NationStates Jolt Archive

"The world is transfixed in a state of gaping wonder at President Bush's recent pronouncements regarding the need to break the US's 'oil addiction'. While many wonder whether there is any real action plan behind the statement, others have been brainstorming proposals to break our crippling addiction to the black stuff.

Seriously suggests that as the US government has dealt with other addictive substances with a 'War on Drugs' (ostensibly aimed at destroying drug cartels in Latin America and Asia), similar tactics should be employed in the case of oil cartels.

Exxon and Shell have reported record-breaking profits as the price of a 'fix' of gasoline continues to rise; the time is ripe for a full-deployment of CIA operatives to infiltrate these drug lords and expose their shady dealings. Hit squads should be sent in to root out the oil paramilitaries operating in regions of the Niger Delta and the rainforests of Central America. Crop-dusting planes should be retrofitted with new anti-petroleum agents that would sterilize the oil fields, and manufacturing plants and refineries should be bombarded or dismantled outright.

'Raves' whereby owners of gas-guzzling SUVs get together to freebase on petroleum and do 'wheelies' over wilderness should be ruthlessly shut down and the organizers locked up. Traffickers and dealers such as those found in the commodities exchanges of the world's financial centres should be incarcerated without hope of parole, while zero tolerance should be afforded to ordinary users and addicts in their sentence hearings. Routine oil testing should be mandatory for all Government jobs and in public schools and drive-through cinemas.

Lastly, the government may find it necessary to strike special deals with members of family syndicates. The President should consider taking advantage of any amnesty offered when asked about the Bush oil dynasty, which may require him to live out the rest of his life in a quiet suburb in Montana working as a pizza delivery guy under a false identity.

Well, one can only hope..."

New Internationalist, issue 387, March 2006

Any comments or suggestions on Bush's grand, and somewhat surprising proposal?!

Any comments or suggestions on Bush's grand, and somewhat surprising proposal?!

Backhanded slap towards Venezuela. Bush would never, ever, ever sever ties with Saudi Arabia. Ever. Venezuela? Sure. Saud? Hell no.

After all, Arabs were integral in turning Jews over to the Nazis and Prescott Bush absolutely detested Jews.

There's never a plan. There is only rhetoric and talking points. If the government started seriously funding alternative fuel research, it might take money out of the war chest.

Well, your suggestion is a bit extreme. The first thing the government should do is break the oligopoly (sp?) that the oil companies currently have. Breaking monopolies and oligopolies is one of the two things I think is actually the federal government's business, and yet they are not doing that.

Then, we could begin actually using our resources, like drilling in the oil fields of Alaska and off the coast of California, for example.

Once all that is done, we've got plenty of time to experiement with other sources.

Seriously suggests that as the US government has dealt with other addictive substances with a 'War on Drugs' (ostensibly aimed at destroying drug cartels in Latin America and Asia), similar tactics should be employed in the case of oil cartels.
Well, as a Bronx dweller, I can assure you that the "War on Drugs" did exactly what it was supposed to do: provide a smoke screen of "morality", shift thousands of people to the fringes of society, and drive up the price (and, thus, the profits) in the drug trade immensely.
What? You really thought that the government wants to get rid of things that it declares "War" on? You sad, silly, little man.

Exxon and Shell have reported record-breaking profits as the price of a 'fix' of gasoline continues to rise; the time is ripe for a full-deployment of CIA operatives to infiltrate these drug lords and expose their shady dealings. Hit squads should be sent in to root out the oil paramilitaries operating in regions of the Niger Delta and the rainforests of Central America. Crop-dusting planes should be retrofitted with new anti-petroleum agents that would sterilize the oil fields, and manufacturing plants and refineries should be bombarded or dismantled outright.
Mmm, stupidity at it's finest. Their profits were 10% of revenue. Pretty damn low. Ergo the problem is not them. The problem is the oil supply and the fact that it's running out. The quickest way to break the oil addiction is to use it up as quickly as possibly, this will encourage various other energy solutions to become viable. Problem solved.

Mmm, stupidity at it's finest. Their profits were 10% of revenue. Pretty damn low. Ergo the problem is not them. The problem is the oil supply and the fact that it's running out. The quickest way to break the oil addiction is to use it up as quickly as possibly, this will encourage various other energy solutions to become viable. Problem solved.
Nope... because if resources become too scarce too soon there will be wars for resources instead of change - we need to change before we get anywhere near the danger of collapse.

The quickest way to break the oil addiction is to use it up as quickly as possibly, this will encourage various other energy solutions to become viable. Problem solved.

Assinine. We need to develop viable alternative energy solutions prior to completely running out of oil, not after.

The quickest way to break the oil addiction is to use it up as quickly as possibly, this will encourage various other energy solutions to become viable. Problem solved.
This is of course, ignoring the environmental factors resulting from an attempt to 'use up' oil reserves?

"The world is transfixed in a state of gaping wonder at President Bush's recent pronouncements..."
He's still opening his mouth?

"Exxon's revenue for the year exceeded Saudi Arabia's estimated 2005 gross domestic product of $340.5 billion, according to statistics maintained by the Central Intelligence Agency."

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060130/earns_exxon_mobil.html?.v=6