Do you believe that  US can reduce the American dependence on Middle East crude imports from the region by 75%
104435
If we drill off shore, everglades, Alaska, and everywhere the treehuggers are forcing us to stay out of yes
797971
Yes there has.  Due to the falling price of wholesale crude on the international commodities market, OPEC announced an intent to cut back production of crude.  Further, as we head into winter months, heating oils and diesel fuel (for shipping of goods) has a spike in consumption.\n\nWhat this means is the volatility of the crude, fuel, gasoline, and heating oil markets are directly effected by the speculators on the market itself.  What you are seeing is a market response to speculator manipulation of the price.  It has nothing to do with the elections, just brokers and individual investors trying to make a quick buck.\n\nThe best response to this would be a massive investment in the ability of the US market to refine a greater quantity of our imported crude, and to explore even greater quantities of crude from domestic sources.
118212
Not at present as;\n\nA) IRAQ will now provide much of the oil the USA wants, at a price it likes. Therefore it can afford some disruption to oil supplies from Saudia Arabia - it won't cause panic buying in the US.\n\nB) The are easier targets which, if invaded/attacked, will restore US confidence in its armed forces and help get a Republican re-elected to the White House.\n\nNope - no attack on IRAN in the near future.
824469
I don't want to be dependant on foreign oil.  However, I also don't want to be dependant on foreign food or foreign manufacturing, and our globalist elite are sure trying to push us towards that scenario fast enough....
206517
Years ago, I thought, "What this country needs is a Presidential mandate to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil, the way Kennedy said 'Let's reach the Moon by 1970.'."\n\nThe problem is, eliminating our dependence on foreign oil isn't as romantic and adventurous as going to the Moon. But I'm glad the President finally did put it in those terms. \n\nWe have large oil reserves, why don't we use our own? Part of the reason is that our oil reserves are high-sulfur-content oil, while oil from other parts of the world have lower sulfur content. The sulfur content directly affects how much sulfur gets into the atmosphere, resulting in sulfur dioxides and acid rain. \n\nSo buying foreign oil has been a means of keeping pollution lower-- not low low, but lower than it would have been otherwise. \n\nWhat is going to happen with the new push to reduce or eliminate dependence on foregin oil? There will be many changes, these are just a few. \n\n1) There will be much more energy efficient cars, like the hybrids. These won't eliminate our need for oil and gas, you say? True, but they will reduce it. That is a step in the right direction,and only the first step.\n\n2) Biodiesel and fuel cell and solar. These will all be used, more and more as time goes on. \n\n3) Make electical power generation more efficient and make tools and apliances (industries and homes) that use less electricity. \n\n4) There will be an influx of students into the fields of chemistry and engineering and all the sciences. New energy sources and processes will be developed. And those are just the most obvious changes that will happen.\n\nSome people are dissatisfied with this, they would like to see the energy companies eliminated or reduced to poverty. In some cases, this may be due to jealousy of 'obscene' profits. But if American companies weren't making those profits, Arabian nations would be making those profits, so let's keep the wealth here where it enhances our own standard of living instead of someone else's. The energy companies are doing what companies do: providing goods and services that people want at a mutually-agreed-upon price.\n\nIf the people do not want to pay large prices for oil and gas, the oil companies will eventually have to adjust their prices if they want to stay in business. The above changes listed will cause this to happen:\n\n1) Reduced use of oil and gas by hybrids will require the manufacturers to seek new ways of producing it more economically. \n\n2) Competition from biodiesel, fuel cells and solar will compel the gasoline manufacturers to diversify or cut back on their operations. \n\n3) Reduced use of electricity will result in huge savings of oil and gas that would otherwise be burned to generate it.\n\n4) The influx of young students into the engineering fields will stimulate the growth and development of new technologies, leading to new industries. \n\n(Already, the Internet is saving huge amounts of fuel, because rapid communications leads to less need for transportation. This is a result that could not have been foreseen in the 60's when lots of students fell in love with space flight and science and technology.)\n\nThat great surplus of engineers led directly to the computer revolution because engineers are the working capital of innovation in industry. We could not have developed computers without the necessary engineering infrastructure and the personnel base. Now, hopefully, that will happen again. \n\nWe do not know what the Next Big Thing is going to be. But there will be one.\n\nIn addition to the economic situation here, there is the financial and political situation around the world to continue. America's enemies in oil-producing lands deserve to have their source of income cut off. Why should we pay them for oil when that moey is eventually used to attack us? Improving American independence from oil will hit them where they will feel it. And as the
223955
YES YES YES!\n\nThe only way to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil in the near future is to drill for more oil HERE!\n\nIf the tree huggers don't like it tell them to stop driving cars, using electricity and heating their homes so there is more oil for the rest of us.\n\n****\n\nHey Gonzo, If by conservation you mean saving every bug, animal and tree on the face of the earth so you can have a pretty view as you drive your SUV through the country yeah I've heard of that. If left up to you folks we’d all be living out in the woods singing kumbuya hugging the trees, eating mushrooms, berries and getting eaten by wolves and bears. \n\nThis nation needs energy. Currently our best source of energy comes from oil, coal and natural gas. Now, if you can come up with a better way to get those things out of the ground with out harming all of your bugs and trees I'd love to hear about it. After we're done pulling all the resources out, so you can be nice safe and warm in your home.  I'm all in favor of planting trees there, they do grow back you know...  As for me when I have to choose between heating my home and saving a tree or the squirrel that lives in that tree. The tree and the squirrel are going to loose every time.
640569
Same reason.\n\nThe US wants control (influence) of the entire oil-producing region, so that they can ensure a regular supply.\n\nIt's not about individual countries.
671361
I think we import a lot of oil from there, too.  It could be a win, win situation.  It will never happen, but I like the idea.  I think we should acquire Canada, too.  I KNOW we import a lot of oil from them...  It could be Bush's new plan to decrease our dependency on foreign oil!  It would definitely create new jobs!  We could even take them over by force... creating a need to PULL OUR TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ!!!!  \n\nI nominate you for president!  (I want a cabinet position, of course)
688473
get rid of oil dependency
36290
In 2004 US imported 2400 barrels of oil a day from the Persian Gulf.  Approximately 25% of the year's total.
463011
No, profits are the American way. I doubt you were even born when the oil companies were struggling back in the mid-seventies and early eighties. Aquisitions and mergers have made them some of the strongest American companies.\nThere are now more known oil reserves world wide than ever before. There is also more demand than ever before. Hence oil is over $72 per barrel. We could get all we need from the Canadian oil sand deposits and it would be cheap. But it is being shipped around the world.\nFigure that
671113
I think you may find that recent usa activity in the middle east is at least questionable in some countries.\nAnd this Iran thing now... \nYou could only hear muslims (don't get me wrong here) before, talking bad about america, now it's a global discussion...\nNo conclusion. Just thinking...\n\nI don't dislike americans. Have to go there and see what is this "new world" deal all about. lol.\nWhat's the best way to contact you? email me.
606266
Good question.  If it does, it will be for the oil, same as with Iraq.  Or at least, that is what it seems to most people in the world.
1152736
Don't kid yourselves people.  IT'S ALL OF US WHO ARE TO BLAME!!!  If you want to cut our nations dependence on oil, quit using so much of it!  Utilize public transportation, change out that SUV for a hybrid, or a more fuel economical vehichle.  Don't go to Wallmart every day, make your trip to the store only once a week.  Lower the heat in your house in the winter, don't run the AC so much in the summer.  It's all up to us.  I work in the oil field, and I tell you, the oil companies will continue to provide more and more oil at higher and higher prices until people quit the cycle.
1073624
55 gal...no, we're not running out anytime soon. Just be prepared for european style prices until people start carpooling to work and trading in hummers/SUV's.\n\nChina & India are buying crude/crude futures like crazy. Nigeria & Argentina aren't producing to capacity. Katrina damaged a lot of US rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. \n\nWe still produce around half of the crude(which we turn to gas) we use daily. We also have "strategic reserves" of crude which we keep for things like wars but use when supplies get tight.\n\nSo we either reduce our demand, pay higher prices, or start drilling in Alaska and off our coast. I carpool with a coworker in a Miata. S*rew those OPEC countries- conserve!!!!
355639
yes, and we are far behind other countries in mass transit. I used 10 percent Ethanol 10 years ago. Paid less for it than Gas. The oil companies took it off the market. If HisBushyness had any clue what was going on in America he could fix the problem with one executive order. That will not happen. He will not cut off the hand that feeds him. If he puts price caps in place and the supply goes up then the price will go down and that would stop his cash flow from the wealthy oil corporations who own Congress.
607862
Not in the near future.  It will continue to decrease for the forseeable future.  A decreasing US dollar will help our exports and support the US economy.