Originally posted by Parallax I'm not looking for a solution, as I am not claiming there is a problem that needs one. I was merely pointing out that your assertion that no one makes us buy oil was inaccurate.
Ahhh..... Sorry I missed that. Even when people want to agree, differing perceptions can get in the way. We can try to have an influence on government, but I'm pretty much convinced that government - both parties and the whole bureaucracy - are in the pockets of huge corporations. No one has to agree, that's just what I think.
But in our personal lives, we can limit use of plastics, reduce gasoline consumption, and do other things to reduce our reliance on Saudi oil. If it is a moral issue or a personal issue, there are choices that can be made.
Just declaring that you are "tired" of how Saudi Arabia runs their own country is not much help other than grousing.
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graphicgr8s: Our reserves are greater than those of Saudi Arabia?
I haven't seen those reports, but please let us see them if you run across them again. We also import vast amounts from Canada, Mexico, South America, Africa, and yes, the Middle East.
(OH! While I wrote this, a helpful map appeared above!) We may have reserves, but not produceable reserves at affordable prices (which is pretty much the issue with the gushing Gulf leak today -- very expensive oil would have been produced from that well).
We're a long way from being self-sufficient in oil. In fact, "Peak US Oil Production" is what led to one of the gas shocks in the 1970s. We ran our consumption past the point of production and had to import. As soon as OPEC recognized that, they had us over a barrel (so to speak) and let us know it with their embargo. It still burns me to see any US President holding hands with the corrupt "princes" of Saudi Arabia.