The Politics of Oil: The Discourse Must Change

[Extend a Hand]

To mods- This is a from a press release that can be copied fully...

http://www.theoildrum.com/story/2006/4/26/121441/891#more

...disruptions in the supply of oil that affect the price of gasoline at the pump are not just a temporary glitch. For various reasons--decreased discoveries of new oilfields, geopolitical instability, international competition for oil supply--we can no longer assume that we will be able to consume as much oil as possible, or ever get it again for $1.50 a gallon.

Demagoguery and grandstanding are not strategies for addressing our energy problems. As an alternative, the editors of The Oil Drum put forth the following recommendations:

1. It is nonsensical for political leaders of both parties to eliminate the gas tax temporarily or permanently as this will only worsen our dependence on oil by disincentivizing the innovation of oil alternatives and oil conservation efforts.
2. Both mainstream American political parties are doing their country a disservice by accusing convenient scapegoats of price gouging or price fixing instead of educating the public about how the price of gas is actually set.
3. Right now, governments should be focused on helping us cure our "addiction to oil." The answer does not lie in lowering gas prices, which will only encourage people to drive more and further waste our valuable resources. As the Department of Energy funded Hirsch Report on Peak Oil laid out, the consequences of not taking steps to transition away from oil could be dramatic to our economic system. Appropriate solutions include large-scale research, development, and implementation programs to improve the scalability of alternative sources of energy, other projects geared towards improving mass transit and carpooling programs across the country, providing incentives to buy smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles, and promoting a campaign to increase awareness about conservation.

The political discourse on this topic is simply so devoid of fact, and constructive discourse so buried and out of the mainstream, that we felt we needed to raise a voice of reason. Public officials will continue to misinform and obfuscate if we allow it.

more at link.

I agree with this assessment.

[barb162]

1. Oh yeah. I have been almost laughing at the news on this issue.

It is an avoidance of peak oil discussion. WHat we are seeing is a little blip right now in rising prices and everyone is just screaming about it looking to blame everyone else. It's jusy crazy. Wait till it is 20 bucks a gallon. People don't want to change or face reality. The guv in my state is talking about reducing the gas tax too. It's everyone doing everything to make consumers find it easier to buy oil rather than finding ways to conserve or use/find new energy sources