I used to think everything was black and white, but sometime between 30 and 40, I realized there's an awful lot of gray.

Reading some of these posts makes me wonder just how much of what is being said was actually learned, or just borrowed from some radio show. As just one example, let's take drilling for oil in Alaska; In 2004, the same year President Bush was reelected, our very own Energy Department (not a bunch of tree-huggers, not a bunch of liberals, not a bunch of "naysayers", but rather the United States Energy Department) released an in-depth report regarding opening up Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil production. They concluded that, at best, it would take 9 years just to get the first drop of oil flowing, and another 12 years after that before it reached it's peak production. And even then, after 21 years, it wouldn't lower oil prices by more than 50 cents a barrel, and would have absolutely zero effect on the price we pay for gasoline. It also would only lessen the amount of oil we have to import by 4%, at best.

How do I feel about it? To be perfectly honest, I'm not going to lose any sleep over the idea of them drilling in Alaska. There is more than enough room up there to allow for it, and any wildlife it would endanger is already too unstable to concern me. That being said, I do think it would be a tremendous waste of time and money for something that would have no effect on how much you and I pay for gas, or how much this country relies on foreign oil.

Yet something so insignificant has become a huge point of interest when it comes to the political debate.

 

While I do agree with your assertion that drilling in Alaska is perhaps insignificant I believe it brings home the main point which is our countries leaders, all parties, all political affiliations, which is nobody really wants to do anything.

Granted it wouldn’t matter if tomorrow we start drilling all over America, in every state, it would be decades before it had any real affect on our economy or our dependency of foreign oil, at least any “real” affect here at home.

It would however have a tremendous mental affect on today’s world economics, more specifically the Middle East. All one has to do is look at the Middle East and ask one question:

What does the Middle East actually contribute to the world economy?

Answer – “Nothing, other then oil”

That’s right, if they have no one to sale to, or have a substantial reduced customer base to sale to they are dead. Now while many of the leaders, and I use that phrase lightly, are nut cases, they are not stupid. Their only way to remain in power, other then killing their own, is to bring in the big money to their people, to support their people and keep them somewhat feed.

They, the Middle East got very nervous in the 70’s during the oil crises and knew they had to do what ever it took to maintain their customer base.

If we start passing resolutions here at home to open up any and all areas to drill for oil, including Alaska, it will devastate them. Why, because now rather then whining and complaining about it we will look like we are actually going to try and do something about it. They may even think we have had enough and will do what ever it takes so we never have to buy another barrel of oil from them again. If that were to happen the Middle East would die because regardless of China and the others they will have lost a HUGE customer base for their only product, oil…

This is not directed at you, but I get so tired of hearing people say ”it takes to long to see any results, so why drill, why build nuke plants, why build more refiners?” Yes it does take a long time and if you wait another 10 years it will take 10 years longer then if you start today.

Keep putting things off until tomorrow and you’ll be die wondering “What if”…

Quite frankly I don’t believe we have a right to ask anyone else, including the Middle East, to sell us more oil until we are drilling in ever possible area we can here in America, including Alaska, regardless of how insignificant it may be…

 

The 70's oil crisis was created by the middle east, it didn't make them nervous. Less than 17% of the oil we import comes from them. We get more oil from Canada than we do from the middle east, and like it or not, China is quickly becoming the worlds largest user of oil. I agree that we should be responsible for ourselves, but the only way this country will ever produce enough oil to supply our demand is if we drastically reduce our demand. I don't know what the answer is, but the only thing I see getting better from drilling in Alaska is the size of the oil companies bank accounts. If they want to do it, fine, but it shouldn't be a political issue.

 

Ok, since the middle east created the oil crisis in the 1970's, and we hardly get any oil from them, then why where there gas lines here? Because it is a world market. You contradicted your self big time there in case you didn't notice. It is estimated that the U.S. has more oil reserves here than in the middle east. Some of it is harder to get. Technology is catching up. We can supply all our own oil for the next several hundred years, or forever if you believe the current thoughts that the earth makes oil as a natural element. I am in that camp. Get off the oil companies backs! I am so sick and tired of everyone saying that the oil companies are greedy. The oil companies bank accounts? Give me a friggen break. They are publicly owned companies and you have stock in them most likely if you have a retirement account of any kind. There profits are right in line with other companies. It is a political issue because the world runs off of oil. Without it, we would fail miserably. The dumbocrats are standing in the way far more than the republtards are. Just the announcement of us doing significant oil drilling would make the price per barrel plummet. That is what speculators do after all.. isn't it?

 

I don't believe the dividends will ever keep up with inflation. Your invested dollars may grow in numbers ,but they are weakening in value.

You can't outrun inflation caused by energy cost. Our economy will not survive as we know it

 

I don't believe that for a second. We made it through the carter years.. we will make it back again after one of these clowns is in the white house. American ingenuity will prevail.

 

Judging by where you live, your vote isn't that important
anyway. You could vote republican 10 times and it wouldn't
count once in a national election.

 

When the cost of energy quits spiraling, Then we can proceed.

 

Trust me when I say the Middle East needs us much more then we need them. While China is a growing economy it will be decades upon decades for them to make up what we use from the oil supply chain.

While it sucks to see oil so high and gas prices so high little of it has to do with oil companies and their profits. Their profits are in line with Wal-Mart, Intel, and other big companies so they are not out their packing their pockets full of cash. Sounds like some people are getting Obamanized…

We do NOT have to cut our demand drastically to meet our oil needs. All we need to do is start accepting personally accountability, responsibility and acting like adults. That means spanking the disorderly brats like environmental wackos who have put us in this very position. It’s neither the American public nor the oil companies who have made this current situation a very bad one but environmental wackos and a small minority of democratic leaders pushing their responsibilities aside for the big payoffs from the “Green freaks”.

If we were truly responsible we would start building at least 100 nuclear plants beginning tomorrow with NO picket lines of “Green freaks” to delay the process. If they line up then bulldoze them over as we break ground, no loss. Wind power is just plain goofy but should be used in the interim until the nuclear plants are up and running and we are drilling for oil everywhere WHILE we work on other alternatives.

Forget corn, or any other plant life, ain’t going to work and has been proven useless, wasteful, and again, plain goofy. Wind power and solar are temporary energy sources but won’t last long term due to they are not very fruitful for the money spent on them.

We need to drill everywhere for oil, dig everywhere for coal, and build nuclear plants like there is no tomorrow. In about 10 – 15 years from now we will be completely free of the Middle East and can take them out if needed. If we don’t they will die off anyway since they still won’t have anything to sell but oil, bunch of lazy and useless individuals in the Middle East if you ask me. I would be extremely embarrassed to be from the Middle East as they don’t contribute hardly anything to mankind or the world other then hate and discontent and oil for now….

 

I'm actually kind of optimistic the price of gas has stayed stable at $3.83 for almost 2weeks now

 

Speaking of liars....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnyEM...in-thread.html

 

Yes Burt, you are right again.

If you overlook the numerous historical contributions the Arab world has made to
~ Mathematics & Astronomy
~ Medicine
~ Physics & Chemistry
~ Philosophy
~ Calligraphy
~ Architecture & Fine Art , they really haven't contributed much to mankind.

I love ya brother, but sometimes you can be such a putz.

Glad to have you back.

 

but what have they done lately

 

I didn't notice, care to elaborate? The 70's oil crisis was brought on by OPEC cutting off exports to western nations that supported Israel. As far as how little of their oil we use, at last check it was 17% of the oil we import. Where's the contradiction? Where you even alive during the 70's oil crisis?


You are aware of the fact that it takes millions of years for the oil to form naturally, yes?


In 2007, Exxon/Mobil made a net profit of more than $1200 every second. I'm all for making money, it's the American way, but they are the only ones that will profit from drilling in Alaska. And again, that's fine with me, but don't use it as a political tool when it won't do squat to help this country.


Perhaps it's the speculators you should have issue with.


I know, but unfortunately no one has the ***** to do away with the Electoral College.


I have no reason not to trust you, but I do disagree with you. If China continues as it is currently, they will surpass us in oil use in less than 20 years.


No company in the history of the world has made $1200 in net profit every second for an entire calendar year like Exxon/Mobil did in 2007. Obama had nothing to do with it.

 

You yourself said the oil crisis was caused by the middle east. And you said that we get 17% from them. And they weren't nervous about us. If we get so little from them, why the gas lines? Especially when we get more from Canada and south America. Your statement doesn't make sense to me. I was plenty alive during the oil crisis.. wasn't driving yet......

Are you aware that it is a theory That the age of the earth is more than 6-10,000 years? And no one knows how long it takes the earth to produce a natural element. We have enough oil currently and projected reserves to last us several hundred years.



Typical liberal speak. Always talking about dollars, no matter the size of the company. You should be talking in percentage. That is the only fair way to base profits. The oil companies are big. Of course the dollar amount will be larger than a mom and pop store. Big duh there huh? Percentage of profits is right in line with other companies. Nothing unusual. And as I said before, the oil companies are publicly owned. The more they make, the happier the stock holders are. Quit ignoring these facts. Get off the media band wagon.


Speculators are doing there job. I don't agree with there speculations at this point.. but I don't have the info they do.









Obama will have plenty to do with every thing if he gets elected. That should scare the crap out of everyone. And again, why do you have a problem with the oil company that makes $1200 every second? Maybe YOU should buy stock.