Why can't America become oil independent and stop depending on thugs to sell us oil?

Question

Venezuela's Chavez says oil headed for $100 barrel
"If they attack us again like they did in April of 2002 ... there will be no oil."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070811/bs_nm/venezuela_oilprice_dc

Why don't we do this?
Flex Fuel makes Brazil Oil Independent
http://skeptically.org/oil/id12.html

Answer 1

We have lots of options. but most of them are met with resistance by a special interest group.

We could.

Drill Alaska. ( Animal rights groups and environmentalist.)

Nuclear Power plants ( Environmentalist who are afraid of nuclear power even though there has never been a nuclear power accident on American soil and Aircraft carriers and submarines are run on it)

Bio diesel ( Oil companies, food industry, practical reasons)

Wind Farms ( Ted Kennedy)

There are many many ways to make ourselves energy independent, but there is alot of opposition to it. Some are reasonable opposition some are simply stupidity.

Answer 2

I was honestly shocked to learn that Conoco Philips and Exxon Mobile refused to bow to Chavezs nutty demands and have begun a pull out of what amounts to 15 billion dollars in investments. Now I feel a little less pissed as I pump. Can you imagine how bad Chavez must be that our own oil cartel wont do buisness with him. Incredible. I say the development of oil independent technology has to be driven by consumer demand. I will tell you this. I am in the market for a new cart and have already decided I will not accept less that 30 MPG fuel eficiency. This is triple what I get in my pickup. I still need the truck for work and horses but I will drive the car whenever I can. Any recommendations?

Answer 3

I think one of the hidden reasons why we still cling on to oil is because of the value of our dollar. Now that we are off the gold standard, what do we have to back the falling dollar? The two main commodities that are priced in US dollars are gold and OIL. If the Iranians get their wish and oil was priced in Euros, that would severely damage the strength of the dollar. That is one of the reasons why we desperately cling onto oil.

However, as much as I want to get off of oil, flex fuels are not a panacea either. The problem is that it takes things we already need in order to convert that to fuel. We don't have enough farmland to produce corn or any other crops to be used to make flex fuels, at least enough to satisfy our energy needs. Secondly, these are crops that we use as either food stuffs or to feed cattle. That would jack the prices of just about all food up. Also, oil has an efficient delivery system. These bio fuels don't have the infrastructure to transport these fuels efficiently and cost effectively.

I agree with you 200% on our need to get off of foreign oil and even oil. I don't think flex fuels, could do that alone. Maybe flex fuels with a combination of other alternative energies.

Answer 4

that's not a remember of choose, that's a controversy of choose, we unquestionably, actual might desire to get off oil, ASAP. so a procedures as gas expenditures i think they might desire to stay extreme, I stay in northern New Jersey and there fairly is not any public transportation to an excellent sort of aspects so which you'll want tochronic, so I say that on a similar time as that's hurting me because of the fact that's the only and in straight forward terms ingredient that's getting peoples interest, ( the proverbial 2x4 between the eyes ), because of the fact we've been persistently instructed this for some years and as lengthy because of the fact the fee grew to become into low we went out and offered the biggest vehicle shall we've the money for and no-one seem on the MPG. so a procedures as drilling extra is in touch it is large yet oil is a finite source no remember how lots we attempt to keep away from questioning approximately it and doing something to divert us remote from the activity of having of oil could ASAP should not be performed. If we do drill extra i think of there could be a tax strengthen on it which fits right into a fund to grant low or no fee loans for abode and corporation owners to alter to renewable sources of power, photograph voltaic/wind/ etc., and according to risk for infrastructure construction and upkeep, which places human beings to paintings and keeps them working holding that green infrastructure, fairly than have it bypass into some speculators, and the undesirable adult adult males pocket that's what's occurring now.

Answer 5

Uh....Well Colorado,Texas and Alaska have more oil then the entire Middle East, Afirca and Venezuela....Oh, but that's right. We are not allowed to Drill here anymore. We haven't built a Refinery in 40 years.
Goota keep the Great Horned Owls happy though!!!!!

Answer 6

Because the right wing gets their orders from the oil companies--that's why.

And their solutions (e.g. "tap the ANWR") are nonsensical. Even if we did--it wouldn't get--or keep--us independant for more than a few years--quite aside from the ecological issues the right sneers at.

But--let someone try to et the car companies to improve gas mileage (which is the same it was 25 years ago--and we had the technology to do better THEN--much less now) and the rneocons start whining they have a "right" to drive gas hogs--and then whine about dependance on foreign oil.

Yet that one change could make us oil independant--permanantly. Bottom line: having your cake and eating it too DOES NOT WORK.

Answer 7

Because our politicians are bought and paid for by Big Oil. There is no shortage of oil. Our politicians use the excuse of environmentalism so nobody is allowed to get the oil out of the ground. Monopolies can only exist with the help of government.

We need to return to the free market. Free market nations don't have "Energy Policies", let alone a Department of Energy. Greed and corruption runs Washington.

When we get government out of oil production, you'll see prices dropping. The free market keeps prices low, government managed monopolies keep them high.

Answer 8

Because Cheney invited the oil company CEOs to write the energy policy and there is no way they are going to add any money in the policy for researching alternative fuels.

And you have two oil shills as President and VP.

Answer 9

"Its all about the Benjamins."
No one wants a refinery in their backyard. No company wants to spend a few billion dollars to get one up and running to reduce profit. Current politicians are kept in power with oil lobbyist money. Switching to a flex fuel infrastructure would cost a buttload.

Answer 10

Because the leader of our country has friends that run the oil companies. And we can't cut back because of so many people driving gas guzzling vehicles. Besides Brazil uses sugar cane which is cheaper and more effeicent than corn or wheat so it would probably cost more