Someone at Chrysler finally seems to be talking sense these days. Jim Press, the fairly new Vice-chairman of Chrysler, recently unveiled some of the automaker’s strategy and things look a lot better. The biggest test will be to see if they can truly create a sustainable business model – sustainable meaning one that looks for long-term profits and not just today’s sales. There’s nothing in business that irks me more than people who focus simply on what they need to do to bring in business today instead of planning on how they are going to continue to bring in business 5-10 years from now.

Just when we begin to see a little relief at the pump,in steps OPEC to make sure the high prices are here to stay. As I calculate it, we would need to cut our consumption as a country by over 25% to convince OPEC that it makes economic sense to let the prices drop to close to $3 per gallon. Otherwise, they will feel that keeping the price of oil above $100 a barrel is the most profitable for them. We really do need to get out from under their iron fist – or oil fist as it might be.