Solutions for Energy?

                How ‘bout we stop poking ourselves in the eye then complain that OPEC, Halliburton and Exxon are causing our blindness? I ran into a nut job at the gas station yesterday who was talking (very loudly) at me across the lane from his pump.

                He was quite miffed at the price of gas, and his biggest complaint? George Bush is making millions off of oil prices and we are getting screwed. He then went on to ridicule the idea of drilling in Alaska or offshore while at the same time complaining that we aren’t using the strategic petroleum reserve to lower prices.

                He finished his rant with, ‘supply and demand, my friend, supply and demand!’

Huh?

First of all, the blame for the current energy crisis can be laid squarely at the feet of the US government, aided and abetted by environmental lobbies and the apathy of the average US Citizen. Over thirty years ago, we stopped building refineries, started capping domestic oil wells, and began to systematically declare gigantic swaths of American soil ‘off-limits’ to development or natural resource harvesting.

We did it all in the name of ‘caring’ for the environment. Plus, at the time, oil was cheaper to buy from other countries and producers because the price per barrel was so low. Now, with the price so high, it is more economically feasible to uncap some of our domestic production wells and pump from them.

Fifteen years ago, we could have started the process of drilling in ANWR, and we would be reaping the benefits of that added supply today. During that same time period, we could have been drilling and pumping from the Gulf of Mexico and off the shores of California, and now today with the world crisis, we would be reaping the benefits of that added supply today.

Now, we find that there is an oil field that is larger than the Saudi oil field and it is sitting right smack-dab in the middle of the good ole’ USA. We can begin TODAY the process of preparing to drill, pump, and refine our own huge oil reserve and in 10-15 years, be reaping the benefits of this huge added supply.

You see, the truth of the matter is, that supply and demand is an economic principle that is immutable. (that means it cannot move or change, it’s just true – always true) My addled friend at the gas station understood that the greater the supply, the lower the price, and the higher the demand, the higher the price, but he missed the point of which supply to pursue.

Not only would the amount of oil in the strategic petroleum reserve be a drop in the bucket for our demand, but it would deplete needed resources if there were a crisis situation, like world war, domestic attack, or another natural disaster like Katrina. So, not enough supply there and for the worng reasons. Sorry, Gas-Station Nutjob.

We recently asked the Saudi government to increase the SUPPLY of oil on the market to bring down the price. We were rebuffed twice, and prices continued to soar. Can you imagine a world where it mattered very little what a Middle Eastern monarchy did or did not do, it couldn’t affect our economy OR the gas price? I sure can!

If we were pumping our own supply of oil into newly-built and technologically upgraded refining facilities, we would have greater control over prices, over supply to meet the demand, and would be more secure in a world that is just watching and waiting to see us fall.

So, why won’t we? Why aren’t the environmentalists picketing the oil fields of Saudi Arabia, of Venezuela, of Iran, Mexico, or Nigeria? Why are they content to allow all these oil-producing nations to pollute their own environments? I mean, aside from the obvious reason that they would be beaten or shot in all those places for interfering with the government’s work. (interesting tactic, though)

I have to say, that the only glimmer of hope I have had this last year is Newt Gingrich’s new slogan: Drill here, Drill now, Pay less. To which I can only add a hearty AMEN!  

And finally, I’m sorry, George Bush is not making millions off of oil or gasoline prices. He’s doing it in a blind trust with investments and work he did BEFORE he became President. I hope when his term is up he goes right back to Texas and gets back into the oil business. We could sure use some more….