Offshore Drilling Ban to be Lifted by Bush

[Sub la Goon]

I don't see where all this additional drilling and land usage will help out, especially in the short-term. Is there really a shortage of oil causing the insane prices at the pump? I keep hearing about China and India using SO much and causing the price to go up. But are we even close to having gas rationing? No.

Oil companies call the shots because they monopolize the commodity everyone needs. The price is determined by speculators, not supply and demand. They say we need to open up ANWAR for drilling and yet sit on millions of leased acres domestically without lifting a finger to drill. Or they complain about lack of refineries but have been given the green light to build more - and don't. The whole thing reeks of Enron.

It feels like Big Oil is getting really nervous about losing their White House meal ticket (and maybe even to a Democrat!) and is jacking up the prices as high as they can while GWB is still is POTUS. The next administration may actually look into their monopolistic behaviors or even make they pay taxes! Make the big $$ now while they can.

In short, they ream us at the pump and then divert our attention somewhere else while they do a huge land grab and stock buyback.

Don't p!ss down my back and tell me it's raining.