Tell me your opinion: Is governments across the world "milking" tapped oil reserves?
398827
Hybrid is such a waste of time, being that it still uses massive amounts of gas while just prolonging the inevitable. \n\nThe only reason we're not investing everything we have into creating an alternative to oil, is that Bush and his cronies make massive amounts of money when oil is used.
461013
the gas companies have greedy businessmen behind them milking this for all it's worth.  they are lying to the public, and making record profits!!!  its disgusting.  no one in this government will take a stand on this.  i think that they don't want to bite the hand that feeds them(money)!!!
642189
Well, our liberal politicians apparently want us dependant on foreign oil.\n\nWe have not been able to build or increase a refinery in the U.S. in 30 years, thanks to liberal legislation.  We lost a refinery recently in New Orleans.  That means we have less refining capabilities than we did 30 years ago.  Do you think we have less demad for oil?  Of course, the liberal socialists will try to tell you that supply vs. demand has no effect on the price of gas, and the liberal sheeple will believe anything they are told by them.\n\nWe also have  tons of oil that we could be drilling in our country, and on our shores.  China is drilling off the coast of Florida (or should I say Cuba), but we are not allowed to, because the liberals want you to believe the earth will look like the exxon valdez spill.  Of course its ok to drill elsewhere, apparently the earth isn't important in other countries.\n\nFact is, there are environmentally safe ways to drill for oil these days.  But the libs don't want anything good to happen to this country unless one of their socialist representatives are in office.  It's no wonder why they have so little support.\n\n----------------------\n\nThere is no doubt that we need other, cleaner sources for oil.  However, that will take a long time, and we need power sources now.  Take advantage of our resources now, while we are working on other methods.
764132
Yes of course it is. Since oil was discovered in the middle east we have been trying to get our hands on it. There is a reason these people hate us and it isnt for our freedoms or our religious beliefs, or their religous beliefs.  Especially not that oil is running out.
164321
the government is so stuipid. it went to Iraq to rob oil, but each barrel of petrol cost 3 times its price just to steal it;)\nI wonder when will US stop wars. or at least to stop washing our brains that we have a great future. \ni think we get that amount when the currency falls .when  you can buy one coca cola for 1000$
754845
By now i think every one is as riled up for their own cause as it gets,  some of us are tired of the same old attack adds as we see very little real differences in those running since they all authorise attack and mudd slinging, its like chose the lesser of two evils. I made my decisions a couple of months ago on all the issues. While gas prices may influence some only history will tell if it was connected to the elections or not. I think OPEC looks for excuses to exploit us, anyway.
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.
676011
oil not gasoline. according to this blogger, yes\n\nSen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, is demanding that the Commerce Department release detailed reports on which companies are exporting U.S. oil, how much and where it went.\n\nLast year the nation exported 268 million barrels of oil. Shockingly, according to Dept. of Energy figures, that's about equal to the amount of oil we imported from Iraq in 2001, the year before our latest war with that country began. It's also about equal to the most optimistic guesses about production volume from ANWR, if drilling is allowed there.\n\nIn other words, if we simply held onto our own oil, the United States would have no oil interest in Iraq at all. And it would also negate any perceived need to disturb an irreplaceable wildlife refuge in the search for oil.\n\nBut the Commerce Department refused to provide the detail Wyden wants, saying it could only be released to a Congressional committee, not an individual representative. The agency also claims federal law forbids disclosure unless a finding is made that withholding the information contradicts national interests. That sounds like hogwash to me.\n\nWyden's request is of significant interest for two more reasons. First, it is likely that if oil drilling is approved in ANWR, much of that oil will be exported to Asia rather than sold in the U.S. Secondly, the more obvious reason is that every motorist and politician who can warm a chair is concerned about the nation's growing dependence on imported oil. It would seem to contradict our economic and political interests to worsen this imbalance by selling off our own supplies.\n\nIn a letter sent Monday to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, Wyden demanded release of the information, calling it "directly relevant to the coming Congressional debate on how to address our nation's dependence on imports of oil and other petroleum products."\n\nI'd call that an understatement. But Wyden faces an uphill battle to get a committee to demand the numbers. Though Wyden is a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, it and all other Congressional committees are controlled by Republicans. And as we've seen, Republicans these days aren't very interested in facts, especially if those facts contradict their agenda.
1123322
Yes.\n\nThe largest reserves are found in the Middle East.  Saudi Arabia has the larges proved oil reserves at 160 billion barrels.  The other Persian Gulf countries of Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait also have some of the largest reserves in the world.  \n\nThe United States originally had a fairly large endowment of oil, much of which was located in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Alaska.  However, the U.S. has already consumed about 2/3 of this original amount making it the largest cumulative producer of oil.  \n\nThe western nations of Venezuela and Mexico also have substantial oil reserves.  In Europe, Russia has the largest oil reserves at 49 billion barrels.  Much of this is located around the Caspian Sea.  The United Kingdom also holds large reserves in the North Sea off the shore of Great Britain.  Other African countries such as Nigeria, Libya, and Algeria also have small amounts of oil reserves.
652905
The last I looked an organization called OPEC decides what they sell oil for; so how you can you say we loot the middle east?  We pay for the products we purchase, and not once have we used our military to secure assets.  Looting is a poor choice of words.  If you live in another nation we buy products from - get your government or companies to charge more for it - but recognize our companies will just buy it cheaper somewhere else.
966233
Yes, i realize that, since the US has sooo much oil in their reserves, seriously, they do.  Also, Alaska has an unfathomable amount of oil, the fair tax thing should be implemented though
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?!?'
1152081
global oil conglomerates aka the cookie monster, greed at it's most BASIC element.  The internal combustion engine has been obsolete since the 1950s.  Oil companies this year have set record profits, so much so  that the US government is  trying to figure out what to do about it.  Renewable energies equates to no profits these companies will sooner shove oil down our throats(WW III) rather than to allow renewable energies to become main stream.  Look for the US government to lead the world into a global government!!!!!
263132
No, but maintaining the security of the oil supply has been a priority for every administration since cars, trucks and planes became essential to our economy. It would be very foolish not to have this concern, or to allow hostile powers to control too much of the world's oil supply. \n\nThis sort of question is usually asked in reference to the allegation that the current war in Iraq is due to an intention by this administration to control oil. There are several things wrong with this theory. \n1. other countries have high interests in oil supply as well, but they are not involved in the war. For example: prior to this war, the primary customer for Iraqi oil was France. \n2. The US need for oil now is about the same as it has been for some time. This war would have occurred in the 1970s if oil is all it is about. \n3. Controlling oil is an exceptionally simplistic view of the reasons the war occurred. It paints the war in very negative terms having to do with money and greed and corporations, which are reasons much easier to attack than if the war is about more complex issues such as safety, democracy, international politics, etc... \n4. A much more likely reason for the war is that the entire middle east has significant problems which have been spilling out onto other parts of the world for many years. It took a major spillover like 9/11 to push the US to the point where they felt they had to do something.
1182403
While there are some subsidies for oil or service companies overseas, there aren't any here in the States.  In fact, a large reason the deficit shrunk last year was due to corperate taxes on oil companies.  That coupled with the 18 cent sales tax on gas generates huge revenues for the government.  It's true.
1181308
No, neither directly nor indirectly.  One must recognize a number of things.\n\n1.  The federal government alone, via the taxpayers, is funding the war in Iraq.\n\n2.  The federal government does not control the quantity or price or oil or gasoline.  Even if our government was to release every barrel in every reserve in the country for public consumption, that oil wouldn't last even two months.  Any attempts of the government to control or manipulate gas prices would be to lower them, and historically, the U.S. government has proven unable to affect any but the smallest of changes in gas prices.\n\n3.  The war has not reduced our oil supply.  While insurgents temporarily halted oil production in Iraq at the war's onset, most delays lasted weeks, not months, and have long since been remedied.  Both OPEC and independent oil producers around the globe increased production throughout the war, if not because they wanted to help the U.S. out, then to take advantage of record oil prices, due exclusively to demand.
318704
Only if you are the country that is sanctioned. over all the world economy is able to absorb enough of the lost produces.  well except when it comes to Oil.