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[sadunbar]

In this age of "globalization", there really isn't much differentiation between "domestic" and "foreign" oil.  The oil companies aren't loyal to one particular country, they are loyal only to themselves and their bottom line.  Prices are set by the world market, no matter where the oil originates, and we as a country are no longer in the catbird seat.  China, India, and other emerging economies with huge populations are bidding up prices, and reduced consumption in the USA no longer has the major and immediate affect on prices that it once did.  It's a brave new world and we need to get used to the new realities, suck it up, and move on.  And BTW, if you compare the increase in the price of gasoline over the past 50 years with the increases for everything else in the family budget over that same time, you will find that you aren't getting such a bad deal even at $3.50 per gallon.  Everything is relative.

Perhaps if the oil industry didn't have such a lousy record we could convince our representatives in government to support exploration and drilling in sensitive areas, either in the ANWAR or a potentially even better source along our vast coastlines.  Unfortunately, as recently proved by the BP fiasco's in Alaska and Texas, when it comes to protecting the environment or the safety of employees and the surrounding community, they cannot be trusted and our government has no backbone for the rigid regulations and enforcement that would be necessary to reduce the risks to acceptable levels. 

Think of it this way, by holding the deposits along the coastlines and in the ANWAR in reserve, we are helping to use up the reserves of our "friends" in the middle east more quickly.  Once they suck theirs dry and lose the seemingly endless supply of cash that they use to support our enemies, perhaps our government can start worrying about domestic issues rather than interfering in conflicts that date back to the beginnings of so-called civilization.  (In other words, let the sand monkeys kill each other off like they've done throughout history.)

Jerry

There is a part of this issue I have never heard discussed.  Why does anyone think oil pumped out of ANWAR only goes to the US market??  What prevents whatever oil company that pumps out this oil from selling it to China, India or some other emerging oil consuming market - the highest bidder?  Is there a law that says everyone else's oil can be sold to anyone in the world, but oil found in the US can only be sold to and used by the US??  Maybe oil pumped from ANWAR goes to China because Walmart gave them all our money one shirt at a time...

[sefatboyscott]

Or we could vote for politicians who would ALLOW drilling/exploration instead.......

Haha. I am not saying I don't vote. I like the feeling the illusion gives me. At least they still let me think I am voting. I guess my vote still counts as a number, just never will know who it counts FOR. I am sure some software developer could enlighten us, but he works for Diebol and the CIA. He's not tellin, something to due with the fear of being assinated I am sure.

You really think Diebol reports the SELECTION you make on that day?? Now that's some funny chit.

Tell that to the 5 family members in Sutton County NH that have alerted media and everyone else that they voted for Ron Paul and Sutton County reported 0 votes for Ron Paul. I am not saying I am a Ron Paul fan but its a pretty good example of what a joke it is. It's a rigged game folks! Has been for a long time.

But hey we were a soveriegn nation from July 1776 all the way until February 1777 when the Paris Treaty was signed.....it was a good run.

[iski]

In this age of "globalization", there really isn't much differentiation between "domestic" and "foreign" oil.  The oil companies aren't loyal to one particular country, they are loyal only to themselves and their bottom line.  Prices are set by the world market, no matter where the oil originates, and we as a country are no longer in the catbird seat.  China, India, and other emerging economies with huge populations are bidding up prices, and reduced consumption in the USA no longer has the major and immediate affect on prices that it once did.  It's a brave new world and we need to get used to the new realities, suck it up, and move on.  And BTW, if you compare the increase in the price of gasoline over the past 50 years with the increases for everything else in the family budget over that same time, you will find that you aren't getting such a bad deal even at $3.50 per gallon.  Everything is relative.

Perhaps if the oil industry didn't have such a lousy record we could convince our representatives in government to support exploration and drilling in sensitive areas, either in the ANWAR or a potentially even better source along our vast coastlines.  Unfortunately, as recently proved by the BP fiasco's in Alaska and Texas, when it comes to protecting the environment or the safety of employees and the surrounding community, they cannot be trusted and our government has no backbone for the rigid regulations and enforcement that would be necessary to reduce the risks to acceptable levels. 

Think of it this way, by holding the deposits along the coastlines and in the ANWAR in reserve, we are helping to use up the reserves of our "friends" in the middle east more quickly.  Once they suck theirs dry and lose the seemingly endless supply of cash that they use to support our enemies, perhaps our government can start worrying about domestic issues rather than interfering in conflicts that date back to the beginnings of so-called civilization.  (In other words, let the sand monkeys kill each other off like they've done throughout history.)

Jerry

Oil companies have boom years (lately) & bust years (1980's).  People forget oil is a cyclical biz & it fluctuates.  It will again. As long as we rely on foreign "friends" who mainly want our dollars, we are giving the oil companies a profit bonanza.  Ok by me, since I invest in a variety of stuff.  When countries who sell oil to us now run out, they will have a hell of an infrastructure & will be positioned to loan the world money.  The economy is those countries is thriving.  Our economy would be in MUCH better shape if we were participating in the petrochemical sales on a larger scale.  We do not, largely for political reasons.

Exxon/Mobil controls around 3% of worldwide oil, as best I can find info on them.  If their profits are this huge, try to imagine Saudis or Argentina's profits on oil. Yet nary a peep about that in our media.  For some reason, Exxon/Mobil is a profit target, yet a ME country or a South American country get a pass since they are out of sight.  Those who pay attention know the profits there are STAGGERING in comparison, however.

[iski]

Haha. I am not saying I don't vote. I like the feeling the illusion gives me. At least they still let me think I am voting. I guess my vote still counts as a number, just never will know who it counts FOR. I am sure some software developer could enlighten us, but he works for Diebol and the CIA. He's not tellin, something to due with the fear of being assinated I am sure.

You really think Diebol reports the SELECTION you make on that day?? Now that's some funny chit.

Tell that to the 5 family members in Sutton County NH that have alerted media and everyone else that they voted for Ron Paul and Sutton County reported 0 votes for Ron Paul. I am not saying I am a Ron Paul fan but its a pretty good example of what a joke it is. It's a rigged game folks! Has been for a long time.

No guarantees exist, anywhere or anytime, that EVERY vote will be tallied.  Lots of reasons those votes may not have been counted - wrong precinct, not registered, etc.  Paper ballots - same deal.

Your post made me laugh though - funny chit folks dream up about Diebold is always good for a smile.

[sefatboyscott]

No guarantees exist, anywhere or anytime, that EVERY vote will be tallied.  Lots of reasons those votes may not have been counted - wrong precinct, not registered, etc.  Paper ballots - same deal.

Your post made me laugh though - funny chit folks dream up about Diebold is always good for a smile.

It is a well known fact that those machines do not have accuracy in voting, it's been proven by even Dan Rather and many others.

Also it has been proven to be so easily hackable. It's not a dream, it's a reality.

I guess it's just a coincidence that all these jokers come from the same bloodlines with very rare exceptions.

The funniest dream is the dream that the so called officials have any control. Maybe the Central Banks and the Rotchilds and people like him have no control.........haha. I like that dream too, don't get me wrong. AS you said it's good for a smile.

[iski]

It is a well known fact that those machines do not have accuracy in voting, it's been proven by even Dan Rather and many others.

Also it has been proven to be so easily hackable. It's not a dream, it's a reality.

I guess it's just a coincidence that all these jokers come from the same bloodlines with very rare exceptions.

The funniest dream is the dream that the so called officials have any control. Maybe the Central Banks and the Rotchilds and people like him have no control.........haha. I like that dream too, don't get me wrong. AS you said it's good for a smile.

Any voting system is corruptible, if those who run it are in the mood to corrupt it.  When vote tallies do not go the way folks wish they would, nowadays its fashionable to claim vote fraud.  Diebold machines are not as accurate as optical scan ballots, but the idea they are fixed is just damn funny.  I noticed few complaints when Dems won the majority of Congressional seats in 06, but in 04 they were outraged at Diebold (they lost).  So it's a convenient complaint.

Dan Rather is a disgrace to journalism & to even term the guy that these days is a stretch.



Stereotypes are a real time saver in politics.  Allows for opinions to be fully vetted before the vetting even starts.  I got that idea reading somewhere else, about something else, but it holds true.

[sefatboyscott]

Any voting system is corruptible, if those who run it are in the mood to corrupt it.  When vote tallies do not go the way folks wish they would, nowadays its fashionable to claim vote fraud.  Diebold machines are not as accurate as optical scan ballots, but the idea they are fixed is just damn funny.  I noticed few complaints when Dems won the majority of Congressional seats in 06, but in 04 they were outraged at Diebold (they lost).  So it's a convenient complaint.

Dan Rather is a disgrace to journalism & to even term the guy that these days is a stretch.



Stereotypes are a real time saver in politics.  Allows for opinions to be fully vetted before the vetting even starts.  I got that idea reading somewhere else, about something else, but it holds true.

Well I agree that all mainstream media is a joke.........just a series of commercials back to back. I take acception to the fact that you associate me with a Democrat however. I look at political parties in this manner..
You can have bullchit or pigchit

It's all chit. You only have two choices swallow it or wallow in it.........either way it smells and tastes like the same chit.

So I don't view it as a convienient complaint, I see it as a fact that should be considered a large problem by all.......it's not a partisan thing. I think a two party system is the funniest joke ever pulled on the word democracy. Which mob of gangsters represents you?? HAHA

[iski]

Well I agree that all mainstream media is a joke.........just a series of commercials back to back. I take acception to the fact that you associate me with a Democrat however. I look at political parties in this manner..
You can have bullchit or pigchit

It's all chit. You only have two choices swallow it or wallow in it.........either way it smells and tastes like the same chit.

So I don't view it as a convienient complaint, I see it as a fact that should be considered a large problem by all.......it's not a partisan thing. I think a two party system is the funniest joke ever pulled on the word democracy. Which mob of gangsters represents you?? HAHA

Never implied you are/were a Democrat.  Frankly none of my business & in truth don't really care that much since the Repubs & Dems are a curiosity to me.  Used to be the latter but no more & have no desire to be the former.  Libertarians were of interest to me when I took politics pretend seriously, but I got over that phase a long time ago.

The "convenient complaint" refers to the diatribes against whatever voting method folks "feel" lost them some election, but they are pleased when the election goes their way.  Similar to complaints about SCOTUS rulings that favor one's cause being "great" & ones that go against one's cause being " lousy."


Frankly have given up on the viable third party deal.  Dems or Repubs use a third party effectively to wedge in their candidate.  For the most part, our populace either does not care or only cares what they are fed to care - like political cows in an MSM media feed lot of propaganda.

[sefatboyscott]

Never implied you are/were a Democrat.  Frankly none of my business & in truth don't really care that much since the Repubs & Dems are a curiosity to me.  Used to be the latter but no more & have no desire to be the former.  Libertarians were of interest to me when I took politics pretend seriously, but I got over that phase a long time ago.

The "convenient complaint" refers to the diatribes against whatever voting method folks "feel" lost them some election, but they are pleased when the election goes their way.  Similar to complaints about SCOTUS rulings that favor one's cause being "great" & ones that go against one's cause being " lousy."


Frankly have given up on the viable third party deal.  Dems or Repubs use a third party effectively to wedge in their candidate.  For the most part, our populace either does not care or only cares what they are fed to care - like political cows in an MSM media feed lot of propaganda.

[icybay]

Diesel is  about 2.00 a gallon in Mexico, and it has only gone up about  0.25 in a year and a half. They tried to raise it a while back but there was almost a revolution, so they didn't.. Maybe that is just what WE need.

[MUFFMAN]

WE are paying about 4.75 a gallon in Canada right now. Not easy on the wallet.

[spydglide]

Just read that Exxon produced a excess of $111 million per day after paying expenses this last 3 months.  And still managed to convience the politicians to extend their post-Katrina tax benefits and yet, their exploration was very, very low while producing the largest quarterly profit in the history of our economy.  And they are still wanting access to govt. land for easier drilling instead of reinvesting some of the record-breaking profits into the exploration in less-profitable areas.  It all makes sense to me........the one with the gold: rules.  har!  spyder

[Eqcons]

It makes me laugh everytime the news reports why the cost of gas has to go up! The bottom line is greed!!!!!!

Correct!  But even with the $3 gallon, you guys are SO lucky - here it's over $10/gal  (Though our gallon is slightly bigger than yours)!

Exxon Mobil are not alone; over here, Shell are our villains:

"Shell was today accused of making "obscene" profits at a time when pensioners, motorists and industry are struggling with higher energy prices when it unveiled annual earnings of $27.6bn (£13.9bn).

The oil major has made British corporate history with the record figures, which are equivalent to more than £1.5m an hour and come at the end of a three month period when crude prices have averaged over $90 a barrel.

Jeroen van der Veer, chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell, described the performance as "satisfactory" and admitted that overall production for the year had actually dropped 2%"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jan/31/royaldutchshell.oil1

Jim

[Talon]

To me the bottom line is regardless of what the oil producing countires charge, the major oil companies have control over a comity that our country's can't do without, and they are doing their best to keep it that way. They are gouging us and that's the bottom line. Gas station owners are charged for price gouging, why aren't these oil companies?

With todays technologies and advancements, if people really think that the milage todays cars get is reasonable you crazy. The thought that we are so far from alternative fuels, or energy sources is ridiculous! At the chance of sounding paranoid, major dollars being spent by oil companies to slow this progress. We should be years ahead of where we are today.