John Kerry says it's Bush's fault gas prices are high. That the US should become energy independent and oil should be diverted from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
He's really reaching for darts to throw at Bush. First, gas prices always go up in the summer. It's supply and demand, John. Second, the supply is tight because of OPEC, that's O-P-E-C John, not B-u-s-h. OPEC has systematically reduced production in recent months, guess why. To raise the price per barrel. If you want to blame someone, blame O-P-E-C John.
Third, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is for national emergencies John, not to ease the price of gas at the pump. The worst thing we can do is draw down those reserves during a time of war. If something should happen to disrupt the flow of imports, and the reserves are low, like Kerry wants, $2.10 per gallon will look mighty good. If the reserves were full they would only cover the import demand for 65 days at best, most likely for less. Problem is, they aren't full because of draw downs by earlier administrations. Right now they are 14% off maximum levels.
Energy indepencence? Absolutely. But how do we obtain it? Certainly alternative energy sources are a part of that, but they take time and haven't been viable till now because they are too expensive. Increasing the cost of gas makes them much more workable.
The most important thing we can do is to increase domestic oil production and increase the number of nuclear generating plants thereby reducing the depencence on oil.
Problem there is John Kerry doesn't want to drill for oil, increase production or expand nuclear energy useage. Those would "harm the environment." He thinks this nations energy problems can be solved by increasing efficency. Well yeah, that will help, but that, too, will come at a cost to the consumer. And alone it will not address the need.
Kerry won't tell folk that his energy tax in the form of higher cost of goods due to more expensive production costs will be just as difficult to swallow as the current fuel prices.
He won't say that to use up the strategic reserves will put this nation at risk unnecessairly, a far greater risk than the current gas prices have.
He won't say that a large portion of those fuel prices are federal taxes Kerry voted for. He won't say that he would rather harm the consumer's pocket than harm a "beautiful mountaintop."
Thanks alot John Kerry. For reminding us that what we have now is far better than what we would have with you in office.
John, if you need some help understanding the problem, do some research, don't depend on the environmental nazis for information. Something tells me they are a bit biased.
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