To give America freedom

The Washington Times ^ | 5-20-08 | Frank J. Gaffney

[JZelle]

What do the following recent events have in common? c The president of the United States has prostrated himself for the second time in five months before the king of Saudi Arabia, pleading for more oil. Despite George Bush's inducements — an array of advanced, offensive arms; the promise of nuclear technology with which the Saudis can expect (like the North Koreans, Iranians, Pakistanis, etc.) to acquire the ultimate weapons; and U.S. help securing Saudi Arabia's borders (something the president has declined to do at home) — the American plea was spurned. The contempt felt by the House of Saud was captured in its oil minister's quip, "If you want more oil, buy it."

Robert Zubrin — a leader of the Set America Free Coalition and author of the terrific new book, "Energy Victory: Winning the War on Terror by Breaking Free of Oil" — notes that, at today's oil prices, we are allowing the Saudis and their friends to impose the equivalent of a 40 percent income tax of about $3,300 on every man woman and child in this country. We cannot afford to allow such lunacy to continue.

[kittymyrib]

“...we are allowing the Saudis and their friends to impose the equivalent of a 40 percent income tax of about $3,300 on every man woman and child in this country>”

That should get your attention. As T. Boone Pickens said on CNBC this morning, we are giving our enemies $660 BILLION dollars a year for oil. We cannot afford to keep that up for long before our economy will be destroyed.

[griswold3]

We cannot afford to keep that up for long before our economy will be destroyed.

We are destroying ourselves. We should be able to tell OPEC to stuff it. (like an old fashioned Boston Tea Party) and get busy drilling our own oil. Government mandates and regulations (mostly drawn up by environmental anti-capitalists) are stopping us.

[quant5]

Every empire has gone down a path of self-ruination through pride, hubris, waste and social experimentation at citizens expense. You get the government you elect and if it has become too powerful to vote out bad leadership and get good leadership then the country shall further decline and the ‘tree of liberty’ saying comes to mind. It’s sickening that Washington is this far out of touch with it’s citizens wishes, it certainly does not resemble a nation of the people and by the people any longer.

[absalom01]

Well, that was Gaffney’s point, if you follow the link...

Thing is that we’re mired in a bunch of lefty-greenie nonsense that insists that we can’t build any nukes, can’t try to exploit the oil shale deposits in colorado, can’t drill in ANWR or off the coasts, etc. etc. etc. ... the only answer acceptable is that “we” have to return the economy to an early-20th century level to “combat global warming” and “conserve”.

Somehow, I just don’t think the “we” who will have to learn to make do with 3rd world energy consumption includes the elites blocking development of our own secure energy supplies....

[Califreak]

Based on what you posted alone, American government is richly deserving of worldwide contempt.

[Mariner]

Here's my 10 year plan:

1. PERMANENTLY Increase the gasoline tax to $1.00/gallon

2. Tax all non-commercial vehicles which have a displacement of greater than 2.0liters at 100%

3. Build 5 nuke plants/yr for as many years as it takes

4. Increase the size of ALL US Fores by 50%

5. End inflation by increasing the fed rate to 4.5%

6. Decrease income taxes by 25% across the board

7. Eliminate the Captial Gains Tax

8. Drill, drill, drill for oil everywhere under US control

9. Balance the US budget by cutting accross the board all entitlements until they match revenue and accomodate defense spending

10. End all subsidies and tax breaks for "alternative, green" energy

[WayneS]

But George told me the Saudis are our friends.

You mean the Saudis AREN’T our friends?

Does this mean George was WRONG?

[caisson71]

I’m either on the wrong site or again misinformed by the MSM. It is my understanding, reading Newt Gingrich, that the Saudis agreed to increase oil production by 300,000 bbls a day while Congress - The Senate Appropriations Committee - blocked oil shale development in Colorado where we have an estimated 1 trillion bbls of oil.
My opinion is that the Saudis have less obligation to us than does Congress. Yet, Congress blunders and the Saudis step up to the plate and the President “prostrates” himself? What am I missing?

[WayneS]

Why just non-commercial vehicles?

And what is a Fore?

[Mariner]

Trucks are required for a healthy economy.

I meant to say All US Forces.

[theBuckwheat]

The bulk of the blame must be laid at the feet of both houses of Congress. The present administration shares the blame as well. We have dissipated resources and time on converting food to fuel while refusing to drill in obvious places for oil and gas. People who outwardly express such concern for the environment they support exporting our drilling to areas of the world that could give a rats rear about the environment, thus increasing the amount of net pollution.

This is moronic chaos more fitting for a class of First Graders trying to organize their wooden blocks than adults charged with running the country. (or rather, allowing the country to run itself)

[WayneS]

You have me just about sold. But...

What’s your proposed tax on motorcycles?

[WayneS]

Did you mean RUINING the country by any chance?

[theBuckwheat]

>>
5. End inflation by increasing the fed rate to 4.5%
<<

Sorry, wrong, wrong and badly wrong. The very act of printing money out of thin air is a way of counterfeiting private wealth. It is theft and must be stopped. When this money is “borrowed into circulation” it gives people the appearance of prosperity, and they bid up prices and wages. Thus price increases are the result of fiat money, and only the free market can control the level of wages and prices.

The only sure thing that will occur if anyone attempts to set wages or the price of money or goods, will be shortages and excesses. This was tried once during Nixon. Companies responded by reintroducing goods in repackaged form, new and improved at a new price. Labor was livid at being locked in a wage box. Don’t even go there!!

[Mariner]

You don't understand.

Nowhere in the 10 steps are proce controls proposed. Additionally, it's the Fed's duty to raise rates (thereby reducing money supply) when inflation rears it's head. It's the ONLY way to make "fiat" money practical.

It's the debasing of the currency by lowering of rates that creates inflation...and false wealth.

[Will88]

“The bulk of the blame must be laid at the feet of both houses of Congress. The present administration shares the blame as well.”

The blame goes all the way back to Carter and Reagan. After two Arab embargoes and gas lines in the US, Carter did recognize the need to become energy independent, but mostly chose the conservation, tighten our belts method of addressing the problem. Then Reagan came along and ended all programs and put all confidence in the free market to solve our energy problems. He lucked out for most of his terms because there was a surplus of oil and the Saudis were then very accommodating by increasing supplies if the price began to rise too much.

But the problem has never been addressed by any president or any Congress, and our dependence on imported oil went from about 40% of our needs to 60%+ plus and rising all the time.

We’ll never become energy independent to any degree until the Dems. stop their damed fool allegiance to enviromental extremism and the Reps. stop pretending that the free market that isn’t free will somehow solve the problem.

If we finally take energy independence seriously it can probably be solved. But we’d have to attach the same importance to it as we attach the need for a standing armed forces, and then allow (and require) exploration and new production until we are able to supply most of our needs. This might require some subsidies to cover fixed costs of productive capacity not in use, but if we don’t exploit and put on line enough capacity to meet most of our needs, we can look forward to the situation we have today being with us for decades to come.

And work on the fantasy solutions, but don’t pretend they will make a significant contribution to our needs until it has become a reality.

It’s oil until something else proves itself.

[absalom01]

My “favorite” Obama quote from yesterday was this:

“We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... “

So, his “solution” for “change” is that we walk, hungry, to our unheated homes (’cause there sure won’t be any jobs when he gets done with this little project)?

These ideas are in the mainstream of the Democrat party these days.

We’re in a heap of trouble...

[Rapscallion]

I was there when the Saudis wanted AWACCS. They made it a “test of American friendship”. President Reagan proved we were their friend.

I was there when Iraq invaded Kuwait. It was the first step by Iraq to take by force the Saudi oil fields. They messed their pants begging Presient Bush to save them from Sadaam. And we did. We proved agin we are their friends.

Then came 9-11. IMHO they were witting. They are not America’s friend.

Now we need to get the price of oil down before we go into recession. And they say “No” to a request from a friend.

Okay

Cut purchasing oil.
Cut weapons sales to the Saudis.
Cut Saudi student visas.
Cut Saudi tourist visas.
Order some diplomats out of the US
Stop selling spare parts to the Saudis.
Slow down Saudi boarding times.

And that is just “openers” as we say at the poker table.

[gogogodzilla]

Nahh, just embargo Saudi Arabia. Oil goes out, NOTHING comes in.

Like food...