to the John Edwards thread provides lots of comments on politicians being elite and of another form of human being that makes up our decision making body.
The failure of any government really lies with the fact that humans in power are inevitably corrupted by that power and fail to serve the greater population while they become more egocentric and power hungry.
I think we have somewhat of a socialist society in that we provide welfare and healthcare to only the very, very bottom, but we do it half-assed and really inefficiently, which I think is the excuse to not pursue more policies that could really benefit the entire population if it were done well.
Mostly, I think that people will eventually ruin any good idea because of their own self interests.