Quote:
Originally posted by Spanky
I don't know why everyone wants to kick our "dependence" on foreign oil. Most of the middle east countries populations are growing and have huge youth populations. I think 75% of the population of both Algeria and Iran are under the age of 14. Something like sixty percent of the population in Iran is employed through the oil industry (or at least by oil money). Once we stop buying oil you will have huge unemployment in these countrys. You think they don't like us now, wait until we stop buying their oil.
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I'm not sure which I find weirder -- that you question (by your use of quotes) that we are dependent on foreign oil, or that you think our ever-growing dependence on Saudi Arabia is a good thing.
But.... a couple of reasons:
Wealth has not made the Saudis dislike us much less. I'd rather my enemy be poor than rich, when they use their wealth to fund Wahhabi teachings and the execution of those teachings.
The non-MidEast sources of oil are getting ever more scarce, and we are growing ever more dependent on, and vulnerable too, a small number of unstable governments in volatile countries. This situation can only grow worse.
Demand from China and India is expected to grow tremendously over the next decade or so -- even as reserves are drained and spare capacity exhausted -- leading to continued rises in oil prices. Diversifying our energy sources, and making our economy more energy- (and oil-) efficient will reduce demand and ease some of the pricing pressure.
I could go on and on, but it is really hard to understand how anyone could view our ever-growing dependence on Saudi Arabia as a good thing.
eta: I'm sure it's only the unions that want us not to be dependent on Saudi oil.
