Eradicating the need for foreign oil?

Question

I, for many years, have sought to find the answer as to why our Government (U.S.) has never done anything to be independent of oil reserves in the Mid-East, and othe rogue countries. From Pip-Squick Carter to present, the U.S. Government has shied away from anything to do with independency in oil. It results in our paying trillions of dollars for oil in foreign lands and a very large part of that revenue is used to buy weapons to kill Americans and to create havoc in other Democratic governments. What is it that the American Government is attempting to achieve? Is it all money for individuals running the government? Any ideas?

Keep in mind that the US, France, etc etc paying for oil is fueling the coffers of the enemies in Iran, Venzuela, etc

Answer 1

My guess is all those doggone Special Interest Groups, the lobbyists. There is so much money in oil. According to Fortune Magazine, only 15% of our oil comes from the Middle East; with a little effort from everyone, that 15% could become 0%.
I mean, if everyone would quit driving around (they called it "cruising" in south Florida), combine errands, making fewer trips, quit using golf carts, snowmobiles, etc. on the highways, that alone would be a BIG help.
And if the utility companies would use water, wind and solar power to generate electricity, instead of burning oil...
Another thing: back in '73 when the Arabs forced the oil embargo on us, there was a sudden influx of cars that got 50 - 60 mpg, EPA estimates. Now, 34 years later, the same makes and models get less than half that amount. Go figure.
As some people say, it is now time to rally (or whathave you) and start with a new government that will listen to the people.

Answer 2

It's a combination of factors. Some interests, like, of course, oil companies, benefit from dependence on oil, because they have contracts with foreign producers, as well as oil resources at home that are only commercially exploitable when prices are comparatively high. Other interests are philosophically opposed to practial alternatives. Nuclear power, for instance, has been practical for over 50 years, but was so consistently blocked by environmentalists that no new nuclear plants have been built for 30 years. Then there are interests who stand to benefit from alternatives that aren't yet practical - ethanol, coal gasification, large-scale solar, hydrogen, etc - but which may become so, /if/ the price of energy from fosil fuels is pushed high enough.

There's no conspiracy among these various interests, they just each work towards thier own agendas, and the aggregate effect - with volatile public opinion acting as a wildcard - is the fuqued-up world we live in.

Answer 3

I am with you on this. It seems like in the 80's they would have learned their lesson and started the switch to Hybrid cars and new fuel sources then. No the president is talking about Americas thirst for oil. I could care less about what I drive to work as long as it will get me there on time. As far as Government is concerned they are all about the money. probably hiding it in the freezer next to the cold cuts. The answer is American ingenuity. We need American people to create an economic home grown solution the problem and not rely on government.

Answer 4

imho, too many American governments have been too willing to tilt toward the loud voices coming from the left and not willing at all to tell them 'tough -- get over it'.

Latest estimates -- America has an estimated 40 billion barrels of oil that we aren't accessing for political reasons.

America was once the world leader in nuclear power technology -- I'm not sure we are any more and I'm darn sure we haven't started a nuclear power plant in decades.


Could we reduce our dependence on foreign oil? Sure.
Will the eco-lobbies scream if we try? Of course.
Should we listen to them? No.

GL in changing things, mate.

Answer 5

Simple.

Right now, it is still cheaper to use oil than to find an alternative.

If gas prices keep going up, it will be cheaper to find an alternative, and we will.

No conspiracy theories. Every President in the last 30 years doesn't work for an oil company. Money talks, that's the bottom line.

Answer 6

"Self-sufficiency is the short road to poverty."

Is your household independent in food production, energy production, clothing production? What exactly would you have if you made everything yourself?

Trade is a good thing.


The politicians know it is a popular slogan to get elected on, but they also know that enacting it would cause a dramatic rise in fuel prices, pollution, and even a decline in the dollar as foreign demand dwindled.

Answer 7

our government doesn't care where we get the oil
as long as we're getting it.