Note: I posted this at Outside the Beltway earlier today, but thought some readers here might like to see it as well. Prof. Hamilton has a very long post that looks at the impact of hurricane Katrina on gasoline, natural gas, and oil prices. First off,...

Is it possible for you to make a reply to a comment without pinning a derogatory name to the person who made the comment.

I'm sorry Herb, but your comments had the faint whiff of Stalinism to me. Your suggestion that other state's do something for your benefit (as well as others) is, I think, a bit over the top. In fact, it sounds quite a bit like the farm policies in the Soviet Union under Stalin. Either you grow food for the State or you can starve. Now it is: Either you refine gasoline for other states or you don't get any gasoline yourself.

But then again when you tell me that you like the motto, “Play ball with me and I’ll shove the bat up your rear end” That tells everyone an awful lot about what you think of and how you treat others.

I can my sarcasm didn't come across well.

You make out like you are a conservative, but your words are that of being self centered and greedy If that is how the conservatives are in your state, It’s no wonder it is BLUE.

I'm not a conservative. I favor keeping abortion legal, I think restrictions of stem cell research, even by the government, should be removed. I don't have a problem with gays getting married. I don't think illegal narcotics should be illegal. On the other hand I'm in favor of shall issue CCW laws. I want lower taxes and less spending by the government. You see where I'm going with this? I think personal responsibility is a good thing, having Big Brother watching out for you is a bad thing.

Your statements Herb strike me has indicative of not understanding economics at all. When the supply of something decreases then the price goes up. There is no evil cabal of corporations behind the price increase. At the same time it doesn't mean there aren't bad things about the oil/gasoline markets. There are, but they aren't all the result of greedy grasping corporations.

Is it possible for you to make a reply to a comment without pinning a derogatory name to the person who made the comment. But then again when you tell me that you like the motto, "Play ball with me and I'll shove the bat up your rear end" That tells everyone an awful lot about what you think of and how you treat others.

You make out like you are a conservative, but your words are that of being self centered and greedy If that is how the conservatives are in your state, It's no wonder it is BLUE.

One additional question, How much drilling is going on in Californis and how many refineries are there in California?

Doesn't really matter. The point is that refining capacity is just about right to meet current demand. Thus, any disruption to one or more refineries at the same time can cause lots of problems. Or in other words, the CA refineries wont be able to pick up the slack. Further, there is the issue of gasoline additives. Gasoline that is legal for sale in say Nebraska may very well not be legal in CA or Vermont. Refineries would have to retool (which comes with a cost) to sell in states they don't normally produce for.

Really Herb, did you expect that when you retired you'd get a free ride?

I don’t think to much or to many. If the people in California don’t want refineries or oil drilling, then they should be forced to do without. That goes for any state that won’t do their share.

Sure thing Comrade Herb, the Party appreciates your insight into the problem.

Say what you want and continue to make excuses, I am not buying them.

You're right Herb, Katrina was actually an oil company conspiracy. Good job spotting that.

Heavens forefend we actually solve the problem by:

(a) making a real effort to move toward non-gasoline-powered motor vehicles

That is fine, but this comes with a cost. And unless you are going to use coercion this solution wont likely find much support until gasoline prices rise sufficiently to make these kinds of options viable.

(b) building new and/or more efficient oil refineries

Uhhhmmm, yeah. I thought that was one of the issues I was raising.

(c) drilling for oil on US soil—especially in locations where we know oil exists

If (who am I kidding… WHEN) Hilary wins in 2008 and suggests drilling in ANWR in 2010, the envirofascists will “reluctantly” agree to let her go ahead with the plan.

Again, since we are talking about a world wide market this wont have much impact. Granted increasing the supply will help some, but not all that much.

Outside the Beltway looks at refining capacity as affected by Hurricane Katrina's rampage through the Gulf of Mexico. Creates an interesting problem (one way of putting it) for the industry and also for the Federal Government as it faces more calls f...

One additional question, How much drilling is going on in Californis and how many refineries are there in California? I don’t think to much or to many.

Actually, there's a lot. Huge refineries in the Bay Area and LA. Oil is still being pumped from under LA.

If the people in California don’t want refineries or oil drilling, then they should be forced to do without. That goes for any state that won’t do their share.

Then I guess Indiana can go back to the horse and buggy. Ditto Iowa, the Dakotas, Tennessee....

I have been reading that there have not been any new refineries built in the States for the last 20 years. Is that right? I understand it is because of environmental laws and NIMBY types.

What people forget is that we had a oil crash in 1984-87 that savaged the oil companies. Inefficient refineries were shut down, economically unsustainable oil wells capped. Environmental law often gets blamed for the shutdowns, but most of the shut refineries wouldn't have been profitable even without the environmental protection requirements.

When we came out of the mid-80s petroleum bottleneck, new refineries weren't built because it was cheaper to add capacity at the old refineries than it was to deal with the NIMBYs. Now that there's no more available capacity, we're screwed.

One additional question, How much drilling is going on in Californis and how many refineries are there in California? I don't think to much or to many. If the people in California don't want refineries or oil drilling, then they should be forced to do without. That goes for any state that won't do their share.

No, Katrina is going to be just one more excuse to be used to jack the prices up. Think I will start to compile a list there is getting to be so many.

Say what you want and continue to make excuses, I am not buying them.

This is shaping up to be the perfect storm. With economic growth across the world and demand is as high as it is, plus disruptions in production AND lost refining capability....It looks like I am going to have to re-do my budget...

(a) making a real effort to move toward non-gasoline-powered motor vehicles

(b) building new and/or more efficient oil refineries

(c) drilling for oil on US soil -- especially in locations where we know oil exists

If (who am I kidding... WHEN) Hilary wins in 2008 and suggests drilling in ANWR in 2010, the envirofascists will "reluctantly" agree to let her go ahead with the plan.

(sigh)

I'll still be happy that we're finally doing it. I just hate that it's so partisan.