2006-06-22 18:45:23 · 7 answers · asked by Patricia d 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
They aren't 100% oil-free, it's just that alternative fuel (E85 ethanol most of the time) is offered at virtually every pump, or at least in Brasil. This was done via heavy government influence, something Americans don't usually like. But the answer that i love the most is that of Representative Dave Camp (Republican-MI) who said that it is, and i quote, "the current political air of washington right now is very against alternative fuel". When asked to specify if it was the executive office (ie the president and his men) he agreed that it was.
2006-06-22 18:56:09 · answer #1 · answered by max p 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well...some countries in S. America have access to oil and, as mentioned earlier, base their entire economy around it.
Why can't Americans live "oil free?" Mainly because the United States uses much, much more oil than other nations. On top of that, we don't produce much in return. Therein lies a problem. Also, since a vast majority of the oil must be imported, foreign markets control prices at their whim. It also becomes a problem where certain oil-rich regions of the planet (the middle east) get stingy on production and pricing.
Advances in technology will ultimately solve these problems for Americans. It'll also crush the oil market when nations find their "staple crop" doesn't interest their main source of income anymore. And just to throw this in, there are huge reserves of oil near the United States that can be reached (with better technology, of course). Imagine what will happen when a very pissed off nation has control of oil prices after decades of oil woes. Americans also have to deal with hippies who complain about oil dependency, yet won't allow the government to drill for oil anywhere. New sources of power won't be found overnight, and an oil hungry nation sure as hell will need plenty more oil until something else is found.
2006-06-22 19:04:00 · answer #2 · answered by kamma_data03 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work in the oil industry and I have worked in South America and most of the countries are just as dependant on oil as the U.S. Most of the countries down there, that is what their economy is based on ecspecially Brazil, contrary to what the other guy said. The oil and gas industry is all they have down there except for the drug trade.
2006-06-22 18:54:10 · answer #3 · answered by oil rigger 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because americans have a high consumer demand for 'instant use', pay-as-you-go energy. Your entire economy is designed this way, and habit/ritual makes it more difficult to break the cycle of such demand. This is why you will elect anyone into government that can keep fuel prices low, regardless of the cost to humanity and the global natural environment.
2006-06-22 18:52:55 · answer #4 · answered by Bawn Nyntyn Aytetu 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What parts of S. America are these? Everyone needs energy to live, and the more productive they are, the more energy they use. If you take away someones energy, you take away their livelihood.
2006-06-22 18:50:58 · answer #5 · answered by presidentofallantarctica 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With Democrats in the Whitehouse, they'll be blue birds over the white cliffs of dover tomorrow when the world is free
helmet.org
help save our troops
2006-06-22 18:49:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're not really oil free. It's just that they are less dependent on oil thanks to ethanol (i.e. Brazil).
We cannot be like them because we have a government that refuses to take significant steps to reduce our dependancy on fossil fuels.
2006-06-22 18:48:40 · answer #7 · answered by inpoetry1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋