In Defense of "Big Oil"

[RoadToad]

Remember the Alaskan Pipe line, it was going to stop and desimate the Caribou population. Now they are there in record numbers and the Cows take the young there to stay warm during the harshes times of winter. My point in all this is there are truths on both sides of the fence.

Very true, and you make a good point about the pipeline. But, if you're going to do that, I think it's only fair to give equal mention to the Exxon Valdez. Prince William Sound is still showing the effects from that spill, and probably always will.

No disrespect to anyone here, but I think what's really naive is believing that we can drill so much oil domestically that we'll no longer rely on imports, and prices will go down. Oil companies will still be in the business of making a profit, and will always do so. Not that I want them to be punished for that; that's the nature of capitalism, and despite leaning to the liberal side, NO I do NOT believe in socialism! If the oil companies go out of business, I want it to be due to competition from somebody who's developed an alternative.

[apb]

...No disrespect to anyone here, but I think what's really naive is believing that we can drill so much oil domestically that we'll no longer rely on imports, and prices will go down. Oil companies will still be in the business of making a profit, and will always do so. Not that I want them to be punished for that; that's the nature of capitalism, and despite leaning to the liberal side, NO I do NOT believe in socialism! If the oil companies go out of business, I want it to be due to competition from somebody who's developed an alternative.

I agree. You also have to consider that we do not have the refining abilities to refine much more oil right now anyway. If the US does drill much more, it will most likely be sold to China or other countries.

As far as oil companies going out of business, I don't see it. Think about it. If we do come up with an alternitive fuel source, it still has to be distributed. That is already set up with the existing oil/gas companies.

Andrew

[Grumpy]

We could have had more refineries than we could ever need and have drilled for more oil that we could ever need EXCEPT THAT THE TREE HUGGER S (LIKE MOOSE) HAVE PREVENTED IT in order to save the Red Ringtailed Garder Snake or some other such insane thing. I firmly believe in conservation and taking good care of our enviroment, but like political correctness, In God We Trust, et al, America has lost all its common sense and has gone way over board in the extreme.

Grumpy

[Moose1am]

As for building more refineries in the USA, the oil companies have not built any new one because they cost too much to build AND they have an incentive to not increase production. Increasing production will not increase their Profits when the world is running out of oil. And refineries have no effect what so ever on the price of OIL. OPEC has driven the price of OIL up by refusing to pump more oil. The OIL companies are driving the price of GAS up by refusing the build more refineries. Those people are not going to do anything to reduce their profits.

Don't blame me for this problem. Blame those that keep lying to people in order to keep us under the BIG OIL companies grasp.

Crude Oil Prices are going up and even Glen Beck (GOP TV TALKING HEAD) says that oil is drying up and prices will never come back down. He thinks that in the future we will think of $4.00/gallon gas prices as the "GOOD OLD DAYS".

[DJD]

I like Fox it gives me an opinion different than the run of the mill stuff from CNN, NBC, CBS and ABC. Nothing wrong with that!