Iggles Blog - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

Peter King Has Lost It

Yes, I realize I'm poaching all over Gabe's turf with this, but it could be next week before he gets around to writing again, so here we go.  From Kings' MMQB:

Rant of the Week: I paid $62 to fill my 18-gallon tank with gas on Thursday in New Jersey. With $4-a-gallon gas around the corner (I hear it's already here for premium in California), I have only one question: Where's the outrage? Why are our elected officials doing nothing -- nothing that any of us can see -- about it? I can afford gas, but how about the people who cannot? I can't believe we just let things like this happen in our society.

Let's take this apart sequentially.  Now, my guess is that Mr. King is one of those people who thinks high gas prices can be traced directly to the war in Iraq.  That's not it.  Most of what we in the United States see as the increasing price of oil is actually the declining worth of the dollar.  Debase the currency long enough -- in our case, for the last 4+ years -- and sooner or later people aren't going to be so happy about cashing your checks. 

So if you want to bring down oil prices, stop the run on the dollar.  (Which means maybe stop cutting interest rates so fast, dudes.)

As for the second part, what does Mr. King propose our elected officials do?  We already sent Cheney to go beg OPEC to produce more oil.  That didn't work.  Should we be looking at price controls?  Tapping the strategic oil reserve during an election year to suppress prices and keep people happy?  (Who would ever suggest that...)

Of course, it's the last part that's really maddening.  Yes, high gas prices do suck.  They suck especially for industries like trucking and air travel. 

But gas prices aren't that high.  Check out this chart that shows real (not nominal, meaning they factor in inflation) gas prices for the last 90 or so years.  Yes, gasoline is more expensive than it has been recently.  But we're not looking at some crazy, never-seen-before peak. 

And as for the people who "cannot" afford gas?

How do they afford cars?

Eagles GM Stirs Up Controversy

Eagles fans may recall the parting shots Donovan McNabb fired on his way out the door this season.  The quarterback, who doesn't figure to have all that many years left in Philly, is looking for the team to add a couple playmakers to boost the near-term playoff prospects.

Here's what he said:

Now that the season is over and we are concentrating on 2008, I hope we are able to secure some playmakers in all three phases of the game. Maybe some of those playmakers are already on the roster but have struggled with injuries, myself included, that have held us back a little...

We were 8-8. There is room for improvement. This is a competitive sport. It's about putting together the best players, the best team, and giving yourself the best chance to win.

I know, right?  Crazy, inflammatory stuff.

Which is what makes it all the more amazing that at this week's Senior Bowl practices, Eagles GM Tom Heckert dropped the same sort of atomic bombs:

"We were somewhat productive on offense and our defense played well, but the fact is we were 8-8. We have to figure out why we were 8-8. We need some help at certain positions, and any time we can strengthen ourselves at any position, that is what our goal is," he said. "Free agency is first and then it's the draft. I think we can get help in free agency and in the draft."

I hope the team can withstand this much controversy...