I received a phone call today. It was from a customer who was just “checking to see if we were still in business”. “What did you hear” I asked him. “I am calling all my vendors to see who is left” he replies. Holy Crap! These guys are major players in the truck body and conversion business. He tells me several of his suppliers have gone out of business.I’ve been sitting here trying to stay awake, and praying I don’t go bankrupt. I kind of thought it was just us. I guess not. Now I feel worse. Things really are getting bad.

The talking heads that usually make a little sense to me are going on about definitions of recession. Others go on and on about their theory, some that sound crazy. I feel myself slipping into Charlie Brown mode. You know, when the teacher is talking. Wa wah wa wa wah wahCall it what you want, people are feeling the pinch. I believe most of us, the ones who are not politicians or economists on TV, know exactly what is wrong with the equation. Gas prices are going up too fast, too much. “Great job stating the obvious, dummy.” I know thanks. So what are we going to do? We sit back and expect the politicians to do something. Are we wrong? To me it falls under the whole liberty and pursuit of happiness deal. I think someone’s been stepping on our liberty and trying to define for us just what exactly happiness is. Depending upon just what exactly the definition of the word is is.

I hear in the background, “that Bush…” and “the libs…” I’ve about had enough. I remember gas lines in the 70s. I remember the price of West Texas crude dropping like a rock. I don’t remember anyone doing anything. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Republican, Democrat, Independent (snicker), nada. “Dude, the federal government has continually imposed stricter café standards during…” Blow it out your fuel cell loving, tailpipe. We’re not going to conserve our way to prosperity. It’s not right that the government forces the auto manufacturers to produce better fuel economy. If Chevy could make a Suburban that got 50 miles per gallon, they’d do it. You wouldn’t be able to find one to buy. And about that new fuel cell vehicle, you do realize that you have to drive it down to the station and filler up. You’ll just be filling up with nitrogen. Yes, I said nitrogen. Watch for filling stations while you’re out. Do a little price check.

So we have three outstanding Americans who are promising to fix stuff for us. Rest assured they feel our pain. Mr. Mc Cain is going to suspend the federal gas tax, maybe, for a few months, maybe. All’s well in Suburbia. Mrs. Clinton soon followed, saying she’d do the same, maybe. So my simple mind has two questions. “What the heck good is that going to do, at all?” My gasoline expenses now equal my car payment. “If it’s such a good idea then why not do away with it totally?” Even if the federal gasoline sales tax somehow vanishes, they’ll get it another way. “Well now he’s just talking crazy talk. I think this guy is crazy.” I would like to thank Mr. Obama for pointing out that this promise is simple lip service. Still not voting for him, but he did take a stand for once.

We the American people need to get together and have a little talk. We need to do so with an open mind. The complaints and concerns of the guy on the other side need to be taken into consideration. I say this to both sides. I’m a right winger, far right, gun totin’, God fearin’, Christian Conservative. I guess you could say I’m from the Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter wing of the party. I do not want dirty air. I do not want dirty water. I do not want to trash the planet. See, we’ve got a few things in common already. If you believe otherwise, then I don’t think you are serious about getting anything done.

And on the right, we just can’t assume that everyone on the left is a tree hugger. We also need to admit that being a tree hugger isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I do not want dirty air. I do not want dirty water. I do not want to trash the planet. I also do not want people telling me what kind of car I should buy, or that I should only use two squares of tissue paper.

Can we the people, of fly over country, get together and start having a serious discussion about an energy policy? We all seem to agree that we need to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. Reduced usage of gasoline through increased fuel economy is one way. New technology is needed too. Another crucial part of reducing our dependency is to pump oil in our own country. We need to increase our capacity to refine oil here. Anyone who will not admit that increased domestic production is a necessity has no real interest in solving the problem. And I say we can do it without having a pump jack in every neighborhood, or killing off the wildlife.

Again, I’ve had about enough. How about you? What will we do? I don’t see anyone campaigning with an energy plan of any kind. I think I may sit this election cycle out. Can't afford the gas to make it to the poles.