[jaim]

I always find it interesting the way the Bush administration and even the news media (these days) try to redirect attention away from themselves onto the "evil <insert country/dictator/disaster here>" And the redirection is done with fear mongering. "Oh, the Iranians are going to have a nuclear bomb soon. Look out. They could bomb....Israel?" We, the U.S., hasn't had a beef with Iran since the 80's. They have oil, we use oil, it all works out.
If you want to be afraid of something, be afraid of your government. Now that is scary.

[ND4SPD]

You're right. You should move to a different country to avoid the boogey man.

[Mojave954]

Originally Posted by jaim

I always find it interesting the way the Bush administration and even the news media (these days) try to redirect attention away from themselves onto the "evil <insert country/dictator/disaster here>" And the redirection is done with fear mongering. "Oh, the Iranians are going to have a nuclear bomb soon. Look out. They could bomb....Israel?" We, the U.S., hasn't had a beef with Iran since the 80's. They have oil, we use oil, it all works out.
If you want to be afraid of something, be afraid of your government. Now that is scary.

If you are really paying attention here you will hear the Iran president spoutin' about the bomb and in not so many words, "we will use it".

China uses more oil than we do.

[Custom900]

I'm tired of hearing American's defend other Countries.

.............and we wonder why our borders are over-run with illegal aliens. We wonder why these aliens are able to defend themselves using our Constitution - illegally by the way. They protest freely, yet illegally in my Streets.

Do I agree with "EVERYTHING" the President does? Nope, but I support him. He's my President. If you don't like the way things are going, vote. Call your local Gov't offices and complain. Do something about it. Send a letter or an e-mail.
If you don't like the Country or the way it operates there are other Countries such as France that I'm sue you could go to.

[Mo Noyz]

Originally Posted by jaim

We, the U.S., hasn't had a beef with Iran since the 80's.

Taking the art of being uninformed to all new levels. And mangling the English at the same time.

[BDA116]

Originally Posted by Mo Noyz

Taking the art of being uninformed to all new levels. And mangling the English at the same time.

Par for the course?

[Mo Noyz]

Seems that way.

I guess it would be easy to have opinions like his when you have very little clue as to what you are talking about.

There were so many things he got wrong in his post, I was trying to be nice and only point out one.

[luvtolean]

Originally Posted by jaim

"Oh, the Iranians are going to have a nuclear bomb soon. Look out. They could bomb....Israel?" We, the U.S., hasn't had a beef with Iran since the 80's. They have oil, we use oil, it all works out.
If you want to be afraid of something, be afraid of your government. Now that is scary.

Are you kidding me?

The Iranians have correctly sensed the watchdog, us, is otherwise disposed, and been doing some serious saber rattling in the face of the entire world.

This is a real problem, far larger than Iraq was unfortunately.

[Proto]

Originally Posted by Mo Noyz

Taking the art of being uninformed to all new levels. And mangling the English at the same time.

Haven't seen too many mangled English this morning. Do you mean mangling the English language by any chance ?

Mind you, it will be a different story tonight in the pubs at chucking out time. Plenty of mangled English then.

[Mo Noyz]

Yeah, I guess I was missing a word there. But at least the result was pretty damned funny!

[BDA116]

Hold onto your wallets folks.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060420/...mi_ea/iran_oil
Oil will probably settle around $85/barrel tomorrow and gas prices wil jump another 20 cents.
Why aren't we using our own oil again?

[Scout]

Originally Posted by BDA116

Hold onto your wallets folks.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060420/...mi_ea/iran_oil
Oil will probably settle around $85/barrel tomorrow and gas prices wil jump another 20 cents.
Why aren't we using our own oil again?

Something like 70% of our crude is of a lower quality. The cost to refine to a gasoline level would surpass profitability.

Overseas crude is of a much higher quality, needing less refinement.

...or so it's been explained to me by someone in the industry.

[Custom900]

Originally Posted by BDA116

Hold onto your wallets folks.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060420/...mi_ea/iran_oil
Oil will probably settle around $85/barrel tomorrow and gas prices wil jump another 20 cents.
Why aren't we using our own oil again?

You guys can say what you want about me. I've had enough of that guys crap. First and foremost, if oil is going to be a part of the debate then we need to put it out of the picture by producing our own. Alaska is ready to be tapped in my opinion. There is no reason for Iran to try and play that card.

Now that Iran is trying to play hardball I truly feel that the United Nations needs to step up and do what they claim they will.

As far as the US goes. Iran is a threat to our Country in terms of safety and and now in terms by threatening our economy.

Those are fight'in words.

[phobiaphobe]

Forget about Iran. Invest in Alberta, we have more oil than them and we're friendly.


edit: and we have the best beef

[Mo Noyz]

Gentlemen, we can tap our own oil all we like. It will still be sold at market value.

What? Do you think our oil companies here will sell it much cheaper because "it's the right thing to do?"

[luvtolean]

Originally Posted by BDA116

Hold onto your wallets folks.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060420/...mi_ea/iran_oil
Oil will probably settle around $85/barrel tomorrow and gas prices wil jump another 20 cents.
Why aren't we using our own oil again?

Funny. Oil supplies are at 7 or 8 year highs right now, yet we hit record prices.

But hey, you all know, oil is a supply and demand commodity.

[BDA116]

It is a supply and demand commodity that is influenced by outside forces like all others. Trouble is, it is influenced by politics and world events moreso than most, and unlike others. Yes, I know that as well as you do. It does suck. This shouldn't have an immediate affect on oil supplies, maybe possible future oil supplies, but it will have an affect on the emotional price of the barell.
It looks like I was off on my prediction as it is currently settled at just over $72, but that is partially due to the announcements that Katrina-damaged platforms will resume production shortly.

And yes, Mo, oil prices will still be high to start off. However, the costs of transporting that oil will ease as will the overall prices with time as the OPEC states realize they have real competition from their largest customer.
Gas prices won't drop sharply until the ecoterrorists allow new refineries to be built in a realistic manner or if we go to a few federal standards for the gasoline rather than the hundred or so regional ones.
If that whack job does start using oil as a weapon the crisis will make '72/'73 look like a walk in the park, though.
We need to start moves to counter that now.

[Mo Noyz]

I don't want to see a situation where all countries start using their own oil only for themselves only.

[BDA116]

Originally Posted by Mo Noyz

I don't want to see a situation where all countries start using their own oil only for themselves only.

Your opinion don't count, country boy. Get back to pig callin'. Stat.

But I do agree. We just need more options, or as that dear departed frenchy said, invest in more maple-leaf oil.

[phobiaphobe]

Invest quick or it's all going to China. They're trying to build a pipeline from northern Alberta to the west coast ports.

[luvtolean]

Originally Posted by BDA116

It is a supply and demand commodity that is influenced by outside forces like all others. Trouble is, it is influenced by politics and world events moreso than most, and unlike others. Yes, I know that as well as you do. It does suck. This shouldn't have an immediate affect on oil supplies, maybe possible future oil supplies, but it will have an affect on the emotional price of the barell.
It looks like I was off on my prediction as it is currently settled at just over $72, but that is partially due to the announcements that Katrina-damaged platforms will resume production shortly.

That's awesome. I knew we'd agree, not supply and demand.

We're not talking about sucking, or week highs. We're talking about the largest supplies since the 1990's...and it's total bullshit for anyone to argue that having a larger supply today, than we did in say 98 when gas was at real low prices, wouldn't drive costs down if this was a supply and demand commodity.

Anyone who can see these numbers, and not agree that oil pricing is not supply and demand, but driven more by other forces, is riding with blinders on.

Even the WSJ yesterday said in an article something to the effect that traders are using events like Iran to justify high prices.

The reality is, the oil companies raised prices this high, reaped record profits, reaped massive tax cuts by Bush, got several people like yourself onboard with using our national reserves...and all for what? We don't need more supply, when our supply was lower through the 90's, prices were lower!

I won't pretend to know how or why oil prices work. I am not even really arguing for state control. But I think it is very clear, oil pricing is not supply and demand based.

[BDA116]

I see the standard talking points in there, but what exactly do the tax cuts that benefitted EVERYONE that makes money have to do with anything?
And what is wrong with a free market company making record profits?
What was the difference in the profit margin? Just calling out a profit number is meaningless with all the other economic data.
Yes, it is a supply and demand commodity. When the reports come out on supplies they prices change. However, they are also very much dependent on emotion and political events.
ALL commodities have outside influences.

And just because you've climbed aboard with the talking points of evil oil and evil Bush doesn't mean I'm onboard with using the Strategic Reserve.
I'm on board with producing more of our own, and mainly with doubling our refining capacity. Over the past 30 years our refining capacity has shrunk.
Has the demand for refined oil products shrunk as well?
I don't have all the answers either, but blaming the oil companies for making money isn't the answer. If it were purely a supply-demand commodity that they could freely set all prices on, then maybe.

[luvtolean]

Oil company tax benefits do not benefit me. They screw me.

Oil companies already get a tax break when they dig a hole and come up empty in the form of a write off.

We do not need to give them more tax cuts to "spur" production. Production is more than keeping up with demand, which is why oil supplies are at highs not seen this decade.