I’m looking in to the idea of buying cigarettes and coffee over the internet to avoid my regular trips to the Joe Bald store. It’s funny, back in ’70s, businessmen over in Branson came up with a promotion that was along the lines of; “If you get here, we’ll get you back”. It was a big success.

During the gasoline shortage in the ’70’s, Ozark ingenuity saved the community. Approximately 85% of all visitors drive to Branson. The oil crunch hampered visitors’ ability to made the trip. As a result, a group of Branson businessmen got together and purchased a supply of gasoline. The “If you get here, we’ll get you back” promotion was born. Those visitors who drive into Branson were able to fill up at no charge so they could make the trip back home.

I thought about that the other day when I saw this new promotion idea.

Recipients of U.S. Government-issued economic stimulus tax rebate checks or direct deposit distributions are eligible to receive a voucher for two free tickets to a Branson show.

To qualify, recipients must bring a copy of their U.S. Government-issued check or proof of direct deposit to the Branson/ Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, located at the southwest corner of the junction of MO State Hwy. 248 (Shepherd of the Hills Expy.) and US 65 in Branson, MO 65616.

I don’t think the new scheme will have the same impact. “Ozark ingenuity” ain’t what it used to be. But, ingenuity hasn’t disappeared. Saw this in a Reuters article this morning.

E-Fuel Corp unveiled on Thursday the “MicroFueler” touting it as the world’s first machine that allows homeowners to make their own ethanol and pump the brew directly into their cars.

The portable unit that sells for $10,000 resembles a gasoline station pump and nozzle

Instead of tapping gasoline from an underground tank, the pump’s back end plugs into home power and water supplies to make ethanol for as little as $1 a gallon

I remember Robin Williams (I think it was him) talking about the cost of going into rehab for cocaine; “If I have $10,000, I don’t have a problem”.

Let’s see, if I can make gas for a buck a gallon; I bet you I could sell as much as I could make for two bucks a gallon. Might bring bootlegging back in a big way.

Any time I talk to anybody, the gas prices are a primary topic. And the thing is, we can drive less but, only to a point. The U.S.A. is more rural than it is urban. Here in fly over country, there is no public transportation or walking to the grocery store.

Everybody is moping around, bummed out over the gas prices. You know, it almost reminds me of the way people were mind fucked during the heart of the cold war.

There is no magic thing that’s going to happen and pull us out of this. You can have a tax holiday, subsidize corn for ethanol, make gas in your backyard, buy and sell carbon offsets, drive a Prius, stop going to the grocery store all of that stuff but, all of it combined is one big chickenshit way to try to solve a problem.

I don’t know what’s happened to our collective psyche. We are stumbling around like a bunch of whipped pups.

The value of the dollar is at an all time low. That’s a contributing factor with oil prices. Food prices are skyrocketing because we got to put fuel in the tractor. As a nation, we are being blamed for food prices and told we are inhumane.

I saw this item a couple of weeks ago.

President Bush unveiled a plan today to encourage building oil refineries on military sites that have closed.

Speaking at a Small Business Administration conference here, the president recommended this and other initiatives to address the country’s energy needs and reduce dependence on foreign energy sources.

Bush said expanding refinery capacity will help address the shortage that’s partly blamed for skyrocketing gasoline prices. The last oil refinery built in the United States was completed in 1976, he said.

The President is right. He is also advocating more nuclear power, drilling in Alaska and offshore. Right, Right, Right and Right.

It doesn’t matter what you think of the President or, your party affiliation. We have oil and we aren’t producing it. We have oil wells, that are dormant right now, because we don’t have the refineries to produce more. We have more oil that we can go get, just sitting there.

Nuclear power is cheaper than burning coal. Nuclear power is cleaner than burning coal. That’s a genuine carbon offset, right there.

Here’s what we need to do-right now-3 things.

1. Build refineries
2. Use our own oil
3. Take advantage of nuclear power

The value of the dollar will increase, the price of oil will drop, we will be able to produce more food for the world, and the electricity we use will be cleaner and cheaper.

At the same time, we can pursue every renewable resource option, we can drive hybrid cars, we can drive less, subsidize ethanol, and make gas in our back yards. We can do all of that but, we have to keep the wheels turning.

There is no magic. There is no solving the problems of the world by whining or being self righteous. Everything has a cause and effect. We can’t stop using fossil fuels over night and we aren’t set up to pay $200 a barrel for oil.

The pressure is being put on us. How should we react under pressure?

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