The media is funny in that they try and deliver what the public wants to hear about, but every now and again you find a journalist who is actually in the business to report news that needs to be heard. (Californians taking big risks to buy homes, report warns) There is very little alarmism in this article. The reporting is based on...wait for it...facts. These are facts that may just change the perception of some investors and speculators, the ones who need to hear it the most. For your average long term homeowner, there is nothing to fear. For those on a shorter leash or with less stability in their lives, there is pain in the future to be experienced without proper advance planning.

In my mind, these home investors and speculators are the same type of people who have been artificially screwing with the crude oil markets since we went to war in Iraq. Rampant speculation has caused price fluctuations that are unexplainable in historical context. The argument has long been that the price of oil is directly related to the price of gasoline, and gas and oil companies, along with the stations that provide the fuel to the public, have happily played along with the game.

Yet, over the last 5 weeks, oil prices have been increasing per barrel, yet the cost of gasoline has been going down, ever since the President took note of the public's outcry over the cost of fuel, which has less than half to do with the price of crude oil. One day down the road, our economy will feel the effect of hundreds of dollars of formerly disposible income not going into our consumer driven economy, but instead feeding our driving habits. Other options need to be considered.

For every dollar you put in the tank, close to 50 cents is directly lining the pockets of OPEC. If the trend continues, our economy is in for some real ugly potholes down the road.

DANGER! Bridge out ahead!