>>The United States uses a great deal of oil. In 1973 we had an oil crisis when Opec (Arab nations) raised prices. We had long lines of cars waiting to buy gasoline and in California we had odd and even days based upon license plates, which determined when you could purchase gasoline.
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>>When the crisis was over the price of gasoline went from 28.9 cents to over 70 cents a gallon within a short time. Mobil oil took out advertisement pages in national magazines to tell us they were solving the problem! Good for them! They had just invested $250 million in oil exploration. Guess where they were looking? In Arab Nations!
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>>Few people understand our dependency upon Arab oil in 1973 was 6%. Today I have read it is 60%. Huston we have a problem!
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>>We have helped to make many Arabs rich and we are getting paid back. In exchange for our oil money some rich individuals in Arab nations have created a paradox. They hate us and use our money to attempt to destroy us. Without money these people will only have sand and dates to concern themselves with.
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>>Some Arab leaders buy the weapons of war with oil profits. Why help your nation and its people when you can be king of the hill?
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>>Our president and vice president have close ties to the oil industry. This administration seems to lack any interest in the environment. Why should they? An important agenda for President Bush has been to open up Alaska as a source for additional oil.
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>>President bush stated we should be free of dependency of Arab oil around 2040, with the development of Hydrogen Fuel Cells. Why not now? President Bush may not be around to see or experience such a day. In the mean time he still has his foot in oil.
>>[SNIP]
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>This is nothing new. We, as Americans in general do nothing about terrorism. We still waste gas cause we like our SUVs. Green cars are not very developed, are expensive, and don't sell that much. Why? cause people don't ask for them. And that is what our current government (GOP = Grand Oil Party) wants. And also Detroit and their dependence on the internal combustion engine and love of fossil fuels (poluting, non-renewable, inefficient energy source).
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>Read "When You Ride Alone You Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government Should be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism" by B. Maher.
>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1893224740/104-3875550-7645517?v=glance

Now everyone is interested in conservation and the environment when you can get a Hummer. Arnold (our gov) has five Hummers. He stated he was going to look into why gasoline is so expensive in California. Having 5 Hummers might be a point of motivation. Maybe he will find out that the consumption of fuel by Hummer’s and other SUV’s is a factor.

Bush signed a law which is the Administrations way to help the environment and provide jobs, according to the prez. If you own a business you can get up to a $75,000 deduction on your Hummer as an example. Combined with the present $11,000 rebate given in our area by dealers and you can own a Hummer for about what you would pay for the average low-end car. You have the added advantage of getting 6 miles to the gallon with a Hummer, which must be the way that all this is going to provide more jobs.

GM is working on fuel cells and Toyota has the Prius plus Honda has its version of a “green car”. I just checked with my local Toyota dealer and there is a four-month wait for a Prius. They cannot make them fast enough.

Given all the factors involved most Americans would rather drive a SUV. The less mpg the better. Then they complain about the price of gas. Amazing how people wanted gas economy cars after the oil crisis. When oil imports stabilized Detroit started marketing bigger and less efficient cars. It is all in the marketing and keeping up with the Jones's.

When there is no more oil people will start to complain. Who cares about the future when we are having so much fun today! :)