I'm tired of economic pundits trying to calm us down

[chowmama]

I can only assume that's what they're trying to do, to prevent a panic. And this was NPR, who should know better.

The statement was that the war's effects on petroleum wouldn't be so bad because we're producing more oil in the U.S. than we used to. This is technically true, except that there's no 'we' about it.

It doesn't matter whose dirt that oil came out of. It belongs to the private company that drilled for it. They can, and will, sell it to the highest bidder for the highest price the market will bear. We may or may not be the highest bidder. If we are, we'll get it at that high price, and only at that high price. It. Isn't. Ours.

The only way the federal government could get them to sell it to us at a lower price than they could get elsewhere is if they nationalized the industry. I'd love to hear them trying to justify that one. Be worth the price of admission, that would. Not gonna happen.

I've already advised DH that we're going to be stocking up on more sweaters for next winter. His metabolism has been changing and we've had to up the thermostat 2 degrees this year. He still has to wear warm clothes downstairs. We're going to have to drop it 4 degrees next winter and live upstairs most of the day.