Additionally, Iran exports 1 million barrels of oil per day according to a Reuters Feb 2022 story. We choose to not import their oil. We can choose to not import Russian oil. US oil production is expected to increase by 600,000 barrels per day from 2022 to 2023 (according to the EIA as reported by Fortune 2/18/22) - that is more oil than we imported from Russia in 2020 (600k vs 500k daily). If demand were to stay static, Russian crude oil imports can be replaced "simply" and in "reality".
As for China, the only issue for countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, India, Vietnam, South Korea, etc, etc compared to China is capacity. China isn't even the cheapest all the time anymore. There are other sources, they just need further developed and invested in, which due to covid, it happening faster. We do not need to be dependent on these rogue super power nations that threaten our allies and principles.
The US government should not have consumer prices dictate policy. The Corporatocracy has taken over. What do you think should drive US policy decisions? Cheap products or ideals and principle?
Like I said logic not usually equal reality. Your solution may seem like it is simple logic but reality is seldom based on logic.
Fox News didn't carry Trump's CPAC speech. I'd call that progress!
You seem to imply we and other countries can just decide to stop buying Russian oil and switch to other oil producers or to domestic production. Not so simple my friend. These alternate suppliers are not just sitting there with surplus production just waiting for the US or the EU to switch suppliers.
Then there is the increased cost to cut out a huge producer like Russia. Do you think the average American would support more expensive oil and gasoline prices that would result in shutting down Russian oil? Because shutting down that source will drive up the price of remaining producers. Americans are already bitching about gasoline and oil prices and blaming Biden when he has little control over the market.
As far as China is concerned I work for a consumer product Mfg and you can't simply switch to Mfg in other countries. It takes years to build factories, train staff and get the quality required. I know as my company went through trying to move production from China when Trump started the tariff war.
As I said logic rarely equals reality.
There are always alternatives. The alternatives might not always be easy, quick or cheaper, but in equations of what needs done, alternatives exist.
The United States can 100% cut out Russian imported crude and refined products. The US could expand their own production. The US could allow more Canadian product to reach refiners. The US could encourage other counties/suppliers to ramp up additional production - alternate capacity indeed does exist and it always has. The US could export less and use that to offset whatever is lost with Russian imports. Many levers to pull for this country - just takes the right leadership. Cut out an adversary from our supply change and that makes prices go up? Leadership, communication, strength, "the United States will no longer be importing oil products from Russia, I know what you are thinking, what does that mean for me, I'm already stretched too thin, can't afford the fuel prices as they are now - what does it mean for me. Sometimes, there are bigger agendas my fellow Americans, it is important that we do not continue to send our dollars to buy Russian oil and make their companies and their economy and their government stronger. And this is why I will continue to expand oil and gas exploration, production and refining in our country as we seek to become less dependent on foreign nations for what we need and want. I don't want this to cost you any more than you do, but this is important, this is necessary." - I'm sure a White House speech writer could do a much better job, but that's the idea.
For Europe? It's tougher obviously. The US will become more of an exporter for European LNG and oil needs. It goes back to planning and projecting. If you are Germany, why allow yourself to be so dependent on a not so friendly and free country to bring vital commodities to your countries. Seek alternatives. Lowest cost is not always best. Think about who you are getting in bed with because you might not like it the next day.
China dominates. Should never have grown to that level and nobody can replace them. But with commitment and the need for diversification and government policy influence a better balance can be achieved. I don't care and the US government shouldn't care what is easy for any company to do business in China vs some other country. This isn't about making sure corporations can bring their products to market at the right price. There is more to the world than trade and commerce. Again, it's about who you get in bed with. Corporations are blinded by profits and our government is blinded by foreign and corporate lobbyists. We deserve better.
@nebish again you are being an idealist and what you propose is not practical in today's reality.
I am not disagreeing with your wish list only that it is not as easy as you seem to think it is.
You can't always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need
What's the point of trying to problem solve when actions and solutions get dismissed. We need people in our government who not only see all the assorted problems, but ones with courage to find a better path, not people who think 'it's too hard so we won't even try'
LMFAO!!!!! I thought it was TRUMP who was gonna start World War 3. And the gas price's we had with TRUMP at $1.99. And being the first prez ever in history to step foot into North Korea. And then the pre orchestrated boogy man 19 hit. But those tweet's that shattered the snow flake's delicate little mind set. Now that was just flat out unacceptable, LMFAO again. Man that LIBTARD sickness is one bad ass permanent affliction.
LMFAO!!!!! I thought it was TRUMP who was gonna start World War 3. And the gas price's we had with TRUMP at $1.99. And being the first prez ever in history to step foot into North Korea. And then the pre orchestrated boogy man 19 hit. But those tweet's that shattered the snow flake's delicate little mind set. Now that was just flat out unacceptable, LMFAO again. Man that LIBTARD sickness is one bad ass permanent affliction.
So you're for US Presidents kneeling before murderous Dictators? Ok, weird. But also, the President doesn't control the price of gas. That's called capitalism and if you have a problem with it you can always move to North Korea or Russia.
LMFAO!!!!! I thought it was TRUMP who was gonna start World War 3. And the gas price's we had with TRUMP at $1.99. And being the first prez ever in history to step foot into North Korea. And then the pre orchestrated boogy man 19 hit. But those tweet's that shattered the snow flake's delicate little mind set. Now that was just flat out unacceptable, LMFAO again. Man that LIBTARD sickness is one bad ass permanent affliction.
Let's recall that Trump Impeachment #1 was for obstruction of Congress and abuse of power for refusing to release $400mm in Congressionally approved defense funds to Ukraine unless President Zelensky launched an investigation into his political rival's son. Zelensky refused. Trump withheld the funds until a whistleblower exposed his impeachable offenses. Then the indebted GOP Senators voted to allow Trump to stay in office.
Wonder if Ukraine would have better air defense now if they'd gotten the authorized funds in 2019 as Congress approved.
Trump's desire to be close to Putin vs arming an enemy of Putin I'd assume might've led Trump to want to push Zelensky around a little bit too huh?
The money ultimately went to Ukraine though right? While Trump blocked it for a couple months, it ultimately got where it was supposed to go?
LMFAO!!!!! I thought it was TRUMP who was gonna start World War 3. And the gas price's we had with TRUMP at $1.99. And being the first prez ever in history to step foot into North Korea. And then the pre orchestrated boogy man 19 hit. But those tweet's that shattered the snow flake's delicate little mind set. Now that was just flat out unacceptable, LMFAO again. Man that LIBTARD sickness is one bad ass permanent affliction.
1) Trump being an unpredictable loose cannon with questionable motivations led some to fear he might do something to spark a major war. Thankfully it didn't happen. I don't think Trump is or was ever a war guy, some people and politicians are. So I think that fear of Trump by his opponents was incorrect.
2) Oil and gas were certainly lower during the Trump years. Oil and the refined products being a commodity bought and sold through futures contracts means that POTUS doesn't have too much influence on where those prices go. Policy can make some impact. For Biden's administration I think it would be fair to examine energy prices in 2021 and see what policy (policies) contributed to the rise in prices. Likely more of a monetary policy and stimulus impact (some of which occurred before Biden's Presidency) on the price increase rather than energy policy specifically, I'm talking January 2021 through November 2021. There could be some negative energy policy drivers behind some of the increase, but not a major impact in my opinion. Any increases from December to present can and should be solely blamed on the Russian invasion. I think you'd agree a at least with this last part?
3) I wasn't against Trump going to North Korea. I wouldn't be against the President going to Iran. The thing that really matters is what does the US get out of it? We didn't get anything good out of it, so in hindsight I would say that was a mistake, but sometimes you just don't know until you try. Then again, if one never trusted Trump to begin with then many suspected it would amount to a whole bunch of nothing anyway and only fuel North Korean propaganda.
Well, Biden has supposedly turned off the spigot from Russia. It's a start.
I remember when OPEC had the embargo to the US. A popular protest song had the line "a bushel of food for a barrel of crude". Many mid-eastern countries don't have a great deal of arable land, or sufficient supply of water, and can't grow enough food for their needs. Seems like a fair exchange of chickens, cows, sheep, goats, wheat oats, rye, rice, even throw in some southern favorites of melons and sugar cane, for crude oil.
Does Romania still produce natural gas and oil?
How about the billions of tons of methane clathrate (aka methane hydrate or gas hydrate) under the shallow seas around the world. Japan is already touting it as "Japan could finally have an energy source to call it's own", taking it from the Nankai Trough, just 50 km from central Japan.
There are deposits of approximately 100 billion cubic meters of the "fire ice" in the Gulf of Mexico (each cubic meter holds around 163 cubic meters of methane gas).
There are lots of options for the gas and oil that Russia pumps into western Europe.
@nebish Hat's off to ya man. Lotta substance and depth in what ya said, unlike the other flower power rubbish jive.
@nebish Hat's off to ya man. Lotta substance and depth in what ya said, unlike the other flower power rubbish jive.
I just want people to talk about stuff and listen to each other and think about positions and opinions. Your style turns a lot of people off. There are others, mostly gone now, who turn people off. It is what it is. I come here to read what people say and share my opinion. I can always learn something from somebody else and maybe somebody can learn something from me. That's how I approach it. But people have to want to. It can be fun in the moment being combative and being on one side or the other and only sticking to the playbook, but really, what does that ever accomplish?
Yes, the funds eventually got where Congress authorized them to go (Congress being the constitutional decision maker for such things not the executive branch) but they were delayed. No matter the duration of the delay, Ukraine would've had the use of the defense weapons had Trump not intervened & no one would be talking about dis-assembling planes in Poland to be rebuilt for use in Ukraine now.
Well, Biden has supposedly turned off the spigot from Russia. It's a start.
I remember when OPEC had the embargo to the US. A popular protest song had the line "a bushel of food for a barrel of crude". Many mid-eastern countries don't have a great deal of arable land, or sufficient supply of water, and can't grow enough food for their needs. Seems like a fair exchange of chickens, cows, sheep, goats, wheat oats, rye, rice, even throw in some southern favorites of melons and sugar cane, for crude oil.
Does Romania still produce natural gas and oil?
How about the billions of tons of methane clathrate (aka methane hydrate or gas hydrate) under the shallow seas around the world. Japan is already touting it as "Japan could finally have an energy source to call it's own", taking it from the Nankai Trough, just 50 km from central Japan.
There are deposits of approximately 100 billion cubic meters of the "fire ice" in the Gulf of Mexico (each cubic meter holds around 163 cubic meters of methane gas).
There are lots of options for the gas and oil that Russia pumps into western Europe.
See I just learned something from Jerry I want to read more about, methane clathrate and "fire ice". It's not all that new, but it's new to me. Lots of things I don't know.
Romania? Think of them like Kansas. I think they produced 68,000 barrels of crude a day in 2020. Kansas produced 77,000 a day the same year. Or Denmark...Romania produces as much crude as Denmark. Not much. For natural gas it looks like Romania produces half the natural gas that Urkaine does. In terms of quadrillion btu, in 2019 Romania produced .363 quad btu natural gas. Russia by comparison produced 25.714 quad btu and Ukraine produced .657 quad btu. Denmark produced .121 quad btu. I can't really put a quadrillion btu in perspective, but you can kind of compare their output.
@nebish Hat's off to ya man. Lotta substance and depth in what ya said, unlike the other flower power rubbish jive.
lol! You going to the "jive" card. Suit yourself.
