So much of what happens in our private lives, in civil society, in commerce and in government-even when we're reading the putting green-hinges on a judgment call. Do it now, do it later or don't do it? Is the line a half or a whole ball left of the hole? Today we are examining the judgment-or lack thereof-shown in the halls and committee rooms of Congress. Tomorrow, we'll look at the judgment we've made in the voting booths and new-car showrooms all across America. If we were smart, we would decide that we should ride in carpools more and run air conditioning less, but here in Houston, that's a non-starter. One of the most disturbing things I heard recently was that in 2006, in a Republican Congress, a bill to make gasoline price gouging a federal crime would have passed except for a mere three votes. Imagine the chances of such a bill passing now that the Democrats are in charge and pump prices are inching beyond $3 per gallon again. For more on this, see the July issue of Oil and Gas Investor. For a subscription, call 713-260-6441.