Ben Stein How Not to Ruin Your Life

Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday, October 23, 2008, 12:57PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

yuh we jest gotsta DRILLL ar way to freidom that will due tha trik and dunt fergit to vote REBOOBLICAN they will take care uf all ar problums/!!!

Thomas D - Monday, October 20, 2008, 11:41AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

We're going to be holding the bag when oil is replaced by more advanced energy resources, wondering why we didn't drill when it was worthwhile. We could have infused trillions of dollars into a faltering economy, but instead were led around by the nose. Why are liberals so closed-minded? They get fed the same info by all the networks, papers, and NPR, and think that they're so well informed... start thinking and scritinizing those news sources as much as you spend your time huffing and puffing about other points of view.

PeterC - Thursday, October 16, 2008, 6:42PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

There simply isn't enough oil in even the most "energy rich" areas to make more than a tiny dent in gas prices (a couple of cents only after nearly a decade according to the Energy Information Agency). So what if Congress bowed to one powerful interest group instead of another? If BS really cared about energy prices, he would focus his column on promoting conservation.

c - Friday, October 10, 2008, 2:13PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

Crude lock limit down as speculators liquidate. Going to 40-50...where this whole speculative charade began. Maybe that embarrassing toad Palin will finally shut up.

Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday, October 9, 2008, 9:29AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

Moron! you made me so bloody poor! Wrong call again Jerk! Nobody listens to this MORON who calls to buy buy buy when he says the market will improve! Drill to your own grave!

Jeff - Wednesday, October 8, 2008, 9:50PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 4/5

Seems we are all missing the point. the real point here is what ails America, the government did not do what the people wanted. The Gov't recieved an over whelming demand to allow drilling offshore, and OUR government had the audacity to weasel word it so that this oil weill never be available to the US citizens. Isn't there something wrong here? What gives them the right to put out a phoney bill disguised as something that satisfies the peoples wishes. Pelosi and her coharts should be impeached.

Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, October 8, 2008, 6:12PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

We should stop thinking of THIS moment and think AHEAD! Drill or be hostages for ever. Encourage the oil companies to spend the money they made recently doing what they do well. Untie their hands and they will get it done. The "Hollywood input" is a joke.

Machismo - Wednesday, October 8, 2008, 3:10AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 3/5

As smart as Ben is, he did not explain why the gas prices that peaked at $147 oil barrel prices do not match the current $90's oil barrel price. Lots of things are taken into account, like refining oil which is actually at full capacity, and people talk about drilling how is it going to get refined ??? Refineries are old and already at full capacity and I don't think they are making any new refineries any time soon. People talk Economy 101 supply vs demand, like its that simple. When all the talk was world demand causing oil price hike, the actual numbers were world demand grew by some 3% more which was matched by 3% increase in oil output, and yet oil went from $65 to $145 just like that. Its not an easy answer, and yet I say lets drill drill more because it will help a bit, but more so atleast we can get drill drill crowd to shut up and get behind some other productive process.

Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 5:00PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 4/5

Someone posted a comment suggesting waiting 10 yrs for offshore drilling output isn't worth it. This person isn't recognizing 2 facts: 1) We will STILL need oil at that time for our factories and those people who haven't been able to afford the expensive, new car with the expensive, new technology; 2) We don't know what limitations we will encounter in the next 10 yrs. Working on a known aid while searching for the solution, is akin to wearing a seat belt while driving your car. You may not need the belt, but, you'll sure be happy you had it if you do need it. As well, if it is so easy to deliver the new technology in a useful manner, why hasn't that innovative neighbor, we all have, successfully built it in his garage or basement? Solar power has been used in simple calculators at least since the '70s. Yet, no one has solved how to power my iPod, cell phone, or PC in an effective manner. The bottom line is, there are multiple possibilities. We need the private sector working with the government to figure out what the solution is and how to build the national infrastructure to do it. The infrastructure is still decades away. Power isn't as simple as downloading it from the internet (which requires power).

Tammy - Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 4:40PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Everyone needs to remember that oil is a commodity. And as such the price is based on EXPECTATIONS of supply. So if the commodity brokers know that in the future (and it doesn't matter if it's 10 years or 10 days) there will be MORE SUPPLY, the price per barrel goes down. Everyone in this country needs to take an Economics 101 class again.

Jerry - Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 4:38PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Thank you for telling it like it really is.

Michael N - Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 4:30PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 4/5

Why is it that the primary argument against drilling is that we won't get the oil until 5-10 years from now. Are we so impatient as a nation that if it isn't a "quick fix" then we will not do anything at all. I get a kick out of the "we need to have a green jobs program". What exactly do we have as a green fuel? Ethanol? Well that has done a fine job of driving up corn prices and providing an extremely inefficient source of fuel. At least we have the high MPG of hybrids. Never mind cars were getting 50 mpg twenty years ago (Honda CRX). Instead we created SUVs and other gas guzzling behemoths. Just think soon you can buy a hybrid SUV which will get 18 mpg instead of 16. Anyhow, might as well start drilling now. If the recent track record is any indication, it is going to take a while before any meaningful changes take place to improve things on the demand side.

Andy - Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 4:25PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

We remember that Ben Stein also said a few months ago that the fallout from the subprime lending wouldn't be significant because the total mortgage market too big to be affected. Now he thinks that drilling for oil off the coast will sustain our energy needs. Believe this clown at your own peril.

DaveE - Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 3:02PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

Good lord. Drill offshore for oil that, according to Dubbya's own Energy Department, won't have ANY effect on gas prices for AT A MINIMUM 10 years from now. And even then, it will have only affect prices by a few cents. I wasn't alive then, but I've seen that Kennedy got the American people behind a goal of landing on the moon... and achieved that goal in fewer than 10 years. Are you seriously telling me that solar energy is more complex technology than landing on the moon with the prehistoric technology they had back then?! Are you really going to argue that we need more gasoline powered cars, and then five years from now you're going to piss and cry because the Japanese have put Ford or GM completely out of business because they went ahead and developed the fuel cell and we didn't?! REALLY?! That's the best you can do?!

Brian - Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 2:34PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

"Places off limits areas within fifty miles of the coast line, where 80 percent of the oil and gas deposits are. This bill, if it becomes law, will place these energy rich areas off limits permanently. * Places off limits such energy rich areas as the Destin Dome off Florida and the super-rich areas off the coast of California on a permanent basis." Yes, let's destroy our national treasures FOREVER for some short term gain. A better policy would have been to raise fuel conservation standards and create a green jobs program building an infrastructure and energy production that would eliminate our need for oil...8 YEARS AGO!!! Now, your answer to eight years of stupidity is to DRILL in sensitive areas!? Will you never learn? Or just destroy the planet and take everyone with you in your expensive status-mobile.

PRevere - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 7:48PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

677 comments and maybe 30% are clinging to their "green dream" of tofu gardens and recycling to solve our energy problems. Fantasies won't work little boys and girls. Coal, nuclear, oil shale are reality. And by the way, those are our keys to freedom from the finger choppers (I won't mention the other things they do). It's moronic to think solar etc. are the answer.

John - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 7:42PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

"Remember a few months ago when"... Ben showed us his mathematical reasoning as to how the subprime fallout was just not going to be that significant because the "total" mortgage market was just too big... & blah, blah, ... yes Ben I remember it well, and now we should listen to you piss about drilling for oil off shore & ignore the fact that CHK shut down gas wells because of low consumption / demand... The real question is why are we not using all the gas we have at home.. now! Gas that is ready to be used to today at less cost and burns cleaner then oil? Ben, do you own oil futures? Stock in oil companies? Special interest that put money in your pocket from oil companies?

Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 7:23PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

Obviously, the author is a "Drill, Baby, Drill" fan. Drill for independence... How about using less oil, recycling, alternative energy sources? This is not much of a balanced article that would discuss both sides. It shows poor journalism that doesn't deserve to be published.

Jan - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 6:52PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

I am betting my money on the oil industry because the politicians are too stupid to lead us away from foreign oil dependency, and we will continue to pay more and more and that leads to more profit for me the stock holder. Keep it coming. Last year was beautiful!

Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 6:23PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Speaking from the actual oil industry, it would be probably 3 years tops before the oil starts flowing. So many opinions of ignorance. Right on Ben. Technology can't be legislated into existence regardless of what the Messiah Obama says, it's just not there yet and we need oil, our oil, until it is there.

Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 4:43PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

Ben, Ben, Ben...what are we to make of you? Do you read much? Have you seen the news about Hurricane Ike in the Gulf of Mexico? From the Associate Press: "At least a half million gallons of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and the marshes, bayous and bays of Louisiana and Texas...companies and residents reported at least 448 releases of oil, gasoline and dozens of other substances into the air and water." The reason some states don't want oil rigs dotting their coastline goes beyond the aesthetic eyesore of the rigs themselves. They don't want their coastline waters filled with toxic carbon products, dead fish, and dead birds. These things tend to have a bad effect on fishing and tourism. Then there are the economic realities of oil in this world. Economics 101, Ben: scarcity coupled with inelastic or growing demand leads to higher prices. Please ask your oil industry buddies what the effect of oil from new offshore drilling in U.S. waters will have on the price of gasoline at the pump, in oh lets say the year 2020, when those new rigs finally come online. By then the price of a gallon of gas may be $10, $15, or even $20. The amount of oil they may find along our coastlines will represent such a small portion of total U.S. oil consumption that it might bring the price down from $20/gallon to $19.95 or even $19.90. Wow, all that time and money to save 5 or 10 cents at the pump. Brilliant strategy Ben! If you keep betting on the same old horse at the race track, one of two things will eventually happen. Either you'll go broke or you'll find another horse to bet on. Personally, I'm looking for another horse, because I definitely don't like the prospects for the horse that Ben and his buddies continue to bet on.

Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 3:11PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

Hi Ben, Stay with comedy like "Win Ben Stein's Money"... your right wing propaganda no longer amuse/fool us. Are you on the payroll of oil companies - directly or indirectly? Drilling anywhere for more oil will not have the payback to benefit the consumers for decades - if ever. It will, however, continue to enrich the vested interests of Big Oil, which has succeeded in delaying the implementation of non-polluting, alternative solutions for the benefit of their overpaid executives. What we must do now is to put our tax money in alternative energy sources, like solar and wind....with the urgency of a Manhattan Project. Otherwise, we will repeat the 1970's and the 2007-08 crisis. Based on their recent records, somehow the Republican "Country First" motto sounds insincere. They have supported special interests far too long. Their slogans are empty: "Free Trade", but tax the cheaper Brazilian ethanol; "Less Government" .... do I need to answer this one in terms of recent bailouts of the miscreants with our tax money? This message is for the elected Democrats also. They too have missed past opportunities to do what's right for America instead for themselves. We plan to vote for whoever is more likely to change our government toward achieveing improved quality of life for Americans: viable alternative enery sources; portable pensions for every year worked ("contract employee" is a gimick favorable to only CEOs); universal healthcare coverage for ALL Americans....and longer vacations (like in Europe, favorable to family bonding) ..... That means we favor Barak Obama and Gabrielle Giffords, even though we live in "McCain country". Philip and Linda, Tucson, AZ Independent voters

Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 3:07PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 2/5

Instead of trying to find more oil, we need to get off our addiction. The thought that we will be stronger and more independent if we can just get more oil is silly. That's like a crack head saying "if I can find more crack I will be better off!!" It is silly. We need to change our thinking. We need to ride bikes, use mass transit and we definately need to walk more. We have plenty of fat to burn as Americans so we do not need to burn more oil.

jason r - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 11:44AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Don't usually even see stories like this on Yahoo.

Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 10:22AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Inside every leftist is a totalitarian. The left hates America and seeks to destroy it from within. They and their allies demagogue this issue as they do with every other issue. They would make Joseph Goebbels proud.

mikeinalona - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 6:55AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

At least he has stopped pushing financial stocks.

Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 1:32AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

Drilling is the last thing Americans have to worry about. With the depression here, (massive deflation and job loss), oil will be back to $50 a barrell soon due to demand totally gone. This government is the biggest fraud because they just dont look out for the American people at all. They sure look out for illegals and minorities though. Free healthcare for all of them. And honestly, I dont care anymore. I say let the greedheads in washington bring this place down. They are already more than halfway there. At least they wont have the American taxpayer to use as a gravy train anymore. I have no problem retiring to a foreign country because this government is totally broken now. Just visit New York City. Once the greatest city in the world, now the biggest dump with broken infrastructure, terrible mass transit, excessive high taxes and cost of living, wiorst school system, crime ridden, garbage ridden, and basically no one speaks english anymore. We lost our culture. The state is run by minorities who dont share American values. Im outa here. Heres to you New York. Have fun getting my tax dollars in the future. I'll be out of here!!! You aint squeezing me anymore!

Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 1:07AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

Typical 1960s thinking. We're now in a new millenium.

T - Sunday, October 5, 2008, 12:27AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

Ben - I would like to drill a hole in your head and see if you have a brain.

lefty - Saturday, October 4, 2008, 11:54PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Great article,it is reps like Pelosi that will send this nation into termoil. Remember people ,China is drilling off the coast of Cuba,and last time I checked nothing ran our cars better than gasoline.