This November: What will be the bigger issue; the price of gas or the war in Iraq ?
607793
Aren't those two closely related? Political instability in the region is the leading factor in the high price of oil on the world market. With all this sabre rattling going on over Iran's nuke policy it's no wonder the price is up. I think the general incompetence of our Republican led congress (not to mention the level of corruption in ALL levels of government) and improving education in this country ought to be the real issues.
592877
I'm sorry this question is too mundane for me but I will answer it even though I will still get the two points anyway! If we look forward to the USA war machine to grind to a halt because of gasoline what do you think will happen to us?\n\nI guess you didn't have time to think about that did ya? Or course not when they run out of gasoline then we will be next. Everyone needs gasoline to move around from place to place. Now if you are only saying this because you want the war to stop then that is a different story but fat chance on that ever happening because they keep reserves for that kind of problem. Believe me the military is well prepared for the they double up on everything and I do mean everything.\n\nUnderstand we are all in the same boat together when it comes down to the price of gasoline and trust me the military is having there share too. But to be honest with you, I really think you should have thought this question out much more thoroughly before you presented it to us. Because you my friend are just speaking with giving a reason of intellect.
1075770
I think its neither. Its a "War for oil" or War for wealth.
424640
First, we'll start running out of it.  Prices will go up.  It will be more expensive to drive, and everything will cost more because it takes gas to ship stuff everywhere.  Airplane travel will skyrocket in price because planes use so much gas.\n\nSecond, there will probably be more wars over oil in the Middle East.  Saudi Arabia has so much oil- it seems like a likely target, either through inciting a civil war or from the outside.  The US will probably be involved in whatever war starts, because we need so much oil here and we have such a big military- we feel like we can take what we need without caring about the people who actually die for it.  China may also be involved in some of this conflict, for similar reasons- big military, huge oil consumption.\n\nThird, people's lives will start to change.  If oil is used up, people may start actually using the altnerative technologies we have available- wind, solar, natural gas, and coming up with cheap ways to spread it around.  More hybrid cars, windmills, solar panels, but maybe a new system to dispense natural gas nationwide at gas stations, if that ends up powering our cars.\n\nFourth, eventually the environmental costs of all our oil consumption will start to catch up to us.  Global warming is already a problem: warming means ice melting, and when the polar caps melt the oceans will rise.  Coastlands will be submerged gradually, first with little islands vanishing(already happening) and then with flooding in coastal wetlands and places like Venice (also already happening).  Despite all this extra water around, it's going to be salty water.  Warming also means droughts and desertification as temperatures rise in tropical regions, especially.  Lots of people will die in sub-Saharan Africa because of a lack of clean drinking water (also already happening).  Fertile land will diminish worldwide, and more people will die from starvation than do already.\n\nThe next wars won't be fought over oil, they'll be fought over water.  Look at the American southwest, and the controversy over the Colorado River/ LA and you'll get an idea of how much water rights mean already.  Dams and river diversion will cause international incidents, and we'll have to make some fast advances in desalinization technology if we want to fight back against these rising tides.\n\nIt's not hopeless, just really, really difficult.  And it gets harder the longer we wait to do something about it- so start today and try to conserve oil.
278954
"In today's complex global markets, the price of crude oil is set by movements on the three major international petroleum exchanges, all of which have their own Web sites featuring information about oil prices. They are the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX, http://www.nymex.com), the International Petroleum Exchange in London (IPE, http://www.ipe.uk.com) and the Singapore International Monetary Exchange (SIMEX, http://www.simex.com.sg)."\n\n\n\nBasically the availability of oil as well as the cost of finding more are the main reasons for the pricing of crude oil. But there are a lot more factors that come into play when you start talking about gas prices which are connected directly to the cost of oil.\n\n\n\n"Global economic expansion is driving what the International Energy Agency says is the biggest increase in oil demand for 24 years.\n\nOil companies have tried to become more efficient in recent years and operate with lower stocks of crude oil. This means there is less of a cushion in the market against supply interruptions.\n\nThe combination of low stocks and Opec action to keep them low leaves the market exposed to the prospect of sudden price rises if supplies are threatened.\n\nThe world's major oil consumers remain dependent on the Middle East for their oil. Recent violence in Iraq and Saudi Arabia has again raised fears about an interruption to supplies.\n\nAnalysts also view political tension in non-Middle East states Nigeria and Venezuela as having the potential to disrupt exports and drive up world prices.\n\nLow US gasoline stocks and pressure on US refiners to increase production of new gasoline blends have also helped drive world crude oil prices."\n\n\nHope this is what you were looking for, please send me an email and I will elaborate more.
1142813
Everyone wants the oil, but the question is who is going to get it. Gas in the States is very cheap because we made a deal with the Saudis 60ish years ago. But with the growth of China oil demand is way up. So we needed another source of dependable cheap oil. \n\nI'm not saying that we went to war for oil, but some think it would be a nice reward for "saving" Iraq.
434099
The Iraq War will clearly be the defining event of the Bush presidency, regardless of how things turn out in the Middle East. He has staked virtually his entire administration on Iraq.\n\nThe other key policy will be the budget deficit, which increased dramatically during this administration. Bush squandered a $5.6 Trillion surplus on tax cuts.
412541
I didn't know that, but on the Today show this morning they said a gallon of gas in Iraq is 35 cents and 12 cents in Venezuela!  We're getting ripped!
815240
The occupation in Iraq and more Americans dying.\nAnything else is a smoke screen issue to deflect attention away from this... Republican bag of tricks.
715634
Republicans cheat. Simply put. \n\nYou think it's a coincidence that gas prices have lowered? It's "strategery" as George Bush might say.  As soon as the elections are over, all these things will be back to the way they are. Saddam is a victim of American "democracy," like millions of others.
1028689
Yep. Correct.  \nBP announced today that they expect the Oil price to fall.\nThey didn't give a specific reason for this sudden announcement.\n& who do you ask?\nDo what I do & make up my own mind.\nWith the Insurgents a lil more fazed after head-honcho dead.\nThey'll be able to pump at full steam ahead instead of half-cocked of late.\n\n& once the OIL's all gone, I suppose it's too late to start debating re. the legality of the Iraq invasion again!
364050
no.\nbecause the root cause of gas prices in the world is shortage of supply.\n\nthis is mostly because oil reifineries conviently shut down or do not produce enough to meet demand. (all compainies have to do is agree to all inflate prices and everyone benifits)\n\nthe other problem is that big countries like China are buying up huge quanties of oil... which make there less supply and thus greater demand \n\nand price jack up...but never underestimate greed\n\nin iraq we control thier oil. if bush steped down cheney would still let the oil companies rip you off.\n\nwhy do you think all his energy meetings were secret and the white went to court to  prevent freedom of information acts
436887
vote... all this middle eastern saber rattling is driving the prices sky high...\n\nhe obviously doesn't have money to invest in "alternative fuel" vehicles... what are you people smoking?
167072
You chose a "touchy" homework topic ... I would narrow it down to either the war in Iraq or how Wal-Mart (an American company) is taking over the world.
781385
You expected otherwise?  The drop in prices was a ploy by the oil companies to help get Repubs elected.  Now that the election is over and the prices are going back up, look for them to hit $3 a gallon by Christmas.  Merry Christmas from the big oil companies.  And besides that, they need to make more money.
425194
Global oil production is about to peak.  Supply will go down, demand up.  This equals economic ruin.  It is easier to kill others on far away soil for oil, than it is to ask Americans to consume less.\n\nBush's agenda:  secure oil so Americans can continue to be obese SUV drivers while the rest of the world fights for the scraps.  Do this at all costs.  "Our way of life is not negotiable." G.W.Bush
365479
At some point (are we already there?) we will hit what is called peak oil, meaning we will pump more oil that year than was ever pumped or will ever be again.  Then, unfortunately, things will get scary as we are compteting with India and China for oil.  What happens if China makes a move on the oil fields in the middle east?  Are we going to go to war for it?  This doesn't have to come about if our government actually plans for this by funding research into alternative fuel sources.  We can't wait for government, though.  We can change the way we live - enough with the SUVs, turn your heat down, ride (God forbid, if you're an American!) your bike to the store, ect.  Small changes can actually add up if we all do it...or even if 10% of us do.  The key is starting now...not when its already a crisis.