How much do you think the oil industry lobbies the government for NASA?
118034
I agree with you, unfortunately the oil industry has a lot of money and well you know how that goes. Currently there are several research and development programs going on relating to alternative energy sources. Examples are Methane, ethanol, and hydrogen.  Keep you fingers crossed that one of these experimental energy resources hits pay dirt.
386333
some of it is necessary since the PEC nations are not sending us as much oil as before, but i'd say most is gouging. The easiest way to convince lawmakers would be to vote them out of office in the next elections. if they know their seat will be replaced if they don't solve the problem, im pretty sure we will see more action on their part.
101318
I work in the oil industry as a geologist and I can wholeheartedly say we use DOE research results all the time. From my experience I believe that the DOE has made a significant enough contribution to things like secondary oil recovery methods and reservoir characterization to have paid for the studies it has done many times over in increased tax revenues from oil production. They are saving you from paying more taxes, not wasting your money.\n\nUnfortunately, studies like fracture research and enhanced tertiary recovery of oil, or basin center gas don't make very good press releases because few people understand what they are about. Methanol and hydrogen do get good press (and to be fair the work is useful to industry), so this is what you hear about unless you deal with DOE directly. Don't listen to the politicians who are only pandering to the public with buzzwords they think will generate votes.\n\nHere's an example of a less than press-worthy product from DOE:\nhttp://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2006/06003-Supercement_Applied_Successfully.html
1008919
Do not count on the repuglican party or their illustrious dictator to change anything as they are invested in oil and are profiting by it every day. In answer to your question, yes we do need a super human effort like the space program. We also need to use what we know to minimize the use of fossil fuels, nuclear, renewable, wind, solar, there are many ways to generate energy that we do not use.
967853
Alternative fuels and they will call the oil industry into Congress again for a "stern talking to..." not that it will help.  Oil industry rises and falls on the price of oil, plain and simple.
892243
Maybe I am just being naive but it would seem to me that if it was about oil that we would have a lot more troops over there protecting the pipelines. I mean wouldn't that make sense?
719477
I would have to say yes. As an avid amateur astronomer the search for knowledge is always a good thing. After all, the Hubble still has a few good years left in it, but they won't upgrade it (I think it's a mirror, that was made specifically for it, and it's still sitting on earth because NASA wants to scrap the Hubble). Mind you, I could be wrong about NASA's decision, since I heard it was going to change and they would be upgrading after all. As for us willing to spend the money, sure. After all, our tax dollars are being wasted elsewhere. I honestly believe the individual should decide where the majority of their own tax dollars are spent.
173254
i work for the govt and i am a financial manager for NASA research. we get most of our funds from congressional adds and private researchers. the rest of it is from different institutions needing to know the information for a current or future program.\n\nthanks,\n\nryan\n\nair force research labs.
533786
The government makes far more considering the fact that they're not the ones that have to do the drilling, refining, transporting, pumping, filtering, etc.\n\nThey simply sit back with their hand out.
400589
Yes.\n\nThe US Government regulates every business to some extent. Minimum wage, Social Security, Unemployment tax, are all government regulations that dampen the economy.  In addition to this, look at the way they abuse the oil companies.  You think Gas prices are high?  Don't blame the oil companies, look at the US Government.  For the process that crude oil goes through to be gasoline, gas is relatively cheap.  Now, when you start adding environmental regulations that are based on paranoia and not fact, all of a sudden, there are a thousand different additives to the fuel depending on where you are in the country.  This drives the cost up.  The US Government constantly falls victim to the environmentalist wackos, and forbids oil companies from drilling in the Gulf of Mexico or Alaska, as well as forbidding them from building more refineries.  Add all of that together, and gasoline should be a lot more expensive than it is.  Take all of that away, and gas is fifty cents per gallon. \n\nThe oil companies are the best example of Government regulation gone wrong.  Look at it this way, whenever the government steps in and tells a business that they must do something or face penalty of law, that is over-regulation.  Another recent example in Maryland, I think, the government has passed a law that says that any company with over X employees MUST provide benefits for it's employees.  The law was directed at Wal-Mart, because Wal-mart happened to be the only business around that fell into that catagory.  Under the law, if they failed to provide benefits to it's employees, they must pay the difference to the government.  More politicians sticking their faces into places they shouldn't be, just to satisfy some voters.\n\nIf you need more, feel free to ask.
1085158
we only produce 25 percent of what we use they claim so we get it from other allied countries. its bought alot cheaper than you think. the government pays less than half you see at the pumps for regular. there is enough oil and natural gas in the appalation mountains to last 2,000 years. there are other secret sites but they won't touch it as we would be paying 10 cents a gallon. the more they claim we don't have, the more profit they make. they don't want the easy route. it was discovered that we had so much excess oil athat many empty wells were being used to store it secretly, but they got caught to some point. the oil giants control the government.
380150
As much as we ALLOW it to be. That's right, the price IS controlled by the citizens of this country and the amount of abuse they tolerate before standing up and fighting for what is right. Is it right that we as tax paying citizens must work as hard as we do just to buy more fuel to take us to work so that we can pay more taxes and buy more fuel? Enough is enough. The oil companies made BILLIONS in profits last year. How much did you make?
228192
The race to put a man on the mood was political.  Back when the US landed a man on the moon, the cold war with Russia was at it's peak.  Once we landed on the moon, we realized there was no significance to it.  I think we did Russia a favor by proving there was no reason to go there in the first place.  But it helped American pride and status to be the ones to get there first.\n\nWe invaded Iraq to control resources.  Oil fields are shut down because it's actually cheaper to import oil from the Middle East and then STEAL oil from Iraq than to pump oil here in North America and actually have to admit that fuel prices should be cheaper.  What do you think is better for oil companies?  Pumping American oil and selling at reasonable prices OR Claiming that oil prices are high and getting free or cheap Middle East oil with record retail prices to the consumer?  \n\nYes we have had some good presidents..but Bush and his family have strong ties to the oil industry.  \nShame to say..men of wisdom and stature are remarkable..but men of money are powerful.
350224
The leading company in the field is Archer Daniels Midland (ADM).  Yes, it might be a good investment if they can get real financial support from Washington.  Unfortunately, Congress and the White House can't screw a bottle cap on when it comes to energy policy.  The good news is that GM is making more cars that run on the E-85 alternative fuel, and higher gas prices are likely to chase car buyers toward those kinds of cars.  The ultimate problem right now with E-85 is supply.  They just can't make enough of it to supply the country from coast to coast.  It's a speculative play based on whether you feel that the government is likely to act or not.
664578
Convince the usa government that theres vast amounts of oil to be had
543739
i wouldn't expect anyone in the oil business to do anything to change the industry (although bush HAS passed a law stating that government vehicles must be equipped to use ethanol as an alternate fuel). it is really up to americans to change what they use, because the oil industry is entrenched and will not check themselves -- business just doesn't work that way. republicans hate to have government make the people do anything, so the likelihood of us passing laws such as those in Brazil are slim to none. I am personally just going to buy a flex car and run it on ethanol. No more petroleum fuel for me. E85 is produced without the use of petro-products, is home-grown, and is cleaner and better for the car anyway and the same price and soon to be less.
581998
I think everyone except the oil companies would welcome another source of fuel.farmers will definately benefit from it as there would be an opportunity to farm the crops to provide the oils.