Denial Is Not A River In Egypt: The Oil Crisis
Written By Stephen Oppenheimer, DDS

How did we get to this point of high oil prices paralyzing America's economy?   Simple.

There is no other way to reconcile the following facts:

• The US population is 4% of the total world population.
• The US consumes 25% of the world's total production.
• The US controls just 3% of world oil reserves.
• The US now sends more than $700 BILLION dollars out of our economy to foreign oil producers each year.  Compare that to our annual defense budget of $520 billion.

Are you beginning to see the problem?  It gets grimmer.  Many of the countries receiving our petrodollars are happy to see a weakened America as an intermediate step to their long term plans that run squarely in the face of freedom and democracy. What are we pretending not to know?  We must move beyond an oil-based economy NOW if we wish to be a free and prosperous America TOMORROW.

Why has America remained hostage to an oil-based economy the last 40 years?  In 1979, as the second oil crisis paralyzed America, American leaders stated, “To secure our future; we must seize control of our energy needs.”  Yet in 40 years, Congress has failed to advance, what for 1979, were bold measures including;

• Increasing fleet auto mileage standard to 48 miles per gallon by 1995.  In 1979 automakers admitted they could easily achieve 30 mpg by 1985. Update: In January 2008 Congress increased Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards (CAFÉ), for the first time since 1984, from 27.5 mpg. to 35 mpg by 2020!
• Reduce use of foreign oil to 1977 levels. Update: Between 1970 and 1990 the percentage of oil used in America increased from 24% to 43%.  Between 1990 and 2008 the percentage of foreign oil increased to nearly 70% of the oil we use..
• Obtain 20% of America energy from alternative energy sources by 2000. Update: We’re nowhere near this level as Congress sends inconsistent signals and incentives.  Wind and solar power Federal Tax Credits will be allowed to expire at the end of 2008 and there has been a failure to secure similar credits for biomass energy production.  Additionally bills that have been passed for research in Alternate Energy remained unfunded. 
•  A national 50 cents per gallon gasoline tax on imported fuel.  This would drive conservation and the proceeds of the tax would be used to fund development of alternative energy. Update: hasn’t happened.

Congress has lost its resolve each time OPEC lowered prices or offered reassurances. Could it happen again?  A June 14, 2008, New York Times article  “Saudis Move to Increase Oil Production” reported, “The move was seen as a sign the Saudis were becoming increasingly nervous about both the political and economic effect of high oil prices” and “ The current prices are also making alternative fuels more viable, threatening the long-term prospects of the oil-based economy.”  Like wise news reports from the July 11, 2008 OPEC meeting reported, “Today's oil supply and demand fundamentals are healthy,” and “While world energy needs will spike by more than 50% in 2030, OPEC can keep pace with demand reassuring to you?  Do you feel better? I don’t!

Our oil-based economy has become a double edged sword, cutting us both ways.  Not only does it contribute to our economic decline, it is empowering sovereign funds (nationally owned investment funds) to use their accumulated petrodollars to launch buying sprees, amassing significant ownership interests in American corporate icons like Citigroup, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Blackstone Group and Bear Stearns, American and international news sources, just to name a few.

American solutions are at hand that can facilitate America's Evolution beyond oil dependence.  Oil and fossil fuels will not disappear, but they will not be the only choice.  America must lead the world out of this quagmire and to a brighter future by advancing all viable alternatives that are within our own control.  We must emphatically ask our Congressmen and Senators to accelerate the day when consumers will have a choice of liquid fuels (or some other means) to operate their vehicles, fuels that are priced in a competitive market place, rather than oil alone which is arbitrarily price controlled by the OPEC monopoly.

There are numerous sources to learn about ideas to help us move to away from oil-dependency:

• Set America Free.org  is a great resource on Flex Fuels (vehicles running on any combination of gasoline, ethanol & methanol).  The top right video link to author, Thomas Friedman, author of the World is Flat and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist is a great overview.
• http://www.pickensplan.com - The clip begins with a terrific explanation of the economic and security problems that doom America from reliance on foreign oil. Picken's plan is innovative and includes solar, wind and other alternatives. This is most interesting considering the source, a lifelong oil billionaire and maverick.
• www.nozzlerage.com  - This is a tongue in cheek take on this serious matter with legitimate links at the bottom of the page.
  

Once you’re good and enraged here’s a link to find your
Senators & Congressmen:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm  

Written By Stephen Oppenheimer, DDS
Email:  oppyga@aol.com