We've started to see food riots globally and there will be more of these, as more food is used to make fuel and as the supply of oil, which is used to make fertilizer and transport food increases. Food riots happen when people who had a fairly steady supply of food lose it. These are regions that had, until recently been relatively stable--  We can provide aid, and try to change economic policies but ultimately it's going to be ugly.

Many people think that these problems are due to the war, or due to the greed of oil companies. That is simply not the case. I do not denny that oil companies sometimes gouge, but what we've seen is a real increase in the cost of oil. More people in the world want oil than ever before, and the total number of barrels that can be produced in a day is not going to get much higher than it is right now-- and, in fact, that number will soon start to creep downward-- driving prices even higher.

What our country really needs is a HIGHER gas tax and massive investment in public transportation. We need to do this now so we are ready for the higher priced oil that is coming in the future.  I don't know if Obama is brave enough to make this politically suicidal move, but he's the only one who even comes close. If he fails to do this I'll be disappointed, if he does it it will be political suicide, though, if the policies stick, he'll have done a great thing to help get our country on the right track.

So, I think at times, it would be easier to just not have Obama win. I don't want to watch him fail and I can't think of a way where this won't happen. He will either fail to raise himself to the challenge of addressing the problems we face, or he will address them, and then find himself under attack.

It might just be easier to let a Republican take control and them blame that party for the insanely high gas prices and food costs that will hit our country in the next 8 years no matter what. I just read that McCain wants to suspend the gas tax for a summer. This is the worst possible idea. It shows me that if he comes to power it would be an unmitigated disaster, just like Bush. But, people are mad about the high gas prices. Who will tell them the truth? Who will tell people that the price will not come down and that it will only go up? Who has the guts to do that so we can move on and start building our economy around different energy sources?

The only candidate who I think will be able to break the news is Obama. (Clinton... maybe, but I don't trust her anymore, she seems too eager to play in to the fantasy that nothing is seriously wrong "We're not bitter!" Hell no! We're very bitter. Are you blind?) But, even Obama could become more focused on winning a second term than telling the truth. This would be very sad to watch. And if he tells the truth about our energy situation. Golly-- he'll be eaten alive.

So, I feel like I'm setting him up for failure.

But, maybe that's the only chance we have.

Start saying it now: The price of gas is not going to come down