Jeff Taylor

First, this is just one perspective, with limited qualifications – not doctrine. Read for yourself, decide for yourself. I will add links where I can. If you drive, buy food or do anything beyond live in a cave, this affects you.

• Is this an economic war?
• Is it a conspiracy?
• Are we runningout of oil?
• Is this all caused by something else?
• Can it be resolved? Can we do something?

The oil issue hits everyone. When oil goes up, so does gas. When fuel goes up so do prices for airplane tickets, food, cruises, deliveries, etc. This has been a global issue, though Americans are less accustomed to the higher prices. It has even created huge enough impacts on food on some countries to instigate riots.

Until the 1980s there were two economic super powers. Through the 90s the U.S was the primary economic super power, which took quite a bruising with the 9/11 attacks. It then devoted a vast amount of resources to the fight in Afganistan, and later in Iraq (both missions consume fuel on a large scale, by the way). All the while China and Europe (the euro) has been on the rise. Many countries would love to see the dollar fall, which could destabilize or devastate the U.S. economy, and this could be done by tying oil to another powerful currency, again – the euro. This is the conspiracy theory, or the economic war theory. Iran has established a trading facility to do just that.

Could it be that we are running out of oil? Absolutely! Or maybe we there are other resources that we haven’t tapped yet because it hasn’t been economical, which tends to be the case. Oil sands locations have been known about for some time, and we have not made use of them until know. There are vast quantities of oil remaining in the U.S. and Canada, it’s just harder to get to and refine. 

Anytime there is a conflict oil prices tend to rise to some degree, but the larger the campaing, the larger the rise. In the Middle East it only gets worse. There are a number of ‘triggers’ for high oils prices. There is even a good possibility now that many investors are investing in oil while the Dollar is down. This increases inflation. The dollar and oil often travel in different directions on the stock market. If and when the Fed starts to increase interest rates (increasing the value of the dollar), there is a good chance that the price of oil will decline, at least some.

If you’re asking if there is anything that can be done, quit supporting foreign oil. When you buy a new vehicle take pride in the gas mileage, not the horsepower and slow down. Ride the bus or a bike. Make less trips to the store. Use clean energy.

Think. That’s what ‘s important. Check out these sites:

Energy Independance

Oil and the Dollar

The time is near where we will elect a new president, hopefully one that will listen to the people, rather than follow his own, sole agenda. The question then becomes what is important, and right now that is changing quickly. Inflation is causing our priorities to migrate rapidly, so what was important 6 months ago isn’t as much now.

The economy, while in a slump now, will get better, so will we regret not focusing on other issues when our next president is elected. Currently some of the biggest topics to most people are:

• The Economy
• The Iraq War
• Health Insurance
• Energy Independance
• The Environment
• Government Spending and Waste
• Immigration
• Liberty vs Security

These are just some of the issues, but our candidates need to have a planto deal with these.

In many cases Bush has put us into a situation of a need for repair, at home and globally. The person we choose to lead us and represent us must be able to undo what has been done and put us back on track to resolve our debts and make us self-sufficient, as well as improve our status with our allies and the world.

Consider the fact that we buy oil from Iran, Russia, Suadi Arabia and Venezuela – countries that, at least in part, don’t like westerners. Venezuela’s  Hugo Chavez, most definitely.

Yet here we are, watching our economy slide, and we’re lining their pockets. Yes – WE are. The U.S. currently consumes more oil than any other nation, and by purchasing it we support those that either publicly badmouth us, or have parties that do so. And with skyrocketing oil prices, we continue to buy it.

Iranian people are good people, but the governments (ours and theirs) antagonize each other. Russia, who has shown that they will cut off supplies to certain regions if they get upset with them, has demonstrated instability. Saudi Arabia’s government likes the U.S., but there are many powers within that would love to see the relationship sour. Venezuela is just going down the tubes, and it will become obvious in time.

With so many major players, and there are more than just these, why do we support this? Because we, the consumers, and our government will not do anything about it. Starting with mandatory energy conservation would be a great start. Bills to reduce and eliminate our dependance on foreign fuel would be the next logical step.

We must demand it, and the government must develop programs to support it. Alternative energy is starting to take root, but until we feel the pinch our politicians will always have their own agenda. It’s time we stop supporting other countries! Let’s start supporting ourselves!!