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Retirement

The U.S. Searches for Self

July 8, 2008

By Jamie Dlugosch, Editor, Investors Insights

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Jamie Dlugosch

Jamie Dlugosch

Jamie Dlugosch is the founder and editor of the top-rated The Rational Investor. He has over 20 years of experience in financial markets including investment banking, equity analysis and research and money management.

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try to eat our cake and have it too.

This nation consumes 25% of the world's oil supply and yet only 4% of the world's population. 70% of that consumption is used for transportation with the majority of that going for personal transportation.

Do you want to send a message to those that you are now blaming for our misery? The best thing you could do is consume less fuel. I don't care how you do it, but using less crude is the quickest way to profits that I can see available.

Work from home, move closer to work, run fewer errands, consolidate your driving, buy a fuel efficient car, sell that suv for scrap, buy a scooter or moped, carpool, drive slower, invest in alternative energy are but a few of the things that you can do to take a personal stake in this battle.

Imagine the demand destruction that will occur if we take these actions. Because most of these things are already happening, I am more and more convinced that we will indeed win this war on our quality of life.

As such I have very little doubt that owning stocks in the oil patch should be avoided at all costs (see, "Dump Oil Stocks: Don't Risk Your Future are to blame."). When oil executives state that they cannot comprehend oil above $100 per barrel I know that there is a bubble going on (and yes, I believe them when they say this). To get another point of view on oil prices, you'll want to read, "Are Soaring Oil Prices a Bubble Set to Pop? "

Change is Now

I'm already seeing change in my own neighborhood. In parking lots here in the frozen tundra I am seeing more and more scooters in spots formerly occupied by gas guzzlers. Granted it is summer, but it is nice to see the change.

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, sales of scooters in the first quarter of the year were up 25%. I suspect that number is still trending higher.

If you are looking for individual plays on the trend take a look at Honda Motor Co. (HMC) or Harley Davidson (HOG).

The point of this missive is that we need to take personal responsibility for turning this economy around. Be a doer, not a complainer. If you do, I am most certain we will turn the corner.

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