Well during one of President Bush’s campaign speeches he spoke repeatedly about lowering America’s dependency on foreign energy. However despite the last energy bill that was passed, it seems our foreign policy is where we will find the real action in supplying our energy demand.
This week Hugo Chavez and the Venezuela government announced that they may turn the oil tap off to America if America does not stop its alleged attacks upon Venezuela. America get 13% of its imported oil from Venezuela, so this amounts to a serious issue that demands immediate attention as the consequences would be profound. This same week Iran is openly speaking about OPEC nations using an oil embargo against the United States for its unilateral and imperialist attitude towards the Middle East and Venezuela would surely support this. In addition to Iran’s statements about oil embargo, they have signed a deal with Russia to be supplied with the nuclear material for their power stations. With Russia and China working in closer cooperation both economically and militarily, and with Iran coming on board, it would seem that America’s hegemony in the region is threatened more and more each day. In addition, if the Chavez government decides to sell its oil to other nations instead of the United States then the immediate future of the US economy seems more precarious than ever, further weakening the US position.
America is in essence a slave to those nations who have vast oil reserves as America’s demand for foreign petroleum has continued to increase despite this administrations statements to lower our reliance on foreign sources of energy. Nothing effecting real change has yet taken place in our energy policy making one wonder what the Bush administration has planned in order to meet our energy needs. The neoconservative’s expansionist and forceful policy measures have not lessened the risk to our country but has only exaggerated it. America’s war in Iraq has not only destabilized the Middle East region, but has had the effect of turning away many countries who have formally supported us and in the end, leaving us fewer and fewer options for sources of energy. The neoconservative policies are a direct result of why the Chavez government and that of Iran are using their petroleum as a means to force changes in US foreign policy and this is leading the US economy down the road to destabilization.
The globe is becoming more and more polarized each day and there is a growing threat to America’s ability to remain a global power. With a good deal of our military forces tied up in Iraq and our treasury bleeding funds by the minute, the rest of the world is going about the business of commerce and becoming stronger. This administrations policy of unilateralism has isolated us in a way that will be felt for the next decade and beyond as we are fast becoming not only a greater target for terrorism but also a target of economic policies that will take advantage of our slavery to petroleum.
Flip
2 comments:
Rough, there is no doubt that we haven't learned from out recent past. Our attitudes do need to change to a more efficent use of the oil we do have.
Greta, I am in complete agreement with you, as even most of the native peoples of the region support further exploration and developement of this resource. We do not even know what the actual amounts of oil and gas reserves are as explorative drilling has been prohibited. I love nature, wildlife and the like, however the fact remains that this has the potential to be a very viable source of energy and should be developed. With modern practices, the impact to the environment can be kept to a mininum.
"Maybe if the eco-nazis let us drill in the Arctic, we might actually get some of our own oil."
Those 'eco-nazis' my dear are the only force stopping various scum-sucking corporations from destroying the rest of the planet.
As the companies are supported by the government and their fellow criminals, Big Oil and Big Money, they are fighting a losing battle, think of them more as 'maintaining the balance'.
It FUCKING amazes me that those who would classify themselves 'liberals' or 'Left/Free-thinkers' have so little respect for the environment and the planet's myriad life.
Ah well, keep on consuming, dumping and deforesting in the self righteous way that you think the planet is your own God-Given (tm) property, and reap the whirlwind... (well, the hurricane. Tee hee.)
"Greta, I am in complete agreement with you, as even most of the native peoples of the region support further exploration and developement of this resource."
Yes, they stand to make a better quality of life and maybe live better lives, but this is nothing compared to what the exploiters will make.
However, please do not forget that 'development' in a capitalist world is 90% of the time,a synonym for 'exploitation'.
After the oil has been drilled, and the benzene and crude left to pollute the water, they will just move on, and as the area is 'international' it will be interesting to see who has to take responsibility for the desecration of this, the last unspoiled continent.
Plus, who owns the artic? How will 'claims' be staked? When we get to crisis point, will there be war over the remaining resources?
"We do not even know what the actual amounts of oil and gas reserves are as explorative drilling has been prohibited."
I am AMAZED that the ban on drilling in the arctic has lasted this long. Just a matter of time...
"I love nature, wildlife and the like"
Not enough to worry about their total destruction, or to stop driving your gas-guzzlers.
"however the fact remains that this has the potential to be a very viable source of energy and should be developed."
The fact also remains that this is the 21st century, the second Renaissance , the age of aquarius, whatever.
Why, are we still dependent on burning an essentially toxic fuel? That is limited, centralized (only Big Oil can afford to exploit it in anyway, under a laughable implementation of a Free Marketplace!), harmful and toxic.
With the privatisation of oil companies, the onus of what is an ESSENTIAL part of human survival, Energy, is put into the hands of private interest company, only interested in short term gains and astronomical profits.
Why have we no viable renewable infrastructure for energy?
No wind power, no solar, no tidal.
Even Hydrogen fuel and fuel cells are still far off, but are no longer a pipe dream.
It would take LESS than 10% of the world's surface to house enough solar panels to power the world in it's entirety, and this does not include other renewable resources as mentioned above.
I am no socialist or communist (although I believe in some of the ideals of socialism) BUT energy production is far too valuable an aspect of human survival to be left to private interest corporations, it must be managed in it's entirety by an orgainsation dedicated to the survival and advancement of the race, and damn them, but the only entity that can possibly be is the government.
Thanks for Listening
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