The
Bush, Republican, Big Oil and Iraq Conspiracy
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
One
of the biggest increases in foreign oil dependency
happened on Clinton's watch
I just finished posting a comment on the GreenCarCongress
website about Google's commitment to making renewable
energy cheaper than coal. Actually, it wasn't so much
about Google, but some comments to the article that
referenced the Big Oil, Bush and Iraq conspiracy.
STOP this nonsense.
Foreign oil dependency is a significant problem facing the
United States. More important, it is a problem that has
been exacerbated by multiple administrations and sessions
of Congress for decades.
Also, America isn't controlled by the Big Oil Lobby.
America is controlled by the military-industrial Iron
Triangle that has been colluding with Big Oil, Congress,
multiple Presidents, etc for decades. Big oil is just one
piece of the conspiracy puzzle - a conspiracy that
includes BOTH Democrats and Republicans.
Ultimately, the costs of maintaining America's dependence
on foreign oil (non War costs), such as securing shipping
channels, etc, cost far more than the oil itself.
Unfortunately, Americans don't see these costs because we
don't pay for them at the pump. Instead, Congress and the
Department of Defense have been hiding and packaging these
costs into taxes and military spending for decades.
If Iraq is about oil, it isn't about oil company profits,
it's about securing America's foreign oil dependence and
maintaining the Iron Triangle.
For instance, the recent run up in oil prices hasn't led
to increased oil company profits. In fact, in the last
quarter, oil company profits have actually decreased.
Ultimately, oil is becoming much more about NOCs, or
National Oil Companies - outside the US - than about
Chevron and Exxon profits.
Inevitably, the military-industrial Iron Triangle has
significantly influenced both parties and both parties
share blame. And, we the people, also deserve blame. Sure
the wool has been pulled over our eyes. Nonetheless, after
the gas lines of the 70's, did Americans say never again
and take action? No, we bought ever bigger gas-guzzlers.
Most Americans have been part of the problem and most
Americans need to be part of the solution. Let's focus
more on solutions, not blame. When it comes to blame there
is plenty to go around. Just ask Bin Laden, whom didn't
attack the US on 9/11 because of Bush, but because of the
decades of Saudi corruption caused by America's foreign
oil dependence - something Bin Laden has called the
world's biggest theft.
3 Comments:
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Actually we did take action in the late 70's & early 80's. We cut oil imports by about 50% but then we lost our way. It will take action by the people & politicians to get back on track. If we can increase CAFE or even better, pass carbon taxes, things will change faster than we can imagine now. Everybody should call their your politicians to help pass the energy bill!
Zendude-
Don't you think we need something bigger than CAFE?
35 mpg by 2020 filled with loopholes like the ethanol credit? I just don't see it helping much.
I think the next President, and particularly Congress, need to set a bold vision for the future. Setting limits on automakers is only part of the solution, the smallest part, in my opinion.
The government has to help fund change with a bold vision that states end foreign oil dependency in 10 years, cut carbon to x, etc.
The technologies to change the energy paradigm exist, they just aren't cost-effective today, but they are cost-effective as a long term investment. Only the government has the ability to help companies make such a long term investment, but I don't see that vision - at least not in detail - coming from anybody in Congress or running for President.
This, it seems to me, is the paradigm shift in America's consciousness that is key to any solution, but I'm worried that our political system isn't friendly to such long term thinking.