Now is the time to stand up to Big Oil

[Hugabear]

Bush says that Big Oil needs to expand. He says they need new oil fields, new refineries, etc. I read in a new article in Popular Mechanics that there are huge oil reserves that Big Oil is just itching to get their hands on. We keep hearing about vast oil reserves in Alaska and in the Gulf of Mexico, and in other places.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. The reason gas prices are so high is NOT because there isn't enough supply right now. BULLSHIT. Look at the record profits that Big Oil execs are raking in, look at the gluttonous bonuses that their CEOs are giving themselves. That's where the money is going.

Why do we need to allow Big Oil to continue raping and plundering the Earth, contributing even more to its decay? Every year, the planet cries out ENOUGH, yet Big Oil continues to dish out their poison. Now they come and have the audacity to tell us they need more. Fuck them. Not one more oil rig. Not one more refinery. No more.

I don't care how expensive gas gets. I bet if we started to levy fines and penalties on Big Oil, we'd see their prices come down in a hurry. They're gouging us and they know it. Regardless, now is the time to wean ourselves off this substance that's killing the planet. We need to develop new, clean, renewable sources of energy. There are plenty of options out there, but as long as Big Oil keeps providing us with the narcotic, we're in too much of a stupor to do anything.

ENOUGH.

[depakid]

1. If you don't think that most of the trouble is with supply

You're in denial.

According to the production data -the world has passed peak. In other words, output will never increase again.

Meanwhile, demand continues to rise, not just for petroleum but for petrochemicals and their derivatives.

Not to say that it isn't far past time to hold big oil accountable -but the fundamental, long term problem is that the age is cheap and easy oil is over, and prices (per the moving average) will inexorably rise.

And there's nothing anyone can do about it.

[Hannah Bell]

2. there's no current shortage v. demand.

Not saying there won't be, but there isn't currently.

Profits at record levels for years.

Don't buy every chocolate lolly someone offers you.

Enron: "no, we're out of capacity! more $ to stimulate investment!"

it's a con, you're the mark. same thing in most commodity markets now.

[Speck Tater]

5. One in Five Americans Believes Sun Revolves Around Earth. NT

[Green Mountain Dem]

3. If you don't think....

that this is more about "petrol dollars" than petrol...then you are in denial! Supply and demand has nothing to do with the price of oil..but switching the method of payment for oil from US dollars to Euros will be a bigger threat to the US than any nuclear weapon. Saddam found out the hard way after trying it in 2000, and Iran is about to do it again!
If the US$ is no longer the global standard for payment, and China and the ME choose the Euro..WE ARE SO SCREWED!

[depakid]

4. Petrodollars compound the problem in the states

but have nothing to do with the fact that production has passsed peak (and prices are rising even in other countries with healthy currencies).

That's the root problem, and it isn't going away (unlike Americans' wasteful lifestyles, which surely are- one way or another).

[Hannah Bell]

6. >>production has passsed peak

>>In other words, output will never increase again.<<

Then what's this?

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/cfapps/STEO_Query/steotables.cfm?periodType=Annual&startYear=2005&startMonth=1&endYear=2009&endMonth=12&tableNumber=6


Total world production

2005: 84.63
2006: 84.60
2007: 84.64

Forecast

2008: 87.24
2008: 88.49