Replies

I guess your problem is with our government for not using our own oil.

My problem is that allowing the free market to dictate the size and composition is foolish. People around here seem to so honor the free market that they are willing to allow even that. Oil and steel are nuclear weapons are militarily startegic items and should not be dictated entirely by the market. I think we have allowed our enemies too much liberty in controlling us through our appetite for luxury under the guize of "safety and utility".

My problem is that allowing the free market to dictate the size and composition is foolish.

The free market is ALWAYS the best vehicle to decide these issues.

"While it might surprise many ecologists to hear, capitalism is itself the ultimate form of conservationism. Capitalists seek to conserve resources, not because of sentimental feelings about nature or the earth or whales or worry about the well-being of future generations, but simply because every drop of oil, every ton of ore, every shipment of wood saved is a cost reduction and money in the pocket."
-- Steven E Plaut, "The Joy Of Capitalism"

Well, you invited me here. Based on our last discussion on another thread, I can only assume you knew I'd join the flaming... please don your suit...

I understand where you're coming from but you're looking at the situation emotionally and not rationally nor economically. The fact of the matter is that most direct terrorist funding comes from three main sources: drugs, ransom and extortion. The Taliban, Albania and Al Qaida are notorious opium producers and Afghanistan is still a main world supplier. In Indonesia (among other places) dignitaries and their families are constantly under the threat of kidnapping for ransom. Saudi Arabia is purported to be "buying off" UBL to ensure he doesn't cause trouble at home for the House of Saud's regime.

The problem with curtailing oil consumption to fight terrorism is three-fold:

1) Our economy from utilities and manufacturing to shipping and leisure is heavily dependant on oil. Gasoline for personal vehicles is a fraction of the oil consumption of the nation. Also, we don't have the alternative fuel industry in place to replace it and won't have for many years even with a concerted effort. Many of our allies and even our own tax revenues are heavily bolstered by revenues generated by oil consumption. We would hurt ourselves and our allies to stick it to our enemies.

2) Aside from state sponsors like Iraq (and we're about to fix this little problem), most oil revenue for terrorism is indirect through extortion or third parties. If we cut the oil consumption, we can target the state sponsors like Iraq but the terrorists will continue to find new and creative ways to finance their operations.

3) You don't fight your enemies by giving in to their demands. They are after us to change our lifestyle and our freedoms. If we do so, as a direct result of their "encouragement", we have given them the victory they sought.

Giving in to the terrorists by altering our way of life could harm our national interests, our allies and ultimately give our enemies victory.

" My problem is that allowing the free market to dictate the size and composition is foolish."

I agree. We should do the same thing by introducing censorship so liberal bedwetters in disguise can't post their foolishness on FR.

"People around here seem to so honor the free market that they are willing to allow even that."

You've missed the key word:

"free"

By allowing people to have economic freedom our nation has become the greatest in history. Introducing your nonsense into the equation is what's crippled us in the last 30 years from having a straight line up instead of the stop and go economy the government attempts to manipulate at every level.

" Oil and steel are nuclear weapons are militarily startegic items and should not be dictated entirely by the market."

Oil and steel are nuclear weapons????? Hmmmm, I've got to try something with my big SUV full of gas tonight...

" I think we have allowed our enemies too much liberty in controlling us through our appetite for luxury under the guize of "safety and utility".

Just because you're a loser and can't afford what we drive is no reason to impose your economic jealousy on the rest of us. We'll pay for the gas and would be happier if we quit exporting our resources and would just drill for more. If oil is so economically important to the war effort, why have your ecocommie friends implemented lawsuits for the last 20 years to prevent new refineries from being constructed? Oh, that's right, that just makes more finished product for our "luxur" and "safety and utility" at a price which is reasonable.