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Friday, May 18, 2007

I'm Mad Too!

When I was growing up in Oklahoma, I remember seeing bumper stickers that said, "I'm Mad too, Eddie!" I didn't really know what everybody was mad about, so I searched the web for info this morning.

Born in Itasca, TX, H. E. (Eddie) Chiles (1910 - 1993) worked as an oil patch roustabout before hitchhiking to Norman in 1930. In 1934, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering.

In 1939, after working as a Sales Engineer with Reed Roller Bit Company in Houston, he founded The Western Company of North America, which served the petroleum industry with technical services required in the discovery and production of oil and gas. He started the company with little more than two trucks, three employees, and the will to succeed. At its peak, the Western company had over 5,000 employees and annual worldwide revenues of over $500 million.

Through his conservative radio commentaries, Chiles became a folk hero in parts of the nation. His trade-mark sign-on "I'm Eddie Chiles, and I'm mad," created an incredible demand for bumper stickers that read "I'm mad too, Eddie!" In 1980, Chiles purchased the Texas Rangers and served as Chairman of the major league club until 1989.

So I want to say "I'm mad" today. I'm mad about the gas prices. Yesterday, in our area, gas prices went up 10 cents. IN. ONE. DAY! I don't pretend to know the answers as to why or even how to fix it, but I say FIX IT! Drill a well in Alaska or off the coast of somewhere, build new refineries, lower gas taxes, whatever! I would like to spend my limited budget on things like, oh say, FOOD! Or even clothes or the water bill. But, no, more and more of it is going to gasoline. Ugh!!

(Thanks for letting me rant)

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm totally mad about gas prices, too! I remember I cried when it hit $2.00 a gallon. That's laughable now! I drive a suburban (have 6 children) that gets 13 mpg. What are WE supposed to do? Also, the price of food has gone up significantly, too!

April said...

Funny you posted this today. Yesterday I was watching an 80's movie with a gas station and the sign read $0.95 per gallon. I can't even remember when gas was that low. Of course, I wasn't driving then either. During my high school years it was about $1.19 and I thought that was high. Then I thought about how nice it would be to fill up my SUV FOR ONLY $15.00! Wow, wouldn't that be nice. Thank goodness I don't have to commute!

Tonja said...

I'M MAD, TOO! Thank goodness I filled my SUV up the first of the week. It is unbelievable! Guess I may have to start taking my motorcycle to work!

Anonymous said...

I am right there with you. My hubby drives 65 miles one way to work so you can imagine our trouble. I may actually have to go back to work because of it. No joke. It is stressing me out!

Robin Green said...

Gas prices are very stressful--and it ticks me off too. My sister is a single mom living at the poverty level--how is she supposed to afford this--and food prices are up too. It's crazy.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, I'm mad too! IT MAKES NO SENSE! In town one gas station said $3.02 and directly across the street it was $2.89. Who is setting these prices!!

I'm also MAD about immigration and all the illegals!! Don't get me started...

Jennifer said...

AMEN! I want to join you on your soapbox!

Sally said...

I hear ya! We're over $3.50. My hubby's motorcycle gets 70 mpg. Makes me almost want to ride it with him. But where to put the groceries???