Opinion on why Democrats want nationalized oil
June 19, 2008
Watch the videos, especially the ones where politicians and political commentators (who happen to all be Democrats) suggest that we should nationalize the oil industry. Now why would anyone think that is a good idea? Would it be a good thing for the country? Has it helped the security lines at the airport? Or the lines at the DMV or the Senate Cafeteria (which recently was supposed to go private by decree of Diane Feinstein)? If it’s good enough for the Senate Cafeteria, why is free enterprise NOT good enough for our oil industry?
We have a theory. Federalizing the oil industry can NOT be good for America. So why would anyone propose it other than they are ignorant about economics? Let’s ask a few questions then.
- If we nationalize the oil industry (or any industry for that matter) who will run it?
Answer: bureaucrats, the same ones who hold up passports or immigation papers. - Who would these bureaucrats be beholden to?
Answer: the federal government. And nothing creates loyalty like secure jobs and endless benefits. - How then do you think these bureaucrats would vote, Republican or Democrat?
Answer: if you depended on the federal government for your income, how would you vote? Maybe you already do! Our government’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product keeps growing every year because government jobs keep growning. Adding OIL jobs to the payroll would be HUGE for Democrats. So why would you vote for a politician that is going to close down your office?
This is not about what’s best for the Democratic or Republican party. This is about what’s best for our country! As our government gets bigger and bigger and more and more people are beholden to government jobs, benefits and entitlements, the closer we come to the tipping point. Once people can vote themselves gifts from the public treasury (including government jobs), government will have no choice but to print money to pay the bills, thus lowering the value of the dollar. We’ve seen it happening NOW! And once we go bankrupt, the country will topple and tyranny will take over. We’re seeing it today as politicians act like mavericks in how they vote and judges ignore the will of the people as they overturn decisions we have made at the ballot boxes. It’s happening, folks.
Granted this opinion piece is a little off the topic of lowering gas prices. But this issue is HUGE in that there’s something we can do today to make some changes. Like the immigration bill we pushed back, politicians (in fear of losing their cushy jobs) will start to take notice. So let’s keep the heat on!
McCain becomes a hero by suggesting we lift bans on oil drilling
June 18, 2008
Surprising as it sounds, John McCain made the news today by suggesting we lift the bans on offshore drilling to help lower gas prices. The North Carolina GOP newsletter today pointed to an editorial in the Politico that suggested John McCain was playing with “hot water” regarding supporting offshore drilling.
How can anyone who supports energy independence in a day and age where $5 a gallon gasoline is fast becoming a reality can be in hot water is a mystery to us. The article suggests that politically he could be in trouble with Florida and California if he takes this position, but in California the prices of gas are getting to the point that voters might be more receptive to a guy who suggests a solution rather than a guy who suggests… well, staying the course is about how I would describe it.
For years we have been held hostage by the environmental left to the point that now most of our oil comes from other countries. Canada is our biggest supplier while Venezuela, OPEC, China and others add to the mix. What has this policy gotten us? Look at the pump! And what does Obama and Democrats want? More of the same. They actually seem to believe that we can conserve our way out of this… but not if our country continues to grow. Thus we continue to outpace any gain we make in conservation efforts we make. Not even EVERYONE driving Toyota Prius cars will get us out of this one. It’s time to act, and frankly, we’re impressed that McCain has been so bold as to part with his buddies on the left.
Here is the link to the editorial. An excerpt follows below:
By calling for an end to the federal ban on offshore oil drilling, John McCain is placing a risky bet. He is wagering that skyrocketing gas prices have finally reached a tipping point, a threshold moment that has led voters to rethink their strong and long-held opinions against coastal oil exploration.
The stakes couldn’t be higher: If he is wrong, McCain will have seriously damaged his chances in two key states with thousands of miles of coastline — California and Florida — and where opposition to offshore oil drilling has been unwavering. And he will have undermined some of his closest political allies in those states and others, including potential fall battlegrounds such as Virginia and North Carolina.
High gas prices is a non-partisan issue…
June 17, 2008
So why is it that only the Republicans are coming up with solutions while Democrats are dragging their feet? I have an idea. It’s called special interests. Environmentalism is one of the biggest interests that is currently controlling the political climate, so much so that is has become big business.
True, the movement has caused people to think about the way they waste energy, and we think that’s a good thing. It has caused many people to consider energy alternatives like wind and solar, and we think that is also a good thing. It has caused the auto industry to develop new technologies like hybrids, all electric or hydrogen cars, and we think this is a good thing as well.
But until these new technologies take over and perhaps eliminate the need for oil, but the need is still there. And it’s not getting any smaller. As our population grows the demands escalate. Since environmentalists won’t let us develop nuclear energy, possibly one of the most effective alternatives to coal fired electric plants and one of the least polluting, what are our choices? But let’s go back to the gasoline issue.
Republicans have seen the public’s will changing dramatically. Choosing between being “green” at the expense of high gas prices is not acceptable to a country that drives… everywhere, and new polls show it. Our produce is shipped by 18 wheel tractor trailers as is merchandise for retailers thus raising the price of goods and services. Corn and other grains are being turned to ethanol because politicians continue to avoid facing the oil crisis, and this has driven food prices ever higher. People are just not going to stand for it. Eventually there’s going to be a revolt!
Let’s look at the GOOD that would come from dilling for our own oil, and then ask questions about who would be for and who would be against it:
- JOBS – opening up oil exploration would bring jobs to this country. While unemployment is very low, who is it that says they are for the worker? Republican or Democrat? Who is against drilling? Republican or Democrat? Who is proposing solutions to bring down oil prices? Republican or Democrat?
- DOMESTIC ENERGY – Does something cost less if it is in scarcity or if it is in abundance? (Answer: abundance) Would drilling provide more or less oil? (Answer: more) Who is for drilling? Republican or Democrat? Who is against big oil? Republican or Democrat? Who thinks oil companies are making windfall profits? Republicans or Democrats?
- COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES – Everything is related in economics. If gas costs more, transportation costs more. In order to make enough money to stay in business, the companies have to charge more. Sometimes employees are hurt because companies have to cut back to make it profitable enough to stay in business (see JOBS above). Who is telling us that oil companies are making windfall profits? Republican or Democrat? Who really is making the profit for doing nothing? Republicans AND Democrats! But who is proposing a solution? Republicans or Democrats?
- OLD FAILED POLICIES – While politicians keep talking about change and hope, where is the hope if we continue to follow the same failed energy policies that Republicans AND Democrats have been pushing since the ’60′s at the start of the environmental movement? Everyone’s to blame here, and we need NEW leadership to bring us out of it, regardless of their party affiliation.
Look at the quiz above and see which party shows up the most often. These people are the enemy of LOW GAS PRICES and should be blamed.
It is for the new ideas that FedUpNetwork was founded. We realize that Federal policies on everything from soup to nuts run by the NUTS in Washington is NOT the answer and anyone who says it is is NUTS! We chose to start with the gas issue because if we focus (like we did with the illegal immigration bill and let our feelings be known over the din of special interests) we can pressure government to solve this problem so we can move on to any number of other issues… like out of control judges, for one.
Join us now and go to our Action page. Sign on to any number of the petitions and/or fax campaigns that are there in an effort to bring down gas prices TODAY!
San Francisco real estate website plugs FedUpNetwork!
June 16, 2008
We alwas appreciate it when others notice our work. In this case, a San Francisco real estate website, SFResidence, has mentioned us in its blog post today about the reason for the Bay Area’s high gas prices compared to the rest of the country.
Liberals and Conservatives are getting fed up with high gas prices!
June 16, 2008
We found this blog today that we think is worth mentioning. They are talking about high gas prices and who is to blame for it. Our editor made his own contribution. Read the article here along with the comments. It starts out like this…
Everyone likes to complain about the price of gas. Gas Prices are at record highs. What can the US do about it? What can US consumers do about it? This is the 3rd article in a multi-part series on gas prices in the United States…
Telling the truth about high gas prices
June 13, 2008
As our initial attack on the enemies of lower gas prices becomes successful, we will begin to branch out to other areas that we feel are out of control. But for now, we are focusing on high gas prices and ways to get them to come down.
Most economists believe that supply and demand affect prices. So the more there is of something the less it will cost. When plasma TVs were a new thing there were very few of them produced and the prices were astronomical. But once everyone got into the act of producing them and new technology was developed along with finding places where it was cheaper to build them, prices started to drop. Everyday, their cost is lower than it was the day before because they are now in such great supply.
Ten years ago, Bill Clinton had a chance to open up drilling in ANWR and decided to declare an executive order to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge which made it off limits to oil exploration. Ten years later, a representative said that even if we started drilling now, it would take ten years before we would start seeing the effects… Kind of makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Opponents of drilling say the small amount would hardly make a difference. So what, then we do nothing? Some’s still better than none.
I have to admit. Several years ago I knew very little about ANWR so early this year I went to their website managed by the US Fish and Wildlife service to find a contact and get some answers. What I learned was eye opening. The fact is that visitor numbers over the past 20 years have remained relatively stable at about 1200-1500 visitors a year, mostly hunters, fishermen and recreational (?) visitors. We’re talking about an area that is about 19 MILLION acres deemed off limits to human development. Fox News reported in 2005 when Congress was proposing to drill there:
Some perspective is helpful to understand the ecological insignificance of ANWR drilling. ANWR comprises 19 million acres in Northeast Alaska, 17.5 million of which are totally off-limits to drilling or any other kind of economic activity. This is why the news footage showing beautiful snowcapped mountains is misleading, because the drilling would not be allowed anywhere near those areas.
Only the flat and featureless coastal plain would be affected, and even there only a small portion of its 1.5 million acres. The current version of the bill limits the surface disturbance to 2,000 acres, a small piece of a big coastal plain in a very big wildlife refuge in the biggest state in the Union.
So the fact is that we have been lied to by people with an agenda. Why would anyone want to do this? You can come to your own conclusions, but drilling would bring jobs to the US, particularly Alaska (a state that needs them!). That’s a good thing, right? On the positive side of the ledger put DOMESTIC JOB CREATION.
We could get 10 billion barrels of oil, and as we pointed out above, increased supply will lower gas prices. On the positive side of the ledger put LOWER GAS PRICES.
By drilling for our own oil, we would not be held hostage by an anti-US middle east (OPEC) that increases and decreases its oil production at will to manipulate the oil prices. On the positive side of the ledger put ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.
Opponents say, “we shouldn’t be using gas at all and find alternative sources.” How’s that working for ethanol? Thanks to this horrible policy of using food to create fuel to use in automobiles, there are now grain shortages which are causing food prices to quickly rise. So not only can we no longer afford to drive to the supermarket, but we can’t afford to buy food once we do get there! And I don’t know about you, but I look around and all the automobiles and trucks I see still use the internal combustion engine. That means petroleum… and LOTS OF IT!
