I think most of them already have the compressors. It's a matter of education and access.

They have the compressors, but as you note, there's usually one, off in a corner, away from the pumps. Having them at the pump, as you suggest, would force stations to have more than one.

It's kind of like running without insurance. It's a great way to save money - provided I don't have an accident.

Yeah, but the non-peak oil aware won't really care about that. They just want to know if it will work. (And note they are in favor of maintaining a certain minimum level in the SPR, so we'd never be entirely without insurance.)

And we'd be able to fill up again, once oil drops below $40/barrel!

I think that we need the SPR. Remember New Orleans after the flood. A major city without gasoline will look the same in a few days.

Remember, people have been calling for the SPR to be tapped since oil hit $20. Imagine the situation we would be in now - $120 oil and an empty SPR - if those calls had been heeded.

That's really the perfect comeback for people like us to use. Of course, the government can't use it lest it cause panic. This administration probably even has reason to think oil could soon spike, and they can't say that either.

It's the strategic reserve, not the "cheapskate" reserve anyhow.