Jed Clampett

Mission accomplished!!

China, India and Russia’s rapid growth has nothing to do with the price of oil increasing?

The falling dollar due to low US interest rates has nothing to do with it?

Bush is more powerful than I thought!

Jed Clampett

They are trying to force the governments hand in allowing them access to the Alaskan Oil fields. When you consider that there is much more oil underneath nebraska/wyoming, and given the devastation caused in wyoming by indiscriminate drilling leading to the poisoning of peoples wells and the underground water table, one has to be very concerned and vigilant as to why there is such a desire to go destroy the last unspoiled natural lands on earth.

If you look at it from my point of view. It is the last section of earth that has not been utterly decimated by exploitation, the powers that be do not like that. They are totalitarian in nature and have no empathy for human suffering, destruction of the environment or the well being of natures creatures. It is just another goal in the destruction of earth, it’s creatures and it’s cultures.
Look at Burma and Zimbabwe as an indication to what happens when these creaures take complete control of the leadership structure. Enslavement of the populace, destruction of the environment, economic devastation, engendering hatred and fear, separation from truth and reality as expressed in their words, inability to recognize how their system is faltering.

Three guesses as to what makes them do this even though at one time they had the best interests of the people at heart.

I say that Bush is at fault.

He has caved to liberals on drilling anywhere near the US. He has not been able to persuade Saudi Arabia to produce more oil. He has not tried enough to push nuclear power. He has not forced Congress to daft legislation that would allow more refining capacity.

Worst of all he has completely bought into the science fiction of global warming.

If you look back, you’ll see that whenever the repubs think they’ll be losing control in DC, prices jump dramatically.

Gotta get those profits before the dems get in! LOL!

Good thing he was in office… if it had been Gore it would have jumped $200 right after 9/11.

Isn’t it amazing the price of oil…and we have Nancy Pelosi to thank! Remember she had a plan to lower oil prices if we would just elect a democratic congress?!? Who writes the laws of this land (besides judges who reverse the will of the people)? That’s right, Congress!

Remember when we were approaching $3 a barrel back a few years and we saw stories of people who couldn’t afford to drive to work? Woe is us was the headline every night. Now that the Dems have had plenty of time to “lower the price of oil”, no human suffering stories, just offhanded mentions of oil prices shooting to historic highs. Good thing our press is not biased!

Drilling for more oil when we should be looking at ways to end our addiction to oil is like telling an alcoholic that they’re going to die if they keep drinking. but rather than quit, they should drink even MORE until the day comes when they miraculously just stop… or die.

Please.

Dick Cheney and George Bush. Two ex oil executives. Oil rises 1300% on their watch, but they have nothing to do with it?

Give Me A Break!

I saw a story about how people who are losing their homes to repossession are stripping it of EVERYTHING of value, right down to the toilets and light switches, before they go.

This administration is doing the same thing with the U.S.

Better watch out Bushney. Instant Karma’s gonna get you.

Gonna knock you right in the head.

Jed, this was fantastic, and a great way to describe Bush’s administration: “Enslavement of the populace, destruction of the environment, economic devastation, engendering hatred and fear, separation from truth and reality as expressed in their words, inability to recognize how their system is faltering.”

Ralph, save it. Can you prove that Gore would’ve had gas at $200 a barrell? Can you? No, this happened under the watch of YOUR PRECIOUS FAILURE-PRONE President.

“My friends”, we should welcome these prices for the time being. All it’s going to do is speed up the process of ending our addiction to oil as our source of energy in transportation. Hybrids, plug-ins, biodiesels are all going to start being affordable. Sure, it sucks that Bush and Cheney are enriching their friends and empowering generations of scoundrels. But, it won’t be the U.S. that’s b_uying their product anymore.

Drilling for more oil is not a solution. It’s a delay.

Solar, Wind, Hydro.

why cant i post?

Post,

Probably ‘bad’ words. s.e.l.l won’t fly, nor will its sister, b.u.y. And some ‘dirty’ words.

Coach,

We know Ralphis-Poo is a confirmed Con and will say anything irrespective of reality. But who’s frosh, and why’s he saying those things about a Dem congress? Is congress in charge of the price of oil now? News to me. Probably to OPEC as well.

(Merkwurdigliebe)

Congress controls the gas tax in country, and also sets the limits on drilling and refining

as for the post, its not ALL Bush’s fault, aside from the failing US dollar (caused mainly by the massive influx of dollars on the world market due to the Iraq War)

Saudi Arabia cant produce more oil becaus they’re already at peak capacity, the supply is static and demand is increasing elsewhere in the 3rd world, such as India, and China esepescially, which has 1000 new drivers everyday.

Also a factor is our lack of refining capacity–we’re literally swimming in oil, and oil is relatively cheap to drill out of the ground, the expensive part is refining it into petroleum. And our refining capacity hasnt changed since the 70s. Also, we dont have a single, standard gasoline for all 50 states–each state has its own standards for what can and cant be added, making many different blends of gas as opposed to just one

plus the fact that the price of oil is set by speculators on the global, rather than domestic, market

that said, any oil drilling should be used as a transition to a greener economy, if only for security reasons (how much longer do we really want to be tied to the Saudi leash?), but the solution is ultimately more refineries, not more oil, which we have plenty of

Jed Clampett

Here’s a thought, instead of giving our oil away to the oil companies, let’s have the federal government treat our resources as a business. Open up some refineries under the mantle of government investment in necessities of life.
Rip up all the contracts written up by an oil industry hack planted in positions of power and start $elling our oil on the international markets rather than giving it away royalty free to companies that make more than the government.
You see, the repugs don’t privatize government because they think corporations can do it cheaper or better, evidence has shown the opposite is true most of the time, they do it because they realize they could use those services as a vehicle for more profit, particularly when the industry is a necessity… such as healthcare, energy or food production.

Time to run the government like a strong efficient business rather than a piggy bank and oppressive structure for oligarchs that would destroy their nation for profit.
Take your country back americans, democracy is a contact sport!!

Jed,

How does that differ from my suggestion of nationalizing the industry?

Anyone who thinks oil prices have anything to do with who’s in office is mildy f’d in the head

As are people who think there’s no connection between our adventure in Iraq and oil prices.

Merk, we know by now how adamant you are about China and India. If you ask me, it’s ever so convenient to put the blame on them. It’s also ever so convenient to blame our refinery capacity.

But, the question is this: If our refinery capacity has remained the same since the 70s, why is drilling for more oil always the answer? Obviously, we wouldn’t be able to handle it…….

America: Stop believing the fraudulent propoganda regarding supply and demand, global demand, and refining capacity. Start driving less. Start getting gas from non-OPEC gas stations (AM/PM). Look into incentives for solar power rooftop panels and then purchase an electric car. To pay for the panels, drink less Starbucks coffee, stop dining out, and cancel your fox news channel!

BigWig: Seriously?

Bush is an Asshle

Coach,

How about a tune-up and replacing the air filter?

Jed Clampett

Not much. I think your idea makes sense. except those guys aren’t going to relinquish control or release economizing technologies.

So the best path is to use our money to invest in the things they won’t.

Hopefully, the minutes of the energy meetings will be exposed and big fines imposed on any conspirators.

(Merkwurdigliebe)

Coach– exactly my point, which is why I stated that more refineries are a better, short term solution

But I keep talking about India, China, and the rest of the 3rd World because they are the rising polluters of this century, and thus the biggest problem a transition to a green economy will face…countries either taking the highly polluted shortcut to vast industrialization due to lack of funds to do it cleanly or simply lack of will to spend the money to do it the right way

The US is going to move toward a green economy simply because it has no other alternative, but as i’ve said time and time again, we have the capital and infrastructure that most other nations outside the industrial core dont have…so we’re soon going to be eclipsed in the coming decades by other polluters

Jed– nationalization is novel, but unfortunately every time it’s tried, the line where govt backs off and the company fends for itself is crossed over…companies become too dependent on the govt and vice versa, and never learn to stand on their own and compete in the global market, a problem that most of the ME has due to Washington Consensus policies, espescially Egypt and Syria

Jed Clampett

that’s exactly what I’m saying. Nationalization won’t work. The oil companies won’t give up their piece of the pie to anyone and they have way too much influence to allow it to happen without a good fight. The proposition is to allow government to go into competition on the world markets. Or at least on the national stage. Instead of working with leaders of industry and then have ensuing technologies suppressed, Have independant labs do our R and D. Besides, that wasn’t the only proposal so don’t try to deflect as you are doing with blame. Demos do it too, waaaaH!

der komisar,

“no human suffering stories, just offhanded mentions of oil prices shooting to historic highs.”

Do you own a TV?

EVERY newscast, around here anyway, opens with a lead story about the ridiculous prices of gas and how it is impacting people’s lives. Where are the human suffering stories about the families of Iraq war vets who can’t make ends meet because their mommy or daddy has been deployed multiple times, yet the govt won’t help them out? Or the stories about the 4+ million people in Iraq who’ve been rendered homeless due to our actions? Or the other 1 million Iraqis killed? Or how about the grandma who must choose between medicine and food? Or the family were mom and dad each work 50+ hours a week, never see their kids, and still can’t make ends meet?

Do yourself a favor. Turn off the Faux news and acquaint yourself with reality for a change.

Your brain will thank you.

(Merkwurdigliebe)

Jed- blame isnt being shifted anywhere…it lies where it lies; you cant blame it all on Bush, but Bush isnt blameless either

Jed Clampett

Oh, hell no. Bush is just a figurehead. The PR piece, the talking head if you will. I don’t believe Bush has made a single decision in his presidency. All decisions where made by The Penguin and Rummy and Bush just gave it his stamp of approval.

This is not a problem that just sprung up yesterday, you’re right. But instead of putting a stop to the type of dirty dealing by the oil companies exposed by the teapot dome scandal, The oil industry has been allowed to literaly get away with murder because of it’s wealth and power, namely because of the powerful men who initially invested in it and promoted it as well as protected their investment.
They could have allowed people like Nik Tesla to put us on the path to energy independance, however the wealthy industrialists had the opposite in mind. They wanted to make us completely dependant on them. Now that we are, they can choose to manipulate the chain of supply and demand to their hearts content and with that control, even affect political sensibilities of portions of the public.
Someone pointed out how prices fluctuated according to the political party in charge, they are correct… what more evidence do you need that the pusher is starting to squeeze the addicted for greater personal profit? Isn’t that the way gangsters always work?

To me it’s criminal and they should be prosecuted and jailed if not killed for their crimes against humanity, the environment, progress and prosperity of the whole, as well as innovation and efficiency. Unfortunately, congress and their backdoordealings along with the car companies are complicit in this. So, considering the power within those institutions, it is unlikely any meaningful change without some serious change in theyr way of thinking. Only an unavoidable surge of public opinion and demand can do that. That’s why they also control a great portion of the media.

I tend to care about my homeworld and consider it the highest crime when these idiots treat it like a piggy bank or waste dump while benefiting only themselves and hurting others. Some of these patriotic soldiers returning from Iraq should start working on eliminating the true source of anguish and despair.

If you don’t think blame is being shifted elsewhere then you just haven’t been paying attention to how these creatures operate. We are told to recognize them by their words and their acts… it’s about time we understand exactly what that means and start working to extinguish that source of crime and misery.
Gliee, you seem to love to parrot their line without actually thinking through the issue. You try to appeal to peoples emotions without giving much of a reasoned, believable point. You’d much rather argue and bring the discussion to name calling and accusations, and that gives you pleasure. But you fail to recognize why that is so. Has reason been totally expunged from your thought process?

(Merkwurdigliebe)

Jed– what are you talking about? How do i love to parrot their line? All i’ve ever brought up are facts…the price of oil has many factors that are much more complex than evil oilment sitting in shadows, diabolically plotting away…those same men have no control over natural supply, and the they have no control over increased demand from the industrializing 3rd world, which factor into the price of oil almost as much evil oil speculators

remember, the oil company line is no change, keep using oil like theres no tomorrow…i’ve always argued for a gradual transition, guided by pragmatic decisions, as energy independence is going to be a mammoth switchover and is going to require patient and clear-headedness, as well as a ton of good ol’ fashioned hard work

yet this line of thought somehow makes me a toady of the oil industry and the administration? C’mon dude

Murky: “those same men have no control over natural supply, and the they have no control over increased demand from the industrializing 3rd world, which factor into the price of oil almost as much evil oil speculators”

Prove it. Those ’same men’ have absolute control over supply. Ever heard of rerouting a shipment to arrive a week late? What about the oil reserves? Those two things aren’t considered ‘controlling’? And give me a break about the stockpiling of oil in case of some emergency. The only emergency that would make us need that much oil is one that’s self-caused.

Mammoth change to break from oil?
Now, I don’t know how I can make this any more profound than this: It’s as easy as getting the gas stations to install battery chargers. That’s it. Produce electric cars, add solar panels to rooftops, install chargers at gas stations, and VOILA!, we’re off petroleum in the auto industry.

Your ‘parroting’ how long it’s going to take is EXACTLY the kind of thing the ‘oilmen’ want you to say. It’s an enabling statement.

Jed, I hope someday you and I get our wish and observe these Bush Adm. clowns in front of a grand jury having their verdict read to them, and then handcuffed and thrown in jail.

(Merkwurdigliebe)

Coach- what i meant was that oilmen have no control over the amount thats actually in the ground…Saudi oil is peaking, or will peak, within the decade

as for what you mentioned, I never said it didnt affect the price…I merely said that it is a complex issue

as for the switch, dont kid yourself. It will be massive: you have to retrofit all existing gas stations in the US (of which there are hundreds of thousands), which wont be cheap. You have to train people to install the equipment. You have to remove existing fuel tanks and all old paraphenalia, and do something with it. You have to build the facilities to produce new machinery, or retrofit existing ones. You’ll have to change and adjust the infrastructure. You’ll have to adjust building codes for changes that expand or contract the physical size of gas stations. You have to get rid of the combustion engine in industry entirely, on everything: cars, boats, industrial machinery, etc, of which there are literally millions. And thats going to take time and money, not “voila.” Its not an enabling statement, its being REALISTIC about what its going to take to get the job done…there’s no such thing a “voila, problem solved”

again, change is either going to have to come gradually over such a large scale, or its going to take total mobilization to get it done, and it will require sacrifice…either way, its not going to be “voila”

Merk: So, when did installing charging stations at gas stations involve removing the petroleum tanks? Gas stations can replace tanks in the course of about 3 weeks. Sure, codes, inspectors, and all the other beaurocracy will impede. But, nevertheless, to go electric, you can avoid all these pitfalls.

This all could’ve been done with had we made a different choice after ‘9/11′. Funny how ‘9/11′ has become a brand name, huh?

It’s been 7 years since then and we could’ve been LONG off of oil in the personal transportation industry.

I completely disagree with your assessment of the time frame, and I think most people, if they took the time to think about it, would also.

Our infrastructure is already in place in the form of gas stations. Just inspire them to adjust and we’re in business.

(Merkwurdigliebe)

adjusting gas stations is just part of the process, and thats three weeks FOR EVERY STATION, of which there are hundreds of thousands– you’d have to phase out older vehicles or else you’d have a bunch of retrofitted gas stations and no vehicles to be serviced by them…and you’d have to take the tanks out, meaning you have to rip up the ground to get them out, as if they’re simply left in the ground, they become a safety and health hazard

again, much more runs on gas than just cars, so a switchover to those types of power will at best take awhile, and at worst, expensive…the economy runs entirely on petroleum and petroleum products, and in an economy of our size and magnatitude, it would not only be impossible to switch over in the time that you suggest, but impractical and counterproductive as well.

I’m not saying that it cant be done; its going have to, sooner or later, and I agree with your plan to retrofit gas stations an the like, but it will take time and money, money politicians, and the people for that matter, may not be willing to spend. In a perfect world, yes, it would be as easy as you say it would be…but you’re dealing with ‘what ifs’ and i’m dealing with ‘what ares’…and people need to wise up: if you want a solution to oil, then its going to require hard work and sacrifice, just like the technological advances that came before…you have to be and think realistically about solving the energy problem, and 3 weeks is not a viable, let alone feasible, window

Round and Round the Merk et al., go:
“but you’re dealing with ‘what ifs’ and i’m dealing with ‘what ares’…”

Charging stations have nothing to do with petroleum tanks. Phasing out vehicles doesn’t HAVE to happen, because the tanks aren’t being REMOVED and are still in use.

Your premise is based on ELIMINATING petroleum, when in fact, I NEVER have said that.

Change your premise to ‘moving away’ from petroleum and the argument changes.

What ifs? It seems to me that you’re assuming how long it would take, making it a ‘what if’. I’m stating how EASY it would be to install charging stations, ‘what ares’……

You believe the propoganda, I don’t. It’s basically as simple as that. And, as far as the money is concerned: People are okay with us spending 3 billion a week in Iraq, but not okay with domestic spending TOTALING that to get away from petroleum? Again, the propoganda………..

250,000 gas stations in America.

60 thousand dollars to REPLACE a gas tank, which we don’t need to do. 3 weeks work.

20 grand to install a charging station with 6 chargers. Two weeks work.

Worst case scenario regarding ’spending’ to install charging stations: Government subsidizes 5 billion dollars for the full amount of every gas station.

THAT’S ONE AND A HALF WEEKS IN IRAQ.

So, people, please halt the ’spending’ argument.

Jed Clampett

They may not have any control of what is in the ground, but since they control the science and the rest of the economy around their product, they can distort the reality. Peak oil for example… contrived in order to raise prices and therefore profits.

peswiki.com/index. php/Directory:North_American_O il_Fields

should give you an idea of just how BS the whole energy crisis actually is.

It would take very little in the way of retrofits to improve efficiency and therefore consumption without sacrificing performance or environment. Many have proven this already, the only problem is that pesky desire to make more and more money regardless of the cost to environment or economy. It’s merely nearsighteness caused by greed.
You know why they killed the EV1? because it was very reliable and cheap to own. Almost no maintenance costs. That killed it, the dealerships love warranty work. that’s why they seldom fix something right the first time and why it seems that after the first time you bring it in, you keep going back for other stuff that shouldn’t be breaking down. Also because if you bought one of those and realized how dependable and peppy they are, you may decide to keep it and never b_uy another… they would loose the repeat business.

This would not be the problem it is if it were not for the republican-entrenched oil industry.

Since Carter we have had 30 years to wean ourselves off foreign oil. The republican administrations in that interim have done more to solidify our dependence on foreign oil more than at any time in U.S. history.

This was wasted time we could have used to refit our infrastructure. Blame republicans for not having the backbone necessary to ask the country to sacrifice.

Hmmm. funny. Seems they’re doing the same thing with Iraq. Is there a Republican that actually HAS a backbone?

I highly doubt it.