21-50 to all units: Fuel prices

There’s no free pass for the oil industry, the Bush Administration or the Republican Party concerning fuel prices. To those who think ever-increasing fuel prices and the economic fallout aren’t the result of W’s Iraqi debacle, consider this:

Military vehicles and armor operate on diesel. They weren’t designed for mileage and there are thousands of them deployed in Iraq operating 24/7/365. The military relies on “organic” supplies meaning that which they bring into the theater and not what’s available in the theater as it can be disrupted or denied by an enemy. Consequently diesel is shipped over to the theater from the US. Diesel, which was less expensive than gas before the war cost more than gas five years into the war due to a shortage created by the idiot-in-chief. Trains and trucks deliver the goods we need daily and increased diesel prices raise the cost of everything.

All military aircraft run on jet-a, a kerosene based fuel. They too suck fuel measured in hundreds of pounds per hour and are constantly flying sorties in theater. Less fuel is now available for commercial aviation which also delivers goods and packages as well as passengers thus also raising prices.

Instability in an oil producing region gives speculating scum (the kindest word I can muster) an excuse to raise oil prices. It was Bush that created that instability by invading Iraq and his oil industry pals are rolling in our money from obscene profiteering. The result is that those fortunate enough to have a job in this crumbling economy can’t afford to commute to work without cutting back in their budgets where-ever possible. Thus money that would benefit other parts of the economy (retailers, restaurants, theaters, etc) is redirected to the pockets of big oil as a benefit for gouging consumers. That money redirected to pay ever increasing fuel prices is why 98,000 more people are unemployed because discretionary spending has all but vaporized.

Someone posted here that we should nationalize oil and I wholeheartedly agree. Big oil is but another example of what happens when big business is allowed to run wild while enabled by an administration and party that it supports through campaign funding with a nod, a nudge and a wink. If this quid pro quo isn’t stopped we will be another third world toilet of a few haves and countless have nots.