dont get me wrong. as a conservative i do believe in conservation, but i cannot seem to wrap my head around the idea of polititians telling us to do things like drive less, and not cool our homes to suit our own comfort levels because of the excess use of oil.  there is no oil shortage!!  sure i think that if we do cut back on or use of oil consumption it will make the big oil companies take notice, but in the long run doesn't it also send the message that we don't really need drilling in anwar and off of our shores.  oil has gone down 20 odd dollars/barrel within the last few weeks, and if that has anything to do with joe american tightening his/her belt then it becomes a contest as to who can hold their breath the longest.  us or the oil companies. in the mean time small business owner are the ones getting the real kick in the rear.  i know of two business men, within the last months who say they have seen a 15- 20% drop off in their business "because people are just not buying."  (quoted from a contractor friend)  by not drilling now we are cutting our oun throats.  like i said earlier.  WE ARE AMERICANS, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE HELD HOSTAGE BY GAS PRICES.  we the people run this country.  we have become lax about that.  we should stop the bartering with our polititians and tell them to drill and drill now.