Groceries or Gas??

Sadly I must say that I have come to a point in my life where I am truly financially unstable. I have a great deal of expenses… rent, utilities, child care. However, the main culprit causing my family so much stress over past few months has been something we call… GAS! As I stand in the aisles of the grocery store I ponder the question… groceries or gas? hmmm? To compromise I’ll throw in a couple nights of ramen noodles or Chef Boyardee a week but, I know my children’s eating habits are suffering in the process. It’s truly sad; however, I am honestly stretched beyond belief and all I can think is when will it stop?

I read an article called, “Gas Prices Soar, Posing a Threat to Family Budget”. The article reports that the price of oil has quadrupled in six years. A Harvard economist, Kenneth S. Rogoff states that, “the effect of high oil prices today could be the difference between having a recession and not having a recession”. Some of the reasons why rising oil prices failed to put a dent in global economic growth before were: In the U.S. consumers had access to easy credit and rising prosperity. Those in developing countries had access to government subsidies to help them through. The article reports that due to the increasing demand producers are struggling to catch up. They are unable to replace the oil they pump out fast enough due to restrictions on field access and rising costs.

In another article I recently read "House Democrats urge regulators to investigate gas prices”. House speaker Nancy Pelosi and six other member of the House leadership moved to urge the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the oil and gas markets for price manipulation and other fraud. A group of senators also urged President Bush to halt billions of dollars in sophisticated arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf producers unless they agree to pump more petroleum. I must point out though that there was a study requested by President Bush last year. The report issued by the FTC last August found no evidence of market manipulation by oil and gas companies.

All I know is that gas prices right now are hurting people all over the country. It is sad day when someone must choose between a good nutritious meal or filling up their tank.



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United States of Bush

“Terrorism is killing The Constitution, and his name is George Bush”, is a very informative blog. It is terrifying to know that government documents such as the Bill of Rights, which we have been governed by since 1791, can be disregarded and violated as it has been by the very person that was chosen to uphold them. After reading the blog I did some research of my own and found nothing but article upon article about how George Bush has violated several amendments since he has been in office.

“Terrorism is killing the Constitution…” was an excellent blog as it gave readers some insight into how their own rights are being violated (hopefully they already knew). It spoke about the airport where a lot of Americans can witness this first hand. Safety is definitely the main concern, however, the way that the screenings and searches are being conducted is the issue. The blog addresses how TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agents are given authority to do just about anything, to screen and search anyone and for any reason. This authority may very well be abused. Like in the case of Mandi Hamlin, the woman the blog mentioned, who was forced to remove her nipple rings with male agents laughing in the background while trying to depart from Lubbock, Texas. Although CNN.com reports that TSA claims the agent followed procedures, however, they also agree that these same procedures need to be changed.

The blog also points out that you can be surprised with a “random” search due to a variety of irrational reasons. It would be nice to know what basis they were conducting the searches, unfortunately that information is not public knowledge. After 9/11 my sister and brother-in-law, who’s last name just happens to be Muhammad, always have the pleasure of being held up at the security gate of an Airport for extra screening or mysteriously blocked from sending family members $100.00 through Western Union to another city in Texas. I don’t know… maybe in their case it’s their last name; the color of their skin; or perhaps the fact that they’re Muslim sporting a hijab (head scarf)? Whatever the case may be, they are now labeled as a possible risk. This is sad because they are good, law abiding Americans.

It seems as though George Bush envisions a dictatorship… a United States of Bush. He adds his own amendments to the Constitution and Bill of Rights as he sees fit. The fourth and fifth amendment has just about been abolished and he seems to have single handedly destroyed the constitution. I for one am happy his reign is coming to an end.

"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." —President-elect George W. Bush, at a photo-op with congressional leaders during his first trip to Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., Dec. 19, 2000

“Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.” --Benjamin Franklin