Why do Americans not understand Supply and Demand when it comes to oil?
364830
Americans understand it all too well.  When one is demanding 30 to 50 gallons or more per week and only has a limited supply of cash, one tends to get a bit cantankerous.
363841
China and India have drove the crude oil demand up.\nDemocraps and Environmental wackos have stymied oil exploration & refining.\nKatrina still has some of the gulf refineries not fully operational.\nEnviromental wackos have demanded numerous types of gasoline blends that add costs to the process.\nOPEC has not increased crude oil supply.\nThe federal and state gov'ts are getting 50 cents to 1 dollar tax on every gallon of gasoline.  \n\nAnd that's my 2 cents.
68364
it's about oil, because we depend on the oil for our livelihood. It is defintely not right, and we as americans should not think we are better than others just because we are americans. But to answer your question, this administration decided to take the oil instead of negotating for it. They did this because Fmr. Pres. Hussein is not really interested in negotiating with the U.S. But the administration knows without steady oil supplies the United States would be in dire straits, so we just took it illegally.
639864
Hey kid - get used to it.  Libs/Dims will never answer a straight forward question with a straight forward response.  \n\nJust expect vile and vitriol from the vacuous region between their ears.  \n\nSince today was  the letter "V" day on Sesame Street, I thought I would give you libs the opportunity to learn a few more.\n\nBYW answer to your question  price=supply/demand.  Simple math, nothing more, nothing less.  \n\nI suppose liberals want to save the oil so one day we can have what, an organic deposit zoo. I apologize for their ignorance and insults
469357
the problem is that people don't understand the difference between profit and profit margins.  When the cost of Oil (a tradeable commodity) doubles, oil companies will pay twice as much for oil and their cut becomes bigger (twice as big in fact)
317663
its mere speculation, \n\nthere is just no economics in the way oil prices are moving..there is no supply problem as of now..but still u can see this surge//\n\nthe prices are news based and manipulated, another interesting observation is that since US plan on IRAN is now more real and around the corner..u knw wat i mean..
1010324
I don’t see why it is so difficult for people to understand that entering Iraq had nothing to do with oil.  Just looking at the known oil reserves within the control of North America, then adding to that know deposits of shale oil, then adding to that the known deposits of sand oil in Canada, then looking at the known reserves of oil in South America, we have enough oil to exceed 200 years or more of demand.  We have enough coal reserves (which can be converted into a form of crude oil) to cover at least 200 years from that resource.  None of this takes into consideration oil developed from renewable biomass, or ethanol or hydrogen generated from renewable biomass or wind powered electrical generation.  The fact is the Americas do not need oil from other parts of the world for at least 500 years.\n\nIn addition, oil from Iraq to the United States was very small if any at all prior to the war, and there is none now coming from Iraq and none required after the war.
965674
The global economy is heading into a period called PEAK OIL. This means that we've reached the halfway point in terms of oil production. While there is still roughly 1 trillion barrels of oil left we will enter a period of declining returns. This means that once we reach the peak (nowish, 2010 at the longest) the world will pump out steadily less and less oil every year. This is catastrophic and will shake the foundations of our economy. We need approx 86million B of oil per day. This number gets higher and higher every year as the global economy expands, particularly with the white hot growth and demand from China and India. Pruduction will fall and demand will go up. Prices will skyrocket and there will be shortfalls as the gap widens between the oil available and demand for it. We have already seen the price of oil skyrocket from the low teens a few years back to close to 80. Its happening.\n\nWho will get the oil? The US reached their peak way back in 1970 and have steadily declined since. Now they are importing oil at increasing rates. They are aware of peak oil and need to secure sources for the future. They've done this by force. They are currently building massive military bases in the 2 best areas for oil reserves. (Approx 14 permanent massive bases in Iraq)The middle east, and Afghanistan which is on the doorstep of central asia where massive reserves are located. \n\nThis is why Iraq and Afghanistan were invaded. The US will be able to determine who gets whats left of the most valuable resource on the planet as oil reserves hit a steady decline. The rest is smoke and mirrors.\n\n-could the person that gave me a thumb down. Please post an intelligent rebuttal rather than a thumb down. I'm am shocked at how any educated person could have read what I wrote, then briefly pause in thought before clicking on 'thumb down?!?'
168492
The God Damn Oil Crisis!!!!!!!!\n\nWe are Gas Hungry!!!!!!!!\n\nWe use way to much compared to the rest of the world.\n\nGas brings up everything we buy@!!!
1015526
There is no agreement on how much oil there is. Therefore, 'peak oil' is a meaningless concept.  Besides, the US media is only interested in attacking their political opponents.  They couldn't care less about facts.
378121
Because Liberals are gonna be like "oooh!!! You're so selfish!!"  \n \nDuh-we NEED that oil.  Are people brain-dead?  Can you imagine all the lay-offs there would be in the airlining business?  Or the overall economy of the U.s?  ANd they already won't let us drill up in Alaska (I love seals and polar bears...but...)
285676
The U.S Government has nothing to do with the price of oil.  Oil prices are controled by OPEC. (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is an International Organization made up of eleven oil producing nations.\n\nOPEC’s mission is to coordinate & unify the petroleum policies of Member Countries & ensure the stabilization of oil prices in order to secure an efficient, economic & regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers & a fair return on capital to those investing in the petroleum industry.\n\nVariations in gasoline prices are not due to differences in crude prices, but to widely varying levels of taxation in the major consuming nations... an example of this would be in Canada where on every litre of gas sold, almost 40% of that goes to the government.
284801
The demand for oil sets the price. Oil companies aren't responible with their power given the history of Hurrican Katrina they made a record billions of dollars in profit over this disaster.
586157
Fill your tanks only half full uneless you need to make a long trip.You do not need to stock Bush's & Cheeny's gas on your shelf.This will cost the oil company's $3000,000,000.00 a day and will leave only half the room in the supply tanks To but in new gas.The tankers will be stacked off the coast trying to unload.I remember coffee going to $5.00 a pound in the seventys.People stopped buying and in two weeks the price was down to $1.50 a pound.Lets go Amercians the power is in your purse's and wallets "Let's Roll"
337234
The answer to most of the US's problems is our dependency on oil.  Not only for automotive fuel but also for energy generation and heating.  We need to find cheaper and more efficient ways to handle these issues and soon.
1089171
apresocratic,\nRawk on, man!  I want what you're on...\n\nAdrian,\nYes, there are barriers in the U.S. government that are slowing the transition down.  However, keep in mind that big Oil companies are actually evolving into big Energy companies, buying into whatever will lead our future markets.  Everyone knows Oil is a time bomb waiting to go off and die out.  There's no reason not to encourage alternative fuel sources.\n\nAt the same time, we'll never be 100% off of foreign oil before it's gone, but that doesn't mean we can't get consumption down to a respectable number so that fluctuations in price stop having an immediate impact on our economy.
246691
It is supply side economics it has never worked but the conservative agenda is to force it on us. If you have a pile of boxes and you want to move them if you pick up the top box all you move is the top box if you lift from the bottom all the boxes move up, including the top box. Their policy on oil is a bit suspect to, with the higher prices for fuel it will raise the price of everything to cover the cost of transporting the commodity's from factory to store.