There is a popular misconception that the United States could supply its own petroleum needs, without imports, if it weren’t for stupid politicians.
Robert Hammons wrote a letter recently that was titled, “Drill domestic, not foreign.”
He wrote: “We would not have to rely on the Middle East for oil if our politicians were not so stupid or corrupt.”
If you take a look at world petroleum statistics about production, consumption and capacity, however, it quickly becomes apparent that this is not the case.
The United States is ranked 14th in known oil reserves in the world. We possess about 2 percent of the world’s petroleum. The country of Kuwait, which is a little larger than the state of Connecticut, has four times as much oil in the ground.
The United States consumes about 25 percent of the world’s oil production. How do we consume a quarter of the world’s oil when we only possess 2 percent of the petroleum reserves?
Two ways. First, we import 60 percent of our needs. Second, we are pumping our own oil at a very high and unsustainable rate. Yet, Hammons wants to speed it up!
If other countries are pumping oil at a rate that is sustainable with their reserves, and Americans are not, we will merely hasten the day when we, or our children, will be dependant on the rest of the world for 90 percent of our needs. Why would we want to do that?
Now who is the terrorist? Good republicans just want a good economy for everyone. That way the can help them spend it.
You have drifted away from the topic at hand. Let's get back to the subject of drilling in ANWAR.
You are doing what all bad republican's do, twist the facts.
Brazil has better environmental requirements than we do?
I’m sure the loan had nothing to do with his good buddy George Soros buying 811 million dollar stake in Pertrobras.
I would think maybe a 10 Billion dollar loan could be better used to supply oil and JOBS here in the good old U.S.A.
How about loaning 10 Billion dollars to the Bakken Formation in North Dakota?
It could be the largest oil field remaining in the continental United States and among one of the largest in the world.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has estimated Bakken’s reserves at between 271 and 503 billion barrels of oil. The low end estimate is slightly larger than Saudi Arabia’s proven reserves and 10 times larger than the current proven reserves of the United States.
But this would make to much sense to help the people of the U.S.A.
I’m sure Brazil needs the JOBS more than we do?
The latest example was the Hummer.
That, no doubt, would help with employment.
CN
Those who build the weapons, how many employed, military and private industry? Those who treat the Veterans, how many employed, those who build tanks, air crafts, aircraft carriers and so on...those who put together the food packets for the military, how many employed, those who sew the uniforms... the list goes on and it seems war is profitable enterprise for many??
What we need is more peacetime jobs.
CN
Hate the war but support the troops!
If your in the floral business it must be good, you now have become war mongers. While the rest of us are struggling to keep food on the table and saving our homes for our families.
While you're out there giving us a lesson on fuel consumption, and killing the tax payers, as the saying goes. Billions for defense and not one penny for peace, and this war has nothing to do with Homeland Security.
Give me a hint to where your flower shop is, so I can avoid buying from you.
Oh and just remember tan gallons in an armored tank equals one gallon of gas in your car.
First, so much for your confidence in your own country and those who have died fighting and those who are still fighting the war. I would really like to see you say this same quote to the soldiers who have been and still are fighting in the war. Somehow with your crappy attitude I find it hard to believe you have have the guts to say this, but so easy to write in a commentary reply. It's people like you who make this country weaker and weaker every day by your lack of confidence and ignorance. I am a naturalized citizen who came here when I was 10 from a 3rd world country over 30 yrs ago. Try living in any 3rd world country for a while and see if you feel any different about the U.S. when you come back.
Your views on oil, the war, or whatever will take on a new meaning if you actually understand what its like to appreciate this country and the brave men and women in uniform who allow you to speak--negatively as it may-- Try wathcing the History Channel sometime, you might get a new sense of appreciation for this great nation. Aren't you lucky you're not arrested or shot for speaking your mind?
By the way, WE ARE STILL FIGHTING THIS BATTLE AND WAR-- if you don't believe me, take the next flight to Afghanistan or Iraq and stay there for a while!!
The real issue is the cost of converting "sludge". That's the type of oil we have off the coasts of America.
It costs less to purchase it from other countries and ship it here.
The savings is in the refining of the oil found in the Mediteranian Area.
Many people don't know about it.
They think we didn't get one gallon. They are wrong. We got millions of barrels and oil that is easier to refine.
Costs us less and somebody in Washington DC doesn't have to keep his promise to get clean energy jobs, like solar, going.
Isn't that why people said, socialism? And Nancy said "Nazi"?
Yet we have not received one gallon of oil for our efforts"
Who cares? Just buy a solar panel and a diesel.
We have been hearing the story for 20 years that we need to drill in ANWAR. Some say why when we own most of the oil in Iraq? We have spent 2 trillion on war efforts in Kuwait and Iraq to save the country from Saddam Hussein and now the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Yet we have not received one gallon of oil for our efforts, in the last 10 years of fighting.
The efforts of the Bush & Cheney agenda is to retrieve that oil in ANWAR, to generate more oil for America, and less dependency on foreign oil.
It didn't work for the American people who have been drained of their life savings on the cost of the war. Most Americans will never recover from the losses.
Being honest with the world, we have lost the battle and the war.