Uh, David, I missed the memo where you were appointed Thread Censor, but in any case I used a total of one adjective, in passing, on US Middle East policy, only in context of gas prices, where this chip-mod thread had gone. That's hardly "spouting off." My first post had no criticism of anyone on this board or swipes at any subgroup of Crossfire drivers. Plus, observing there are problems with US foreign policy that could lead to higher gas prices (or much worse), is not even a "liberal" point of view, and plenty of conservatives and conservative publications agree. It didn't even occur to me that the word "messed-up" would be controversial. Nor is bringing up economics into a gas price subthread "degenerating" the discussion. It's an octane boost.

I came back to the thread on gas prices and read Wes's economics post which had good content but also needless junk about "crybaby tree-hugging liberals." Is that car talk? Or just gratuitous insult likely to start a flame war? You tell me. Did I "shoot back" as Wes considers his right? Heck yeah. The difference in our first two posts is one commented on an issue, the other is an ad hominem argument. The former is fair game in any thread. The latter -- well, if one can't take it, one shouldn't dish it out.

I do love the way there are a half-dozen posts in this thread saying "let's keep politics out" -- which then include political editorial! :P

Wes and I agree that there is a connection between government energy policy and how we enjoy our cars. I just connnected dots between energy policy and foreign policy. So has every Administration for the last 35 years.

As to criticizing the guvmint, that's as American as baseball, apple pie, and rock and roll. Government affects every aspect of our lives, including about 10,000 different aspects of car ownership, including Crossfire owners, ranging from speed limits to lease deductibility to steel tariffs to emissions standards. Some Senator could write a law to outlaw chip mods next week, who knows. Last I looked we hold elections here, not plebiscites. God bless our freedom as Americans to speak out about what we think is right and wrong, especially when lives are at stake. Anyone wants to live in a country where you can't criticize the regime, Cuba and China and Saudi Arabia are accepting applications. Cuba is a great place to work on cars, too. :lol:

I don't hate anyone for their politics. I enjoy almost all the posts on this board (the odd troll excepted), from AZ, Wes, Dallas, Vegas, Tdancer, Krusty, you and others. Any board attracts a wide variety of characters. Consider me one of them.

I follow the exploits of the Upsoluters with interest but regard it sort of like laser eye surgery. I am intrigued in the science behind any real MPG gains and hope you pioneers will continue to report the results, good or bad.