HS football and other sports in danger due to energy crunch?

[GoOwls]

On the radio today, there was a discussion about the danger to HS sports from the energy crisis.

They stated that the gas costs could force some schools, especially small schools, to quit playing football at all, due to long travel and low income of the parents and fans who would normally travel to the games.

Also pointed out was the fact that school buses get poor gas mileage and some cities may not be able to even pay for the school bus gas.

They noted that even if football might be untouched, it could easily force many schools to curtail or dismantle non-revenue sports programs at their schools.

They said that HS sports could eventually be like "club sports", like baseball and soccer leagues, where the parents furnish the equipment and costs of their kid playing sports.

Seems that this would keep many great athletes from being able to play just because they are low income or live in a small town.

Well, this is what was talked about.....ya'll throw in your two cents....

[Maroondog]

I hadn't heard anything like before, but with the cost of doing business, I can see where it could become a reality.
I guess the real point is where is the absolute cut line between high costs like fuel and making sports out of reach. I don't think the urban schools would suffer due to the high number of schools relatively close together, but the rural schools and especially some of the smaller districts might be faced with simply not being able to make ends meet.

Even though football is the money sport for most schools, it will always come down to dollars and cents and how affordable it is.

I would hate to think that high school sports at 5A or any level would be jeopardized over this. Can you imagine schools with no extra curricular activities? I can't even begin to imagine the problems that would result.

[texan_75010]

For some folks the sky is in a constant state of falling on all of us. The future of the earth is constantly in a state of uncertainty.

Yes, gas prices are high so we don't buy as much Starbucks. But let's get our priorities in line. Math class, English class, FOREIGN LANGUAGE class are all much more expendible than football or athletics in general. After all, just look at the news and see how fat we are and how fat our kids are. Our hearts are on the verge of exploding out of our chests! We need exercise. If we are dead, Math and English wont do us much good.

We live in America so who need to learn a language that immigrants speak? Don't they need to learn OUR language?

If gas is a problem, make the band kids push the bus...it's good for their health AND the environment!

I am so sick of these weenie liberals who tell ME how I have to change my life and my spending habits while they live in their paneled houses. They survive by instilling fear and making threats.

I am sure that the salary of the school board member or politician who came up with the idea of getting rid of football or athletics would more than cover the cost of gas....so fire their a$$ and use the savings for gas.....let's do it for the childeren...and their future.

[drgnbkr]

Call or write your lib representatives and demand that they follow the Presidents lead and open up our own exploration areas for drilling so that we can get out of this mess and have an economy left to develop alternative energy sources. And by all means, put down the Obama crack pipe...we get the government we deserve. Too harsh? Deal with it...

[texan_75010]

Call or write your lib representatives and demand that they follow the Presidents lead and open up our own exploration areas for drilling so that we can get out of this mess and have an economy left to develop alternative energy sources. And by all means, put down the Obama crack pipe...we get the government we deserve. Too harsh? Deal with it...

I second that!

[Maroondog]

Call or write your lib representatives and demand that they follow the Presidents lead and open up our own exploration areas for drilling so that we can get out of this mess and have an economy left to develop alternative energy sources. And by all means, put down the Obama crack pipe...we get the government we deserve. Too harsh? Deal with it...


LMAO!

[Wagnerdad]

Am I allowed to post on this conservative thread? If so, we are our own worst enemies when it come to consumption. Being an ex-athelete I know the importance of sports in school, but a well rounded education is equally important. You may not buy the so called "crack pipe dream" that Obama is giving but he can't do any worse than Bush!! Shoot, I would vote for
Dan Quayle at this point!!

[mad_fan]

The appraised value of my 1250 square foot home here in San Angelo went up 18% this year...I guess it is capped at 10% in any give year...so they'll get the rest of the increase next year...
Not that we travel far...
:rolleyes:
There's always a way to play football in Texas...

[mad_fan]

Am I allowed to post on this conservative thread? If so, we are our own worst enemies when it come to consumption. Being an ex-athelete I know the importance of sports in school, but a well rounded education is equally important. You may not buy the so called "crack pipe dream" that Obama is giving but he can't do any worse than Bush!!
Shoot, I would vote for Dan Quayle at this point!!


The constant name calling from the right is certainly telling of their hopes in this election...
I'd like to see more debate about the actual issues we face...
But if flag pins and ms obama's 'pride' is all I get...that's okay too...

[drgnbkr]

The constant name calling from the right is certainly telling of their hopes in this election...
I'd like to see more debate about the actual issues we face...
But if flag pins and ms obama's 'pride' is all I get...that's okay too...


It is not name calling to respond to the complete lack of any ideas from Obama other than "hope, change and I love Reverend Wright like an uncle" Give us something to respond to and we will! If you'd like a candidate who is ashamed of his country, wants to raise taxes through the roof, and is completely inexperienced at the things that matter most, thats fine...a lot of people want more, and while McCain is far from a conservative, at least he doesnt lean toward socialism.

[BandidoNB]

For some folks the sky is in a constant state of falling on all of us. The future of the earth is constantly in a state of uncertainty.

Yes, gas prices are high so we don't buy as much Starbucks. But let's get our priorities in line. Math class, English class, FOREIGN LANGUAGE class are all much more expendible than football or athletics in general. After all, just look at the news and see how fat we are and how fat our kids are. Our hearts are on the verge of exploding out of our chests! We need exercise. If we are dead, Math and English wont do us much good.

We live in America so who need to learn a language that immigrants speak? Don't they need to learn OUR language?

If gas is a problem, make the band kids push the bus...it's good for their health AND the environment!

I am so sick of these weenie liberals who tell ME how I have to change my life and my spending habits while they live in their paneled houses. They survive by instilling fear and making threats.

I am sure that the salary of the school board member or politician who came up with the idea of getting rid of football or athletics would more than cover the cost of gas....so fire their a$$ and use the savings for gas.....let's do it for the childeren...and their future.


Regardless of who or who doesnt make changes in their life, changes are inevitable, as oil is a finite resource.

[LoneRocket]

On the radio today, there was a discussion about the danger to HS sports from the energy crisis.

They stated that the gas costs could force some schools, especially small schools, to quit playing football at all, due to long travel and low income of the parents and fans who would normally travel to the games.

Also pointed out was the fact that school buses get poor gas mileage and some cities may not be able to even pay for the school bus gas.

They noted that even if football might be untouched, it could easily force many schools to curtail or dismantle non-revenue sports programs at their schools.

They said that HS sports could eventually be like "club sports", like baseball and soccer leagues, where the parents furnish the equipment and costs of their kid playing sports.

Seems that this would keep many great athletes from being able to play just because they are low income or live in a small town.

Well, this is what was talked about.....ya'll throw in your two cents....

They might meet each other at a half way point or have fresh and JV games on the same day at the same location. Then there is the issue of the cost of gas for the officials.

[BigRing5311]

Call or write your lib representatives and demand that they follow the Presidents lead and open up our own exploration areas for drilling so that we can get out of this mess and have an economy left to develop alternative energy sources. And by all means, put down the Obama crack pipe...we get the government we deserve. Too harsh? Deal with it...

WASHINGTON — A plan to lift the ban on coastal drilling is stalled on Capitol Hill, for one simple reason: A Californian who opposes President Bush's proposal is calling the shots in the House of Representatives.

Despite growing public support for ending the ban, even in California, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she won't allow a vote.

"I have no plans to do so," Pelosi said Thursday.

It's an example of the vast power placed in the office of the speaker, who sets the agenda for the 435-member House. Members can force a vote if enough of them sign a petition, but that's a rarity because it requires rank-and-file Democrats to line up against their boss.

In this case, Pelosi is going against a rising tide of public opinion. Faced with rapidly increasing gasoline prices, 73 percent of Americans now favor offshore drilling, according to a poll conducted by CNN/Opinion Research Corp.

Support is even growing in California, where a majority of residents have long supported the ban. A new Field Poll survey shows that just 51 percent now favor the ban, compared with 56 percent in 2005.

Pelosi made her remarks in a wide-ranging interview with CNN, in which she grabbed headlines for saying Bush was "a total failure" who had lost credibility with Americans on his handling of the war, the economy and energy issues. She said Congress has been forced "to sweep up after his mess over and over and over again."

Pelosi's Democratic colleagues in California are happy that the president's drilling plan is going nowhere, at least for now.

"When Americans go to the pump and are faced with gas prices well over $4 a gallon, it may be tempting to believe that lifting the ban on offshore drilling would bring immediate relief," Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., said Friday. But she said Congress "cannot make rash decisions that will leave a legacy of irresponsible energy policy for our children and grandchildren to inherit."

Pelosi and other Californians have long cited the 1969 oil spill off Santa Barbara as the main reason for their opposition to drilling. The president's plan is opposed by California's three top leaders: Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer, who heads the Senate environment committee, and Dianne Feinstein.

"Californians have learned the hard way how much damage — environmental and economic — can be caused by a major oil spill," Feinstein said.

But Pelosi may be hard-pressed to stand firm against lifting the moratorium. She's under heavy pressure from House Republicans, who have been unrelenting in their political attacks against the speaker, blaming her for gas prices.

On Friday, House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio called on Pelosi to stop "ignoring the calls of the American people." He said he would lead a delegation of 10 House Republicans on an "American energy tour" to Colorado and Alaska this weekend to put a spotlight on the refusal of Democratic leaders to allow drilling in Alaska and elsewhere.

The congressional ban on offshore drilling has been in effect since 1981, but Congress must renew it each year. The issue could come to a head again in September, though Pelosi could make it tougher for opponents to kill the ban if she includes it in an omnibus spending bill that may be required to keep the government operating.

Acknowledging her ability to influence decision-making, Pelosi said in the CNN interview that she gets to operate differently from her Senate counterpart, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. Reid must reach out to Republicans to muster 60 votes to get anything done.

"In the House, the power rests in the speaker, the power of recognition, of setting the agenda. ... Very different rules," Pelosi said.

One of the greatest problems in America today is our elected politicians mainly come from a lineage of political generations that have lost touch with the constituency they represent. The years of living in an unrealistic political bubble has become reality in their minds. If an individual is elected by the people who has a grounded common sense approach he or she is scorned by the political "boys and girls" club because common sense has no place among the unrealistic distortion that governs our country.

[drgnbkr]

Regardless of who or who doesnt make changes in their life, changes are inevitable, as oil is a finite resource.

Your right, we do need to change...the restrictions on drilling in Anwar, off of our coasts, etc. We need to make it easier for the cleanest, safest nuclear power plants on earth to be built, and we need to change the restrictions on coal fired electrical generation plants. We will never get to see if wind, solar and other forms of energy can be made cost effective if we have no economy left after the liberals get finished destroying it. And yes, I said liberals...they are the ones standing in the way of the only realistic solution out there to get this thing turned around...We can deal with all the idiotic loans that have been made on overinflated housing over time, but we can not become more energy independent by handcuffing the industry that produces energy.

[LoneRocket]

For some folks the sky is in a constant state of falling on all of us. The future of the earth is constantly in a state of uncertainty.

Yes, gas prices are high so we don't buy as much Starbucks. But let's get our priorities in line. Math class, English class, FOREIGN LANGUAGE class are all much more expendible than football or athletics in general. After all, just look at the news and see how fat we are and how fat our kids are. Our hearts are on the verge of exploding out of our chests! We need exercise. If we are dead, Math and English wont do us much good.

We live in America so who need to learn a language that immigrants speak? Don't they need to learn OUR language?

If gas is a problem, make the band kids push the bus...it's good for their health AND the environment!

I am so sick of these weenie liberals who tell ME how I have to change my life and my spending habits while they live in their paneled houses. They survive by instilling fear and making threats.

I am sure that the salary of the school board member or politician who came up with the idea of getting rid of football or athletics would more than cover the cost of gas....so fire their a$$ and use the savings for gas.....let's do it for the childeren...and their future.

School board members are not paid and actually the members of the Texas Legislature who talked about get rid of or not supporting UIL sports are conservative. Remember it was a Republican Senator and House member who tried to pass a law to allow all private schools into the UIL.

[LoneRocket]

Call or write your lib representatives and demand that they follow the Presidents lead and open up our own exploration areas for drilling so that we can get out of this mess and have an economy left to develop alternative energy sources. And by all means, put down the Obama crack pipe...we get the government we deserve. Too harsh? Deal with it...

Will all of the OIL go strictly for US consumption?

[drgnbkr]

Will all of the OIL go strictly for US consumption?

I would hope so...the Pelosi's/Obama's of the world would like to penalize the oil companies. They may want to sell overseas if the environment here remains the same. We're short on energy, so let's penalize the producers?:eek:

[drgnbkr]

Am I allowed to post on this conservative thread? If so, we are our own worst enemies when it come to consumption. Being an ex-athelete I know the importance of sports in school, but a well rounded education is equally important. You may not buy the so called "crack pipe dream" that Obama is giving but he can't do any worse than Bush!! Shoot, I would vote for
Dan Quayle at this point!!

I don't know you, so you know it's not personal, but yes, if Obama just does the things he says he's going to do, it will get a lot worse. Socializing our health care system will maike it like Canada's, which is in complete meltdown....rolling back the tax cuts and penalizing the job creators (small business) with a huge tax increase will do great damage. So you can recite all of the Keith Olbermann lines you want...It will get a lot worse with Obama.

[mad_fan]

Your right, we do need to change...the restrictions on drilling in Anwar, off of our coasts, etc. We need to make it easier for the cleanest, safest nuclear power plants on earth to be built, and we need to change the restrictions on coal fired electrical generation plants. We will never get to see if wind, solar and other forms of energy can be made cost effective if we have no economy left after the liberals get finished destroying it. And yes, I said liberals...they are the ones standing in the way of the only realistic solution out there to get this thing turned around...We can deal with all the idiotic loans that have been made on overinflated housing over time, but we can not become more energy independent by handcuffing the industry that produces energy.

We could have them drill in the 70 million untapped acres...out of 90 million acres leased in the Gulf...
:rolleyes:


Of the 90 million offshore acres the industry has leases to, mostly in the Gulf of Mexico, it is estimated that upwards of 70 million are not producing oil, according to both Democrats and oil-industry sources.

http://www.propeller.com/viewstory/2008/06/23/americas-untapped-oil/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2008%2F06%2F23%2 Fnews%2Feconomy%2Foil_drilling%2Findex.htm%3Fcnn%3 Dyes&frame=true

[mad_fan]

I don't know you, so you know it's not personal, but yes, if Obama just does the things he says he's going to do, it will get a lot worse. Socializing our health care system will maike it like Canada's, which is in complete meltdown....rolling back the tax cuts and penalizing the job creators (small business) with a huge tax increase will do great damage. So you can recite all of the Keith Olbermann lines you want...It will get a lot worse with Obama.

Some will be worse off...
It wasnt long ago that in my voting precinct...EVERY OFFICIAL...from GW down to the dog catcher had an R behind his name...Federal, State and Local...probably NOT a common happening in America...
Yet as we address the subject at hand...fueling buses for travel...look at what I get from my appraisal district...

I'm much better off than I was eight years ago...but that was due to MY efforts...not any of those R's...

[drgnbkr]

We could have them drill in the 70 million untapped acres...out of 90 million acres leased in the Gulf...
:rolleyes:


Of the 90 million offshore acres the industry has leases to, mostly in the Gulf of Mexico, it is estimated that upwards of 70 million are not producing oil, according to both Democrats and oil-industry sources.

http://www.propeller.com/viewstory/2008/06/23/americas-untapped-oil/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2008%2F06%2F23%2 Fnews%2Feconomy%2Foil_drilling%2Findex.htm%3Fcnn%3 Dyes&frame=true

Are you doubting that we have the reserves available to help get us out of this mess? Nuclear power alone could get us way down the road, but the environmental oversight is ridiculous. Same with coal fired genration. We've got to get at these reserves, and do so quickly. Our economy is faultering and all of are dependant on a free enterprise system. Not one that is over regulated by big government.

[mad_fan]

Are you doubting that we have the reserves available to help get us out of this mess? Nuclear power alone could get us way down the road, but the environmental oversight is ridiculous. Same with coal fired genration. We've got to get at these reserves, and do so quickly. Our economy is faultering and all of are dependant on a free enterprise system. Not one that is over regulated by big government.

I don't know where that came from???:confused:
I said the oil companies SHOULD DRILL THE FEDERAL LEASES THEY HAVE...

[drgnbkr]

I don't know where that came from???:confused:
I said the oil companies SHOULD DRILL THE FEDERAL LEASES THEY HAVE...

With oil prices where they are, you can bet they are drilling everywhere it is profitable to drill. Our neighborhood is in the process of selling off the gas rights under our individual properties. Chesapeake Energy will drill horizontal wells from uninhabited property to get at the gas. It is what we have to do. I'm glad we're talking about this...I like hearing other points of view. It seems so obvious to me.

[mad_fan]

It is not name calling to respond to the complete lack of any ideas from Obama other than "hope, change and I love Reverend Wright like an uncle" Give us something to respond to and we will! If you'd like a candidate who is ashamed of his country, wants to raise taxes through the roof, and is completely inexperienced at the things that matter most, thats fine...a lot of people want more, and while McCain is far from a conservative, at least he doesnt lean toward socialism.

Since we are well on the way to locking this thread...

If ONLY there was a way that we could sit in our homes...anonymously searching for information...then maybe we could reseach a Presidential candidates positions...
:rolleyes:

Alternatively...if we only had a station to watch beside FoxNews...
Perhaps then we'd be better informed...
:rolleyes:

[mad_fan]

With oil prices where they are, you can bet they are drilling everywhere it is profitable to drill. Our neighborhood is in the process of selling off the gas rights under our individual properties. Chesapeake Energy will drill horizontal wells from uninhabited property to get at the gas. It is what we have to do. I'm glad we're talking about this...I like hearing other points of view. It seems so obvious to me.

It's obvious to me too...and a tax increase...that will strenghten the US Dollar...and rise all boats...shouldn't hit you hard with your addition royalty stream...:)

[drgnbkr]

Since we are well on the way to locking this thread...

If ONLY there was a way that we could sit in our homes...anonymously searching for information...then maybe we could reseach a Presidential candidates positions...
:rolleyes:

Alternatively...if we only had a station to watch beside FoxNews...
Perhaps then we'd be better informed...
:rolleyes:

Well I guess if ratings are any indication, Fox News is doing alright! Next to no one watches Keith Olberman and MSNBC, and fewer and fewer are watching CNN. But that is beside the point, you have to think for yourself and if you really listen to Obama, you will be scared to death...unless your socialistic in your thinking. And I hope they don't lock this thread, nobody's attacking anyone personally, just trying to have a conversation.:p

[drgnbkr]

It's obvious to me too...and a tax increase...that will strenghten the US Dollar...and rise all boats...shouldn't hit you hard with your addition royalty stream...:)

You really think raising taxes anytime, is okay? The government wastes enough money every year to light the world's light builbs I'm sure....Why give them more to waste?

[mad_fan]

Well I guess if ratings are any indication, Fox News is doing alright! Next to no one watches Keith Olberman and MSNBC, and fewer and fewer are watching CNN. But that is beside the point, you have to think for yourself and if you really listen to Obama, you will be scared to death...unless your socialistic in your thinking. And I hope they don't lock this thread, nobody's attacking anyone personally, just trying to have a conversation.:p

Thing is I listen to BOTH sides...mostly on the internet...so I guess that explains the lack of viewership on ALL other networks...;)

The good people of SoutkLake and communities like it will take the brunt of the tax hit needed to get us out of our debt mess...
But those communities enjoyed a disproportionate amount of the false profits that we are paying for now...

I can see CoveMom coming in and telling us to take it out to The Yard...:D

[mad_fan]

You really think raising taxes anytime, is okay? The government wastes enough money every year to light the world's light builbs I'm sure....Why give them more to waste?

I'm thinking the Dems will pay down some debt...and save the US Dollar...that's their best bet to retain power...and they want the power...

[Redhoss]

Call or write your lib representatives and demand that they follow the Presidents lead and open up our own exploration areas for drilling so that we can get out of this mess and have an economy left to develop alternative energy sources. And by all means, put down the Obama crack pipe...we get the government we deserve. Too harsh? Deal with it...

:notworthy

[Redhoss]

Regardless of who or who doesnt make changes in their life, changes are inevitable, as oil is a finite resource.

And if we would have had people in government over the past 40 years realizing what you just said, then we would have been developing our own resources in every area.
Unfortunately, we've had politicians in Washington and they do what they always do, promise the moon to get re-elected and continue their paycheck. :mad:

[Redhoss]

WASHINGTON — A plan to lift the ban on coastal drilling is stalled on Capitol Hill, for one simple reason: A Californian who opposes President Bush's proposal is calling the shots in the House of Representatives.

Despite growing public support for ending the ban, even in California, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she won't allow a vote.

"I have no plans to do so," Pelosi said Thursday.

It's an example of the vast power placed in the office of the speaker, who sets the agenda for the 435-member House. Members can force a vote if enough of them sign a petition, but that's a rarity because it requires rank-and-file Democrats to line up against their boss.

In this case, Pelosi is going against a rising tide of public opinion. Faced with rapidly increasing gasoline prices, 73 percent of Americans now favor offshore drilling, according to a poll conducted by CNN/Opinion Research Corp.

Support is even growing in California, where a majority of residents have long supported the ban. A new Field Poll survey shows that just 51 percent now favor the ban, compared with 56 percent in 2005.

Pelosi made her remarks in a wide-ranging interview with CNN, in which she grabbed headlines for saying Bush was "a total failure" who had lost credibility with Americans on his handling of the war, the economy and energy issues. She said Congress has been forced "to sweep up after his mess over and over and over again."

Pelosi's Democratic colleagues in California are happy that the president's drilling plan is going nowhere, at least for now.

"When Americans go to the pump and are faced with gas prices well over $4 a gallon, it may be tempting to believe that lifting the ban on offshore drilling would bring immediate relief," Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., said Friday. But she said Congress "cannot make rash decisions that will leave a legacy of irresponsible energy policy for our children and grandchildren to inherit."

Pelosi and other Californians have long cited the 1969 oil spill off Santa Barbara as the main reason for their opposition to drilling. The president's plan is opposed by California's three top leaders: Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer, who heads the Senate environment committee, and Dianne Feinstein.

"Californians have learned the hard way how much damage — environmental and economic — can be caused by a major oil spill," Feinstein said.

But Pelosi may be hard-pressed to stand firm against lifting the moratorium. She's under heavy pressure from House Republicans, who have been unrelenting in their political attacks against the speaker, blaming her for gas prices.

On Friday, House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio called on Pelosi to stop "ignoring the calls of the American people." He said he would lead a delegation of 10 House Republicans on an "American energy tour" to Colorado and Alaska this weekend to put a spotlight on the refusal of Democratic leaders to allow drilling in Alaska and elsewhere.

The congressional ban on offshore drilling has been in effect since 1981, but Congress must renew it each year. The issue could come to a head again in September, though Pelosi could make it tougher for opponents to kill the ban if she includes it in an omnibus spending bill that may be required to keep the government operating.

Acknowledging her ability to influence decision-making, Pelosi said in the CNN interview that she gets to operate differently from her Senate counterpart, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. Reid must reach out to Republicans to muster 60 votes to get anything done.

"In the House, the power rests in the speaker, the power of recognition, of setting the agenda. ... Very different rules," Pelosi said.

One of the greatest problems in America today is our elected politicians mainly come from a lineage of political generations that have lost touch with the constituency they represent. The years of living in an unrealistic political bubble has become reality in their minds. If an individual is elected by the people who has a grounded common sense approach he or she is scorned by the political "boys and girls" club because common sense has no place among the unrealistic distortion that governs our country.

Someone needs to draft a recall petition and get Pelosi out of the leadership. Then we can start the next recall and so on. :D

[drgnbkr]

Someone needs to draft a recall petition and get Pelosi out of the leadership. Then we can start the next recall and so on. :D

One step at a time! Thanks for joining the debate! Can you imagine the dinnertime conversations of the people who actually vote for Pelosi, Reid and their ilk? They must speak a language with which I am unfamiliar!:D

[Redhoss]

One step at a time! Thanks for joining the debate! Can you imagine the dinnertime conversations of the people who actually vote for Pelosi, Reid and their ilk? They must speak a language with which I am unfamiliar!:D

I'm wondering what planet they are from ? :eek:

[mad_fan]

One step at a time! Thanks for joining the debate! Can you imagine the dinnertime conversations of the people who actually vote for Pelosi, Reid and their ilk? They must speak a language with which I am unfamiliar!:D

Certainly unfamilar in SouthLake...
But I guess we should all learn YOUR language...if we want to live in the US...;)

[Redhoss]

I'm thinking the Dems will pay down some debt...and save the US Dollar...that's their best bet to retain power...and they want the power...

It's not going to happen. Oil prices which are at least a little artificial now will drop but not significantly. The reason is simple. India and China are using more and more energy as their economies expand. The world isn't producing more energy. We're about tapped out without expanding our drilling here and around the world and quickly. In addition, other energy resources must be developed.

[mad_fan]

I'm wondering what planet they are from ? :eek:

Mars and Venus were claimed...but Uranus if free...;)

[mad_fan]

It's not going to happen. Oil prices which are at least a little artificial now will drop but not significantly. The reason is simple. India and China are using more and more energy as their economies expand. The world isn't producing more energy. We're about tapped out without expanding our drilling here and around the world and quickly. In addition, other energy resources must be developed.


If the US Dollar isn't fixed...and soon...a barrel of oil will be priced in Euros...then we'll have something to complain about...
And when that change happens...it'll NEVER come back to US Dollar...
I'll hate the day we are calculation getting the San Angelo Bobcats to Lubbock...in Euros...:eek:

[Redhoss]

I don't know where that came from???:confused:
I said the oil companies SHOULD DRILL THE FEDERAL LEASES THEY HAVE...

Like any location, there isn't always oil present. If there was, I'd say let's drill on my property. Actually they did drill on property in Mississippi where my family had royalty rights and it was a dry hole.
The costs to drill on land is in excess of 1 Million $. Offshore leases are in the billions and pipelines take a long time are very costly. It's not cheap to get at the oil.
Why not do something like open up other leases to private start up companies at 0 $ and see what they can do :)

[mad_fan]

Like any location, there isn't always oil present. If there was, I'd say let's drill on my property. Actually they did drill on property in Mississippi where my family had royalty rights and it was a dry hole.
The costs to drill on land is in excess of 1 Million $. Offshore leases are in the billions and pipelines take a long time are very costly. It's not cheap to get at the oil.
Why not do something like open up other leases to private start up companies at 0 $ and see what they can do :)

So...A geologist said...drill here...ONE dry hole...and they quit???
Did we consult another geologist???
Dry holes are $6,000,000 a dozen...:D

[mad_fan]

Like any location, there isn't always oil present. If there was, I'd say let's drill on my property. Actually they did drill on property in Mississippi where my family had royalty rights and it was a dry hole.
The costs to drill on land is in excess of 1 Million $. Offshore leases are in the billions and pipelines take a long time are very costly. It's not cheap to get at the oil.
Why not do something like open up other leases to private start up companies at 0 $ and see what they can do :)

Companies don't lease properties with no potential...they do lease properties with potential to keep someone else from leasing them...

[Redhoss]

So...A geologist said...drill here...ONE dry hole...and they quit???
Did we consult another geologist???
Dry holes are $6,000,000 a dozen...:D

I'm hearing reports that they hit 4 dry holes for every productive hole drilled in those leases.
Offshore rigs cost billions.

[drgnbkr]

So...A geologist said...drill here...ONE dry hole...and they quit???
Did we consult another geologist???
Dry holes are $6,000,000 a dozen...:D

I like it!:notworthy So, do you think the Dem plan of no new drilling is the way to go? How do you think that will hold up duing the general elections?

[DrEdward]

On the radio today, there was a discussion about the danger to HS sports from the energy crisis.

They stated that the gas costs could force some schools, especially small schools, to quit playing football at all, due to long travel and low income of the parents and fans who would normally travel to the games.

Also pointed out was the fact that school buses get poor gas mileage and some cities may not be able to even pay for the school bus gas.

They noted that even if football might be untouched, it could easily force many schools to curtail or dismantle non-revenue sports programs at their schools.

They said that HS sports could eventually be like "club sports", like baseball and soccer leagues, where the parents furnish the equipment and costs of their kid playing sports.

Seems that this would keep many great athletes from being able to play just because they are low income or live in a small town.

Well, this is what was talked about.....ya'll throw in your two cents....

Back to the original topic, if thes current price levels for gas and diesel continue, there will indeed be a continued pressure on high school sports activities. Indeed on transportation services provided by school districts all across Texas. A number of districts this year are already dipping into their fund balances to pay ongoing operating costs and energy costs are a major contributing component. Obviously, that cannot continue as a long term option or even a short term one in many districts with an inadequate fund balance. At the same time, the Robin Hood burdens on the Chapter 41 districts continue to impose constraints and have been the other largest single increase in the projected budgets in percentage terms for next year. Districts subject to Robin Hood cannot rely on property value increases to generate any additional revenues to their schools, as the state formulas do not allow for such. This means that the constraints placed on the M&O budgets are going to get very binding given the new level of energy prices.

I am not so sure that it will mean high school sports become a club type operation. However, some way must be found to fund them. There are a few options available which come to mind readily. First is an explicit charge for bus ridership. Many distrcits already have a price for riding the bus if one lives within a certain radius of the school. Beyond that distance, the service is free. That radius may have to be increased and perhaps even eliminated. Not popular, I admit, but diesel is no cheaper for daily school trips than it is for athletics and both cots are growing. Imposition of a pay to play type arrangement for all using transportation services. This would also apply not only to football, basketball, cross country, etc, but to cheerleaders, band, drill teams, etc., as those groups also utilize the buses. Another unpopular stance, I realize. Of course, there is also the traditional standby, raise the ticket prices.

We can also begin to discuss some cost reduction methods as well, but I'll save them for later on.

Back to the political bashing.....

[jbusch]

WASHINGTON — A plan to lift the ban on coastal drilling is stalled on Capitol Hill, for one simple reason: A Californian who opposes President Bush's proposal is calling the shots in the House of Representatives.

Despite growing public support for ending the ban, even in California, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she won't allow a vote.

"I have no plans to do so," Pelosi said Thursday.

It's an example of the vast power placed in the office of the speaker, who sets the agenda for the 435-member House. Members can force a vote if enough of them sign a petition, but that's a rarity because it requires rank-and-file Democrats to line up against their boss.

In this case, Pelosi is going against a rising tide of public opinion. Faced with rapidly increasing gasoline prices, 73 percent of Americans now favor offshore drilling, according to a poll conducted by CNN/Opinion Research Corp.

Support is even growing in California, where a majority of residents have long supported the ban. A new Field Poll survey shows that just 51 percent now favor the ban, compared with 56 percent in 2005.

Pelosi made her remarks in a wide-ranging interview with CNN, in which she grabbed headlines for saying Bush was "a total failure" who had lost credibility with Americans on his handling of the war, the economy and energy issues. She said Congress has been forced "to sweep up after his mess over and over and over again."

Pelosi's Democratic colleagues in California are happy that the president's drilling plan is going nowhere, at least for now.

"When Americans go to the pump and are faced with gas prices well over $4 a gallon, it may be tempting to believe that lifting the ban on offshore drilling would bring immediate relief," Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., said Friday. But she said Congress "cannot make rash decisions that will leave a legacy of irresponsible energy policy for our children and grandchildren to inherit."

Pelosi and other Californians have long cited the 1969 oil spill off Santa Barbara as the main reason for their opposition to drilling. The president's plan is opposed by California's three top leaders: Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer, who heads the Senate environment committee, and Dianne Feinstein.

"Californians have learned the hard way how much damage — environmental and economic — can be caused by a major oil spill," Feinstein said.

But Pelosi may be hard-pressed to stand firm against lifting the moratorium. She's under heavy pressure from House Republicans, who have been unrelenting in their political attacks against the speaker, blaming her for gas prices.

On Friday, House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio called on Pelosi to stop "ignoring the calls of the American people." He said he would lead a delegation of 10 House Republicans on an "American energy tour" to Colorado and Alaska this weekend to put a spotlight on the refusal of Democratic leaders to allow drilling in Alaska and elsewhere.

The congressional ban on offshore drilling has been in effect since 1981, but Congress must renew it each year. The issue could come to a head again in September, though Pelosi could make it tougher for opponents to kill the ban if she includes it in an omnibus spending bill that may be required to keep the government operating.

Acknowledging her ability to influence decision-making, Pelosi said in the CNN interview that she gets to operate differently from her Senate counterpart, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. Reid must reach out to Republicans to muster 60 votes to get anything done.

"In the House, the power rests in the speaker, the power of recognition, of setting the agenda. ... Very different rules," Pelosi said.

One of the greatest problems in America today is our elected politicians mainly come from a lineage of political generations that have lost touch with the constituency they represent. The years of living in an unrealistic political bubble has become reality in their minds. If an individual is elected by the people who has a grounded common sense approach he or she is scorned by the political "boys and girls" club because common sense has no place among the unrealistic distortion that governs our country. I saw this topic and was prepared to respond when I noticed that you put my exact thoughts in a more educated response.

Maybe those Dragons aren't so bad after all :D

[jbusch]

Call or write your lib representatives and demand that they follow the Presidents lead and open up our own exploration areas for drilling so that we can get out of this mess and have an economy left to develop alternative energy sources. And by all means, put down the Obama crack pipe...[/Bwe get the government we deserve. Too harsh? Deal with it... I'd prefer to call it "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show". - but Neil Diamonds got the copyright on that one ;)

[drgnbkr]

I'd prefer to call it "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show". - but Neil Diamonds got the copyright on that one ;)

Neil's guatarist plays in our church band...He's really good!

[MemorialMustangs]

On a positive note - the price of oil has dropped from $147 to $128ish as of yesterday... Even though it might not mean we are out of the energy crunch it shows that we might be reaching (or we might have reached) the peak of it... For now...

[DiamondJ2]

More schools will charge an "activity fee" of either all students or those participating in extracurricular activities. I believe some schools in Texas are already charging activity fees. In many other parts of the country, students must pay a fee in order to participate. It would be one way to offset costs.

[drgnbkr]

On a positive note - the price of oil has dropped from $147 to $128ish as of yesterday... Even though it might not mean we are out of the energy crunch it shows that we might be reaching (or we might have reached) the peak of it... For now...

Thank God the President had the insight to OK the opening of new options...if only the Congress got it!

[HebronHawk]

Newt Gingrich says,

Drill Now, Drill Here and Pay Less

http://www.americansolutions.com/actioncenter/petitions/?Guid=54ec6e43-75a8-445b-aa7b-346a1e096659

[drgnbkr]

Newt Gingrich says,

Drill Now, Drill Here and Pay Less

http://www.americansolutions.com/actioncenter/petitions/?Guid=54ec6e43-75a8-445b-aa7b-346a1e096659

He "gets" it:p:notworthy

[dragonpants]

Thing is I listen to BOTH sides...mostly on the internet...so I guess that explains the lack of viewership on ALL other networks...;)

The good people of SoutkLake and communities like it will take the brunt of the tax hit needed to get us out of our debt mess...
But those communities enjoyed a disproportionate amount of the false profits that we are paying for now...

I can see CoveMom coming in and telling us to take it out to The Yard...:D

Explain what a false profit is and how that benefits anyone?
I think I know what you mean. Why is it anyone's responsibility to bail out someone else's debt?
Getting back to drilling off shore. All we need to do is lift the ban and watch the prices from the middle east go down and down.
And for all of you who are in favor of tax increases, that benefits no one. Stop the spending just like I have to do in my home if I am over spending or any for profit business. The problem is that the government has an unlimited stream of money every time they screw up in the American people.
I have noticed that people that are for tax increases are always those who either do not have to pay them because of lower incomes or the ultra rich lib eral who is paying a very small percentage of their income in taxes anyway.

[dragonpants]

I like it!:notworthy So, do you think the Dem plan of no new drilling is the way to go? How do you think that will hold up duing the general elections?

Good point and private industry is paying that expense, not the governement. If Exxon Mobil knows they are going to spend a lot of money that is their decision not the government's. Also that is what capitalism is all about. Why does anyone care how much a dry hole costs? Are you paying for it? Guess what that drilling will create jobs and taxes which all you liberals love and lower gas prices, so what is the debate? The environment?, give me a a break.

[CedarHillDad]

Call or write your lib representatives and demand that they follow the Presidents lead and open up our own exploration areas for drilling so that we can get out of this mess and have an economy left to develop alternative energy sources. And by all means, put down the Obama crack pipe...we get the government we deserve. Too harsh? Deal with it...

Onshore, there are 47.5 million acres of federal land leased by oil and gas companies, and yet those companies are only drilling on 13 million acres (34.5 million acres unused)
Offshore, there are 44 million acres of land leased by oil and gas companies, but they are only drilling on 10.5 million acres (33.5 million acres unused)
Which means, right now, without having to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or off the coast of Florida, there are 68 million acres of federal land – both on and off shore – that are ready for drilling but are sitting idle.
According to the Bureau of Land Management, since 2004, oil and gas companies have received 28,776 permits to drill on public land, but only 18,954 have actually been used. Which means the oil and gas companies have stockpiled nearly 10,000 permits.
If the oil companies actually went ahead and drilled on all of the land currently available to them, it would generate an additional 4.8 million barrels of oil a day, which would nearly double the amount of oil produced within the United States.

another link to a story about oil in AK (http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/470387.html)

[dragonpants]

Back to the original topic, if thes current price levels for gas and diesel continue, there will indeed be a continued pressure on high school sports activities. Indeed on transportation services provided by school districts all across Texas. A number of districts this year are already dipping into their fund balances to pay ongoing operating costs and energy costs are a major contributing component. Obviously, that cannot continue as a long term option or even a short term one in many districts with an inadequate fund balance. At the same time, the Robin Hood burdens on the Chapter 41 districts continue to impose constraints and have been the other largest single increase in the projected budgets in percentage terms for next year. Districts subject to Robin Hood cannot rely on property value increases to generate any additional revenues to their schools, as the state formulas do not allow for such. This means that the constraints placed on the M&O budgets are going to get very binding given the new level of energy prices.



I am not so sure that it will mean high school sports become a club type operation. However, some way must be found to fund them. There are a few options available which come to mind readily. First is an explicit charge for bus ridership. Many distrcits already have a price for riding the bus if one lives within a certain radius of the school. Beyond that distance, the service is free. That radius may have to be increased and perhaps even eliminated. Not popular, I admit, but diesel is no cheaper for daily school trips than it is for athletics and both cots are growing. Imposition of a pay to play type arrangement for all using transportation services. This would also apply not only to football, basketball, cross country, etc, but to cheerleaders, band, drill teams, etc., as those groups also utilize the buses. Another unpopular stance, I realize. Of course, there is also the traditional standby, raise the ticket prices.

We can also begin to discuss some cost reduction methods as well, but I'll save them for later on.

Back to the political bashing.....

Good point and back to thread. I think people are over reacting. I do not think this issue is going to cause schools to start canceling sports. The participation costs associated with certain sports are low.
If energy costs continue to rise then down the road there may be more costs that the parents will have to bear. While this is sad, there is really is no option as I can see unless as Ed says we force the school districts to be more fiscally responsible, which will always be next to impossible.

[Elks4Life]

mad fan wins the thread.

[drgnbkr]

Onshore, there are 47.5 million acres of federal land leased by oil and gas companies, and yet those companies are only drilling on 13 million acres (34.5 million acres unused)
Offshore, there are 44 million acres of land leased by oil and gas companies, but they are only drilling on 10.5 million acres (33.5 million acres unused)
Which means, right now, without having to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or off the coast of Florida, there are 68 million acres of federal land – both on and off shore – that are ready for drilling but are sitting idle.
According to the Bureau of Land Management, since 2004, oil and gas companies have received 28,776 permits to drill on public land, but only 18,954 have actually been used. Which means the oil and gas companies have stockpiled nearly 10,000 permits.
If the oil companies actually went ahead and drilled on all of the land currently available to them, it would generate an additional 4.8 million barrels of oil a day, which would nearly double the amount of oil produced within the United States.

another link to a story about oil in AK (http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/470387.html)


Dad, you have to drill where there is oil. you can bet that the oil companies are drilling anywhere that there is oil to be found. The point is while there may be a lease, the government has put a moratorium on offshore drilling. The President has signed an order lifting the ban, it is now up to congress to their part so that the oil companies can begin drilling on the leases they already have.

[trojanbacker]

It would seem prudent to me in this time of $4 gas and tight school budgets to look for local games for the non-district portion of the schedule. Just my opinion.