[clee1]

I lived in Louisiana in the late 70's and early 80's.

I clearly remember the State economy falling apart due to their dependence on tax revenue from the oil & gas industry.

Confiscatory taxation, outrageous wages for unionized employees, and huge expenses caused by environmental regulations and eco-wacko lawsuits is what killed domestic petroleum production; not lack of domestic supplies.

[iopscusa]

The 4 items that you mentioned as killing the Oil&gas business in US are the same reasons we are losing so much of our manufacturing sector. Our operations are actually some of the best in world-class status but because of the 4 anti-competition horsemen our domestic manufacturers start with a 25% cost disadvantage vs. the competition.