The U.S. Left Wing's Own Oil Embargo...

Drilling isn't going to do anything to reduce the price of oil in the short term: I understand there is a time lag of several years before production would be raised to make any difference. In any case, whatever production increase achieved would probably have a minimal impact on the oil price (something like only 1% reduction). The oil price has been going down (from 147 down to 117 dollars a barrel) because demand - and expected demand worldwide - has been falling. Demand in the US has been falling because people are being much more careful with the oil commodity. What depresses me is how good ideas are mocked in the media: we have all heard of the tyre guage being laughed at by the Republicans and the media. However, by simply ensuring that your tyres are at the correct PSI, you will save 3% of your fuel costs - and that has an immediate impact now on you the user as well as the oil price since this reduces demand and hence helps to reduce the price. Other ways of reducing oil consumption is to drive more slowly, accelerate and brake smoothly, try to reduce the use of A/C as much as possible, reduce drag by closing windows (though I accept you can't realistically do this in hot weather especially if you also don't have the A/C on), try to keep your boot as empty as possible as extra weight also creates more drag, etc. I have been doing all these things and I reckon I have saved about 15% on my petrol costs by applying the above measures whilst still being able to use my car for work, leisure, etc. If everyone did this, their oil would last longer in the tank, they would therefore go to the petrol station less often, this would reduce demand by an appreciable amount across the board, and the oil price would be pushed down further (law of supply and demand). As is often the case, it is the simplest solutions that are often the best though long term we also need to seriously address our dependency on oil by putting some serious money and research into alternative fuels.

Yes, it is a finite resource and yes we should be working on alternatives. But what is it that has the left all ready to destroy our economy, culture and way of life? There isn't an alternative that can replace oil right now, so why does the left insist there is one? True, that doesn't mean our researchers and engineers can't find a viable alternative, or that they shouldn't be seeking one. However, the oil problem is a problem now. If you were a patient in my ambulance, would you rather I treated you with the best treatment available now (even if it comes with side effects), or tell you that there may be better alternatives soon, so we'll just let you wait? The left has created the same set of problems OPEC caused in the 70s. What's the difference between them then and the left now?

What is it that people don't understand about oil not being an infinite resource. This issue isn't about lefties wanting to destroy America. This is about lefties wanting to find a longer term solution so that we don't have to worry about having yet another old crisis. Heaven forbid we find an alternative resource that isn't so hard on the environment and might actually *gasp* be cheaper in the long run and better for future generations. Sheesh! But no I guess lefties are all terrorist. You're right, they're all out to destroy America. *hint the sarcasm in my voice*

We should use this oil crisis as an opportunity to prepare for the day when oil will run out. We had such a warning with the oil shock of the 1970s, the price of oil went down in the 80s and 90s and governments and people took their eyes off the ball. I don't see how this has got anything to do with being left or right but instead taking considered measures to prepare for the future. One of the fundamental points about energy provision for a country is to have diversity of supply: reliance on just one fuel is just too risky (ie monopoly can lead to higher prices, supply can be cut off by strikes in the monopoly sector, terrorism, etc). I hope that the price of oil will come down even further than it already has. But we should ensure that research and development on alternative fuels is stepped up as we can all be sure that whatever respite we may have will not last for ever. It would be great if people and governments learned their lessons for a change!

Another point is that people will seriously need to consider nuclear power. I know that environmentalists and people on the left may be opposed to this, but it seems unlikely that we will be able to produce enough energy from wind, solar and water power alone (probably only 15%) in the foreseeable future. That means that some unpopular decisions are going to have to be made and having nuclear energy will need to be one of them. The one problem with nuclear though, which hasn't been fully addressed, is the issue of decommissioning and disposal costs, which could prove to be very expensive. That said, I believe we are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea: nuclear energy which is carbon free but which could create significant disposal costs in the future or continuing with carbon emissions that the vast majority of scientists believe could lead to runaway climate change if this is not addressed over the next few years. I prefer going down the energy conservation/renewables but also nuclear industry route as the best way to tackle the problems we face today.

Yawn! Why do you mindlessly repeat BS from the Democrat Underground, George Soross, Michael Moore and other total morons? Prs. Bush has lifted the ban on domestic drilling... Pelosi is so insistant on continue the Oil Embargo of the Left that she was willing to allow the House Republicans to make a fool of her. Do you remember that one of her promises if she was made Speaker of the House was gasoline prices back down to $2/gal? The left has blocked all opportunities to drill for oil domestically. The hypocrits also lie about wanting us to switch to wind power, but block all efforts to set up wind farms. Face it, you can lie all you want about Bush and Cheney, but when you look at facts, they all point to the Left. btw, yes, the embargo of the 70s was about power and politics... and it still is today. The only difference is, today it is Americans who want to destroy us instead of Arabs.

If you know so much about the oil industry and their profits, then I'm sure you know that, while they made record profits in real dollars, it was only 10-12% profit over costs. Now, 10% profit is a tidy sum, but nothing to fuel any conspiracies over. If you want to talk about approval ratings, sure, Bush has had it pretty bad there, but nothing compared to the single digit rejection of Pelosi, Reid and their lazy, worthless approach to running a Congress. One thing the Democrats and the incompetent press have done very well with, and that is creating a mindset among Americans that the President has all the responsibility and Congress's job is to sit around waiting for bills from the White House. This is not only a total lie but a caustic way of thinking. Almost all of what is put on Prs. Bush is actually the job of Congress. The Constitution guarentees that no single person has very much authority. To listen to the incompetent press, the Democrats and the idiots at the Democrat Underground, they seem to demand that Prs. Bush assume dictatorial authority. That would be the only way he could have the authority to do all the things they demand. I agree, Prs. Bush lifting the executive order against domestic drilling was political. What it did was put the whole thing right back where it belongs... with Congress. Of course, Pelosi and Reid are too worthless to spit on, so all they will do is sit and whine (which is the only honest thing either of them are capable of doing). What they won't do is lift the ban or do anything that actually supports alternative energy... at least until they can squeeze all the money they can out of their lies, or Obama is elected. Then all of the sudden both domestic drilling and promoting alternatives will become important to them... but for years all they will do is "blame Bush". Of course Bush and Cheney will join the lecture circuit after they are no longer in office. That is about all there is left for former presidents to do. The Founding Fathers made it a point to make sure that there was no lifelong titles for office holders. One thing I hope they never do, and that is to become whining, snivelling anti American blowhards like that idiot Carter. It figures that the president who enables and empowered Islamist Extremists to take on the US would be one of the very few former US presidents immature enough to speak out against a sitting one. He should go back to the only thing he has done well since leaving the Oval Office... swinging a hammer for Habitat for Humanity. (Something I will always give him great respect and credit for)

Thank you for your response Ted. I am not sure what you are considering mindless BS for Democrats, but I can tell you right now if you research (I know this is a bad word to most republicans on here, but some of us do it) you will find everything I have said in this post to be factual. I did not get my facts from the DNC, nor any other source that are questionable. I get my facts for reliable sources, and at CIA.gov (this is a great source for lots of cool information, just go to world factbook). I know alot about oil, I work for a Chevron oil distibutor in rual Ohio. I see everyday what the high oil prices are doing to companies here, and good everyday people. It is sad to see these people lose their companies because of this situation. One of the more telling signs of this situation is Bush's approval ratings in my area are dropping quickly. This is an area where Bush won by 92% in 2004, now politicans in the area are rejecting Bush or Cheney speaking at events to support their reelection. You are correct that Bush lifted the ban on domestic drilling, but this is like you telling your 5 year old to go get a job. Bush knows that the oil companies don't want to drill, and he also knows the Democrats don't want to either. But, this is politics, and you have to ask yourself: Who would bennifit from this? Well, Republicans took the heat off of the oil companies for their insane profits, and the high price of fuel. I am sure that the oil companies will help fill the coffers of Republicans running for office. The Democrats are showing their support for the enviromental wacko's which I am sure that this will help them raise money as well. This is how Washington works now Ted, they don't solve problems, they just find ways to make money for them selves. It is that simple. I am sure I won't hear a word from you a year from now when Bush and Cheney are out doing their speaking tour making millions of dollars telling the oil industry how great they are, and how happy the are to take their money. But, I am sure that Bush and Cheney would never do anything to profit off of their time in office, just like Clinton, and Bush Sr. did. Everything in my post is factual, and I can show where I got off of my facts, if you think that I am lying about anything then tell what I am lying about. The fact of the matter is Bush could have used the SPR in 2005 to send a message to the oil companies, but he didn't. That is 1000% fact, Clinton did this in the 90's, and it dropped the price of oil by 60%. But, Bush is an oil man, and he could careless about the average working American (thus his high approval numbers). You can blame Democrats all day long for this run up in oil, but remember Republicans owned the government for two years, and they didn't open up ANWR, or domestic drilling. Why is that? Was oil not a problem at $79.00, but is at $146.00. Weren't Repbulicans smart enough to see the writting on the walls when oil kept going higher, and higher. Or, is it that they could care less about actually doing something to help the American people, they just wanted to keep their jobs (that sure didn't work out to well for them, did it?). The fact of the matter is both parties are to blame for our current crisis, but neither side really wants to fix the problem. Bush could lower the price of oil in two minutes, but he won't. Democrats could open up the United States for drilling, but they won't. So who is to blame? WE ARE. We are the idiots that put these idiots in office, and were shocked that they turned out to be crooks. They are politicans, what do we expect? Have a good day