One More Reason to Buy a Hybrid

clipped from www.latimes.com Will Chavez pull the trigger? Venezuelans may give their president the power to restrict oil production -- and cause a global recession. On Dec. 2, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez can tip the world into a recession. On that day, if Venezuelan citizens pass the dozens of constitutional amendments on the ballot, Chavez will essentially be granted dictatorial powers -- an elected strongman reminiscent of Spain's Franco, Italy's Mussolini and Orwell's Big Brother. The day could easily deteriorate into one of violence, martial law and suspension of oil production, the latter calculated to inflict maximum damage on the U.S. economy. This is probably a bit alarmist, but it is interesting. Chavez needs oil revenue pretty badly to keep his influence up in Latin America; so, I can't imagine him shutting the tap completely but he could certainly drive the price of oil way up. Can we have a rational energy policy now, morons?