2008 was the last year that my wife and I worked. We each had to commute to work, and our gas cost was around $600 per month.

According to analysts, gas prices are supposed to be in the $2.20 to $2.30 range by Christmas this year. They are already at $1.99 per gallon in OK.

The Dow is expected to break 18,000 today for the first time ever. The November jobs numbers came in today at over 320,000.

Low gas prices, high stock market, lower unemployment...USA, USA, USA.:pepper2:

all good news except the unemployment number which we all know has turned into a political marker that does not reflect the truly unemployed and does not reflect that the increase in part timers for the holiday are nothing more than temporary.

The REAL unemployment number remains double digit.

It's about time the "middle class" in this country got a real break for a change. I'm talking about the working middle class who commute to there jobs each day. We all probably have children, relatives or grandchildren who are struggling financially because wages have not kept up with costs in recent years.

Of course, lower gas prices are a nice break for those on fixed income too. Retirees.

A tightening job market should translate into higher wages. And that's what we have right now.

I don't think the job market is really tightening when the true unemployment rate is at least 12%, and a large number of newly legalized individuals are about to hit the job market.

Yes, people do often cherry pick the phrases and assertions they use to post here and point the finger at the partisan opposition for being oh, so dumb.

This is an objective report on both pros and cons, for people interested in being able to afford fuel beyond next week or next month.

"Depressed crude oil prices, down 25 percent since June are contributing to a growing discussion on what they could mean for domestic oil production moving forward, particularly for shale-related plays like those found in North Dakota and Texas where production levels continue to climb. At least in the short-term, lower oil prices haven't resulted in a slowdown of drilling activity in either geography, but the long-term outlook is more questionable.

The cause for downward trending crude oil prices - surging production levels in the U.S. largely attributable to advances in horizontal drilling technology in combination with a weaker global economy. While lower oil prices are good news for U.S. consumers, currently benefiting from the lowest prices at the pump since 2011, they're potential cause for concern to drillers, especially if oil prices slide further….."

Navigating declining crude oil prices : Energy News

Well, let's see, lower oil prices are good for consumers which number in the tens of millions, but not so good for the drillers in ND. They have had a pretty good run and will again. So let's enjoy this break while we can.

Yes, let's definitely enjoy the lower gas prices. And let's not encourage unaware people into driving bigger, more gas guzzling vehicles as I see being driven a lot by "the working poor" AND well-off people here who are NOT using their dual-cab Ford F150 or F250 for self-employed construction or landscaping work.

If domestic drillers in ND, Texas, Pennsylvania, and many other places face imported crude prices lower than their costs of drilling, they will not be able to continue toward our national energy independence.

On other states' drillers being affected:

"One looming threat due to low prices and reduced oil drilling involves refineries, specifically those that refine PennGrade crude oil. The two leading buyers of crude from Pennsylvania oil wells are American Refining Group (ARG) of Bradford and Ergon Oil Purchasing of Newell, W.Va.

If low prices sap production, that will impact refinery operations that rely on millions of barrels of crude oil from PennGrade producers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia.

Two years ago, when strict regulations aimed at deep Marcellus gas and Utica oil operations threatened to derail the smaller producers who were cutting back their operations, the refiners reported they were operating below capacity because of a drop in PennGrade supplies. Low oil prices will further depress production, said D'Amico.

In addition to low prices whipsawing the shallow oil industry, the lack of available acreage for more drilling is cutting into production, said D'Amico…."

Crashing oil prices hurting Pennsylvania drillers - SFGate

I can see how some workers can be adversely affected, of course. However, the US is producing more gas and oil than ever before. What is good for the greater number outweighs the least in some aspects?

That seems like a very illogical comment. I can assure our grandparents did not know they were passing their debt to us, we know we are burying our young. Big difference.

With the glut of US produced oil and gas, is the Keystone XL pipeline necessary? The purpose is to transport oil tar sands from Canada to refiners in Louisiana and Texas. The break-even point for the refiners to make a profit has been passed. Will the refiners be willing to refine the tar sands into gasoline on such a shoestring?

IMO, no it is not necessary and never was. The president was correct to delay this as long as he did. Nor is it necessary to drill for oil on public lands.

Correct and correct. Yes he was. No it isn't

Just amazing ............. some real jaw-dropping logic here .