Arrogant Oil-Short Babies

Congress took oil companies to task on Wednesday. But it really won't do much; it's all for show. It's all a "show trial" for the public -- and the public may buy it. But I don't believe it's the domestic oil companies primarily at fault. It's the Washington politicians on both sides of the aisle.

Consider this: what is "big oil"? Where is it? What does it actually produce? The domestic oil companies taken to task proffer, what, 2 to 3% of the oil in the world? And the oil companies have excellent answers to the questions asked, and the answers are: because America has refused to let us do much of anything the past 30 years. Because environmentalists have had their way, because Congress and various states have disallowed. Because the oil business can be a challenging business. And because Americans are so arrogant, so naive, so ignorant, so adolescent, they don't wish to sully their hands.

And suing OPEC is absolutely beyond ridiculous. Speculators, worried about shortages, drove oil prices Wednesday above $132 ($134 now!) for a 40-gallon barrel. American Airlines is going to start charging $15 for the first checked bag, in order to attempt to offset fuel prices. Some are even predicting $12 to $15 per gallon prices -- when we can even get it.

Here's what we've gotten from the Left, the Enviros and the Demorats: elitism, plain and simple.

It's the "America doesn't mind the brown or black-skinned people digging for oil; America doesn't mind other nations doing the dirty work; America doesn't care if other nations allegedly despoil their country or environment seeking black gold -- because, after all, we're the American Left, we're better than that, we won't get our hands dirty" mindset.

Build new refineries in the US? No. Build more storage in the US? No. Build more power generation stations in the US? No. Drill on continental US soil? No. Drill in ANWR? No. Drill in Colorado, off our coasts? No and no. Because we might spill a drip of oil in search of Utopia. In an oil-based world.

Let's let the other "lesser" countries do that say the Left, as they jet to their elite little northeast parties, their Washington and Hollywood cocktail parties replete with stretch limos, Benzes, Maybachs, Rollers, Bimmers, Lincolns, Lambos.

So should it surprise that we are paying the heavy price now?

Moreover: nuclear power? No. Don't even consider it. Just plain no. Works for Europe -- you know, that beloved consortium of countries across the Atlantic, those folks the Left so admire? But still, no, can't have it here. No.

Arrogance and adolescence. Naivety. Stupidity.

We are going to have to "crash" as a nation before we wake up, this I firmly believe -- on any number of levels, and not just with oil. Before this summer is out I predicted and still believe: $5.00 per gallon. And clearly, that won't be the end.

BZ