At the gas pump: Where economic security and national security meet

Americans depend on cheap and reliable energy. That is a fact. Our daily lives, our wellbeing and our prosperity as individuals require access to cheap and reliable energy sources. According toAmericanEnergyIndependence.com, “Prior to 1950 the U.S. had absolute energy independence. In 1950 the USA was producing over 50 percent of the world’s oil, enough for all of its own needs with plenty left over for exports. But the post-World War II U.S. economic boom eventually created demand for more oil than U.S. wells could produce.”

Between 1950 and 1973 (the year of the Arab oil embargo) U.S. oil imports had grown from near zero to about 32 percent of U.S. oil consumption. By 1994, the U.S. was importing more oil than it produced. In 2010, oil imports provided about 60 percent of all oil consumed in the USA.

Since the Arab oil embargo of 1973 every U.S. President has talked about energy independence. This rhetoric has both real and political implications. For when you and I go to fill up our cars with gasoline we see the real cost of U.S. energy. When it hits our pocket book reality sets in immediately.

It is at the gas pump where economic security and national security meet.

Energy markets are projecting higher oil prices and headlines are predicting gasoline to hit $5 plus per gallon before the summer 2012 vacation surge. This is all happening because of two primary factors: the failure to address the threat in the Middle East and every administration’s failure since 1973 to achieve at least “strategic energy independence”.

American energy independence can be absolute or strategic. Absolute energy independence is where America produces all the energy it needs as it did in 1950. Strategic energy independence is defined by AmeiricanEnergyIndependance.com as, “a country allows imported energy, but only if the imported energy does not create vulnerability. Strategic energy independence allows oil imports, but does not allow the imports to create economic, political or military vulnerability.”

America has repeatedly failed to achieve strategic energy independence.

I believe America has failed to achieve strategic energy independence by acts of omission and commission. Administrations and Congress since 1973 have not addressed the Arab stranglehold on oil exports from the Middle East. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a cartel formed in 1965. Each member of OPEC is absolutely energy independent. The purpose of OPEC is to maintain oil prices at a high level and restrict competition.

OPEC has successfully used oil to directly tax Americans because of a lack of a U.S. strategic national security policy to deal with OPEC. Iran, a member of OPEC, is working to gain control of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s actions are designed to punish those who would punish it. Iran is in effect imposing sanctions on the America people at the gas pump.

The Institute for Energy Research (IER) released a study titled "North American Energy Inventory" that shows America is awash in natural energy resources (oil, natural gas, and coal). This and previous administrations and Congress have failed, by commission, to extract these natural resources and achieve as a minimum strategic energy independence. According to IER North America can become absolutely energy independent if it wished.

Who bears the brunt of these failures of national security and economic policies, you and me?

As Victor Hugo wrote, “Nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come.” The time has come for U.S. strategic energy independence with the goal of returning to absolute energy independence.

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Comment by Billy Bowlegs on February 24, 2012 at 6:01pm: Do you want to see your GAS Dollars at work in another part of the World.

http://www.flixxy.com/dubai-dynamic-architecture.htm

The Da Vinci Tower (also known as Dynamic Architecture Building)

Is a proposed 313 m (1,027 ft), 68-floor tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The tower is expected to be architecturally innovative for several reasons.

Uniquely, each floor will be able to rotate independently.

This will result in a constantly changing shape of the tower.

Each floor will rotate a maximum of one full rotation in 90 minutes.

The entire tower will be powered from turbines and solar panels,

And five other buildings in the vicinity will also be provided with electricity.

The turbines will be located between each of the rotating floors.

They will generate 1,200,000 kilowatt-hours of energy from the Movement of the floors,

And the solar panels will be located on the roof.

And, you dear Gas Buyer, and tax payer, as long as Obozo the Muzlim is in Our Whitehouse, will pay for this damned building. I would like to use the F- Word but there are ladies in the audience.

Comment by Phil on February 24, 2012 at 2:37pm: I'm with you Thomas.

Abolish all usurpations. We can start with the Dept. of indoctrination.....Oops.I mean education.

Semantics you know. The later is the semantic.

Comment by Danny Kirkpatrick on February 24, 2012 at 2:02pm: I would like to know if any American oil company's that produce oil from American lands and\or waters, sell any to other country's, i think they should meet America's needs first, then sell there excess to other nations. Prior to 1950's, that is what American oil company's did. There was a time when America owed no other country anything, almost every other nation in the world owed America. That changed when Nixon took America off the gold stander. When a person or nation, owes no one anything, they are in control of the future. When they owe someone or nation, that person or nation controls them. Because America owes China, China has power over America. Only a fool does not see this.

Comment by TaterSalad on February 24, 2012 at 12:37pm: Hey Barack! We are laughing at you because you are the biggest liar in the world and here is why:

http://news.investors.com/Article.aspx?id=602069&p=1&ibdbot=1

Comment by John Bellaire on February 24, 2012 at 8:04am: Cut off food exports and Arabs would be happy to trade their oil. Arabs can not eat oil and the US has been feeding the world. I think the idea has been to buy foreign oil and save ours. Energy independence is the thing to do. Every gallon of foreign oil used is contributing to the same people who want us dead.

Comment by Ron Boyer on February 24, 2012 at 4:03am: Oil imports are high and drilling has been shut down because someone in the government is being PAID to keep it this way.If you donot believe this you are an inocent.

Comment by Thomas Angle on February 23, 2012 at 9:17pm: Kenneth

So you justify a wrong with a wrong. There is nothing in the constitution or any founding document that even hints that they federal government has the right to control the economy. That is fascism, not a republic. Also, you will not get an argument out of me about the constitutionality of the EPA or 90%(maybe 95%) of the federal government. If I had my choice, all the unconstitutional programs would be eliminated.

Comment by Grace Kirby on February 23, 2012 at 8:45pm: Obama's policies have made me feel this way:

... Now this is funny ...

The Postal Service created a stamp with a picture of President Obama on it.

The Postal Service noticed that the stamp was not sticking to envelopes.
This enraged the President, who demanded a full investigation.
After a month of testing and $1.73 million in congressional spending, a special Presidential commission presented the following findings:

1. The stamp is in perfect order.
2. There is nothing wrong with the glue.
3. People are spitting on the wrong side .

Hope this helped lighten the burden that Obama has placed upon us.

Comment by Kenneth A Immeke on February 23, 2012 at 8:27pm: Thomas:

Your question should be where in the constitution does it give congress the right to give power to the EPA to shut down a farm to save a fish. The fact is the Governments job is National security and the economy is connected to national security. The price of gas directly effects the economy. If the government can regulate where oil products that come from American soil are sold first to satisfy our needs. Then can be sold to other countries when in surplus.

Comment by Judy on February 23, 2012 at 7:06pm: My husband and I have bi-fuel (NG and reg gas) vehicles and purchased our own fill station for our home. Works for us. Just like everything, we have to take charge and do what we need to for ourselves.

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