Manchin and Tea Party Agree: AUDIT THE PENTAGON!

When it comes to talking about Big Government by the republican establishment "defense spending" and the Pentagon have largely gotten a pass.  Neither have the democrats been bold enough to take any serious action despite the enormous and blatant overspending and fiscal mismanagement of one of the largest budget eaters of U.S. taxpayers.   The Pentagon has not passed an audit in over 20 years!  Finally, someone is doing something about it and in a non-partisan fashion.

Think there is any extravagance or waste in this government spending?

Listen to former Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld himself and other former Pentagon officials below.

So the first week of August 2012 Senators Coburn (R-OK) and Manchin (D-WV) introduced the AUDIT THE PENTAGON ACT on the Senate floor.  The Gazette had a good article about it.  Here is a snip from the WashingtonExaminer.com:

Why we must audit the Pentagon--Senator Tom Coburn

   "Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and I recently introduced the Audit the Pentagon Act (S. 3487), which creates new incentives and enforcement mechanisms to force the Pentagon to pass an audit. Joining as us original co-sponsors were Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Rand Paul, R-Ky., Ron Johnson, R-Wis., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Scott Brown R-Mass., and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.

Auditing the Pentagon is critically important not just because it is the law but also because our ignorance of how we spend defense dollars undermines our national security. When the Pentagon can't tell Congress -- or itself -- how it is spending money, high-priority defense programs face cuts along with low-priority programs...

So this is a bipartisan bill and an issue that constitutional conservatives and the Tea Party movement has been pushing for to drastically reduce the size and scope of Big Government.  The republican establishment traditionally avoids this as politically incorrect and unpatriotic, as if the Pentagon can do no wrong. 

Senator Rand Paul has said he plans to bring this to attention of the GOP Convention Tuesday night during his prime time address.  He says it's time to push AUDIT THE PENTAGON as much as AUDIT THE FED has had attention previously, per this Yahoo news article:

"Because we've talked about audit the Fed so much, we're now talking about audit the Pentagon," Paul told the crowd.  

 "...And one of the messages that I will give to them is that Republicans need to acknowledge that not every dollar is well spent or sacred in the military and we have to look for ways to make every department accountable."

This is great, especially because it's bipartisan!  Big Government must be held accountable and its abuses exposed in order for it to be appropriately and proportionally dismantled and reduced to its Constitutional and simple Federal form, instead of giving it free reign to roam at will and constantly feeding this giant Behemoth of Central government whatever it demands which makes it almost impossible to tame.

Sen. Rand Paul will speak at the convention between 7 and 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, according to an updated schedule made public Sunday.   You can watch it LIVE on the web through C-SPAN here.

Tell your Congressmen to support the bipartisan AUDIT THE PENTAGON ACT immediately.  And let's see how Rand Paul addresses this (as he has before in the Senate) at the GOP Convention. 

See also:  Rand Paul addresses Senate on Fiscal Crisis, "Out of Control" Spending, Balanced Budget

Romney--Paul Ryan: A Return to Bush's Big Government?

Per former FOX commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano (who can hardly be called a liberal), Tea Party conservatives and Constitutionalists should not be very happy about Paul Ryan as Romney's VP, especially if they look at his Big Government voting record.  Napolitano, like us, is discouraged by the naive enthusiasm and another choice between the "lesser of two evils" for President and Vice President.   It's time to take a closer look.  Ignorance is not bliss.

The neocons and the RINO establishment are trying to hoodwink the Tea Party by painting Ryan in another image and pretending that Romney would even adopt Ryan's fiscal conservatism.  The truth is that Ryan himself has no record of fiscal conservatism or limited government either!  False images must be dashed for the truth to be told.  This is a wake-up call!

Is this the best the Republican Establishment has to offer us?  It is self-evident what the principles of the Republican Establishment then really are.  The Constitution and limited government are clearly not their ideals nor in their RINO game plan.

It is also irrational to sum up America as "an idea", as Paul Ryan attempts.  Nations have histories and power struggles.  The initial American "idea" was overthrown 150 years ago now, when the Federal government in Washington, which originally was very limited by the sovereign states, usurped power and became a Centralized Power and even went to war against the very States who had formed it.  THAT was the end of limited and a Constitutionally restrained Federal government, and under the first radical Republican, Lincoln.  But don't expect any real assessment of American history from any political candidate.  That would be politically incorrect and career suicide.

But don't miss this article by former host of FOX's Freedom Watch, Andrew Napolitano:

Romney and Ryan Would Return Us to the Bush Years

Last week, Gov. Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, blasted Obama for borrowing more than one trillion dollars in just the past year. He must have forgotten to look at the voting record of his designated running mate, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.  Ryan voted for nearly every request to raise the debt ceiling during his 14 years in Congress. He voted for TARP, the GM bailout and most of the recent stimulus giveaways. He also voted to pay for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars on a credit card, which added another trillion dollars to the government's debt. And he voted to assault the Constitution by supporting the Patriot Act and its extensions, as well as Obama's unconstitutional proposal to use the military to arrest Americans on American soil and detain those arrested indefinitely.

...we have a rough idea of what Romney-Ryan would bring us: more of the Bush-era big government. In other words, Ryan is just another big-government Republican holding himself out as a fiscal conservative.

See also:  Judge Napolitano on ObamaCare and the 2012 Election Choices

Supreme Injustice: Mandatory Nanny State Tramples Constitution by Waffling Chief Justice!

This from CBS News, how the Constitution was trampled and a mandatory Nanny State setup by the gross incompetency of a waffling Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who switched his powerful vote in the recent 5-4 decision (who by the way, is widely reported to be on medication for epilepsy, which is ironic to say the least, on a controversial health care law)!  No one then can rationally claim absolutely that the Constitution justifies the outcome of Mandatory Health Care (ObamaCare) legislation in the Supreme Court which was challenged by no less than 26 States. 

Just when you thought everything had been said about this subject this excellently sourced truth grenade is dropped in the public controversy.  This is a must read of just how unstable the "majority opinion of the Court" really is!  And it's now binding on all Americans, and sovereign states, despite the supremely irresponsible outcome!

(CBS News) Chief Justice John Roberts initially sided with the Supreme Court's four conservative justices to strike down the heart of President Obama's health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act, but later changed his position and formed an alliance with liberals to uphold the bulk of the law, according to two sources with specific knowledge of the deliberations.

So yes, we will continue to unashamedly protest this outcome as legitimate or of Constitutional authority.  The incompetency of a Supreme Court decision based upon the tie-breaking vote of a waffling Chief Justice, on some serious medication which has effects upon the human brain, should not be binding upon all of America, when the Constitution defending individual liberty and states rights is at stake.

If America is divided it's only because of the supreme confusion of the Supreme Court and the controversial vote from one man should not become a tyranny over a majority of the population who are unquestionably opposed to this unprecedented intrusion of the Federal government into our individual lives.  Neither have health insurance premiums become more "affordable" since it was passed.  We will not keep quiet about it.

WV Governor's Disaster Declaration - 85%* of State Without Power for Several Days!

*Updated per this from WSAZ: 
    "Saturday, President and COO of AEP, Charles Patton spoke and said 85 percent of West Virginia customers are without power. Patton says this is not only AEP, but all power companies."

And a photo posted from here

------------

It began in Chicago, like this:

                            

June 29th brought in a Perfect Storm, what's called a Derecho (meaning straight line), or Land Hurricane.  And that it was.  It was absolutely devastating in terms of wind damage.  Here is how Accuweather warned of it's approach on a Friday evening when most were making ready for summer weekend of recreation.  If you watch their video you will see it take dead aim at West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington D.C., moving at 45 to 70 mph.
 

(Video) WV Disaster Declaration - West Virginia's Eyewitness News

Per this video Gov. Tomblin said the Homeland Security Director's house burned down because of the storm.  Now that is ironic, almost symbolic of how West Virginia was targeted and how difficult it will be to restore power and fix what can only be called a state-wide catastrophe.  The problem is that over 50 substations must be repaired by AEP [edit, updated] plus another 70 substations of FirstEnergy companies, that is 120 substations total, not just downed power lines.   They are saying that it will take over a week to restore all power, so plan accordingly, as if camping at home.

West Virginians will be in the dark, without air conditioning, refrigeration, home computers/TV's, and without power and gas for days.

FEMA generators are on the way.  Priority is nursing homes and hospitals.

State National Guard is being deployed to help these facilities for life safety and secondly to clear secondary roads for power crews.

The power outage will continue for days, so be prepared and plan accordingly. Governor says to stay off roads and not travel unless absolutely necessary.  Life will be abnormal and inconvenient for awhile, so get used to it.

There is a serious shortage of gas since most all stations are without power and many of those which did have power are now out and say that refueling trucks are not running consistently.  Don't drive unless absolutely necessary since power will not be restored to stations for a few days.  If you head out of town you likely will not find enough gas to finish your trip, and it is hard to find gas when you return to the Kanawha Valley.

Beckley has no stations presently pumping gas whatsoever.  They have 95% power outage in Raleigh and Nicholas counties.  70% out in Kanawha County.  AEP outage map here.
FirstEnergy providers for northern and eastern West Virginia, MonPower and PotomacEdison outage maps here.

We have called extensively and been unable to locate any stations in the Kanawha Valley pumping regular unleaded as of this post.  Most are without power or out of gas for now.  The Go Mart in Kanawha City said they hope to have a tanker within 12 hours again.  Other stations in Dunbar and Jefferson are in the same position.

[Gas availability updated Sunday morning, July 1st]:
The following locations with gas stations have power and may have gas depending on their supply (tankers are not running keeping up with demand).  (This list will not be continuously updated).  Plan to wait in line:

MacCorkle Ave. Jefferson Go Mart and Rich's
Nitro Sunoco by St. Albans bridge
Dunbar Go Mart (was out of gas last night),
West Washington St. GoMart (Charleston)
Bigley Ave Go Mart (N. Charleston)
Kanawha City Go Mart
Barboursville (including Rt 2 station at newest exit)
Clarksburg (Mall exit)
Roane County stations
Clay County stations
Princeton and Bluefield (some stations)

These same areas of course have power so you might find groceries available (e.g. Dunbar, Kanawha City, etc).  
Some Sheetz stations (e.g. Beckley) have generators and sell in store items but not pumping gas.

Saturday, State Police were limiting exit traffic at Beaver Exit on I-64 near Beckley and there were many motorists stopped and out of gas in the Beckley area, since no gas is available there due to power outages.  The Go Mart employee reported that many travelers were blocking roads looking for gas in that area.  There is none.

Please be courteous and careful driving since most intersections have no power or traffic lights.  Don't plow through intersections as if you have the right of way (or brake suddenly if on a main highway), because without traffic control you're not always clear.  Slow down and take turns yielding if in doubt.  Unfortunately there are many driving aggressively without regard for others or being considerate of the whole situation.  Be polite, patient, and help things remain in good order by heeding the Governor's admonition to stay off the roads unless it is really necessary.

Further Note of Interest about Power Outages

NASA has warned of super solar flares in 2012 to 2013, which could result in similar mass outages, nationwide and globally.  It is worthing thinking about and preparing for, with this event as a warning and sample of what could take place.

Why U.S. Foreign Policy Must Change from Global Democratic Jihad to National Self-Defense

She [America] has, in the lapse of nearly half a century, without a single exception, respected the independence of other nations while asserting and maintaining her own. She has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when conflict has been for principles to which she clings, as to the last vital drop that visits the heart. She has seen that probably for centuries to come, all the contests of that Aceldama the European world, will be contests of inveterate power, and emerging right. Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own. She will commend the general cause by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant sympathy of her example.... 

She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force.... She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own spirit....
[America's] glory is not dominion, but liberty. Her march is the march of the mind. She has a spear and a shield: but the motto upon her shield is, Freedom, Independence, Peace. This has been her Declaration: this has been, as far as her necessary intercourse with the rest of mankind would permit, her practice.

        --John Quincy Adams, Independence Day Address 1821

"It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world."

       -- President George W. Bush, Inaugural Address 2005.

It is more than ironic that while Republicans appeal to America's Founders (most justly) that they fail to heed them when it comes to foreign policy.  George Washington warned of "entangling interests" or alliances as dangerous and Presidents like Adams above extolled America's restraint in interference.  Their view was not that America should be a militaristic global policeman (and they never extolled "democracy" as ideal) but only an example of freedom and liberty.  It's time for the Founder's view of Foreign Policy to be given a fair hearing.

In this regard, Pat Buchanan, a Republican with credible expertise in several Presidential administrations, is a breath of fresh air compared to both the Republican Establishment's and Democrats' "utopian view" (as he calls it) on foreign policy and alleged "necessary" wars, none of which are for the self-defense of America. His views are seldom permitted in either conservative debates and forums or in the liberal Mainstream Media. So listen to him here for at least an alternative, and in our opinion more rational view, about war.

He condemns American involvement in "regime change" started by the neoconservatives (which too many republicans applauded without just cause) in the Middle East since 2001 during the Bush administration.

He condemns American involvement in Syria to overthrow the Assad regime (which Obama and the democrats, and republicans like Rep. Shelly Moore Capito applaud) and articulates why it is stupid and actually supports radical Islamic groups that are bound to be no better.

He explains why the American Empire in foreign policy (which actually began during the Civil War when Washington invaded the Southern States to consolidate power by force) is a foolish "utopian view" for changing the world (really toward global government, abolishing sovereignty) for the pretense of "making the world safe for democracy" (as democrats W. Wilson and F.D.R. used) or to "end tyranny in the world" (the phrase George W. Bush invoked on his Second Inaugural Address).

He also is adamant that if this course is continued, especially in backing any attack on Iran, it will bring terrible consequences to "my Country" (now here is a better view of American patriotism demonstrated by judicious self-restraint instead of war-mongering) as well as to "the whole world". Indeed, both America's economy would be greatly ruined (i.e. the consequences on oil prices, which would harm the entire economy, as well as national debt) and a probable world war in the Middle East would result.



It's time that a more sober view of foreign policy and its consequences should be considered, before it's too late, as AIPAC and radical pro-Israel and radical "world democracy" revolutionaries continue to drown out Americans' influence in our own Congress.  What America needs is a true National Defense instead of a National Offense policy, which takes us to war without constitutional declarations of war, per the historic Christian 'Just War' Theory of self-defense alone, by Congress.  Until America changes this it is engaging in Global Vigilantism and supporting what could be called justly a Global Democratic Jihad, with terrible consequences on our own nation. 

A history of the Rise & Fall of the Roman Empire and its aggressive PAX ROMANA should suffice to be a most conspicuous example to any naysayers against our criticism of this dangerous bipartisan foreign policy toward a global PAX AMERICANA or PAX DEMOCRATICA which has been in progress for 150 years now.  Who would deny that the Isles of Great Britain once fought against the tyranny of the Roman Empire?  After all, one type of "tyranny" is often replaced by another, always under the pretense of "liberation" (or things like "Operation Iraqi Freedom").  Doesn't this all, then, look so familiar, from a historical perspective?  "American exceptionalism", frequently invoked to cloak all American wars as moral and just, should not blind anyone to this truth and republicans and democrats ought to heed the speeches and examples of America's Founders and early Presidents once again.

Propaganda vs. The Truth about the (Unconstitutional, Communistic) Income Tax

Until 1913 there was no Income Tax on Americans (taxation based upon your earnings and income from labor).  It was unconstitutional to have such a tyrannical individual income tax because it was contrary to private property rights and basic civil liberty as a free American, i.e. that you own your own labor and income derived from it.  (Taxes are a necessity of all governments, but not a demanded tax on personal income!).  In order to force this ruse on Americans, which was ruled "unconstitutional" in 1895, Congress had to amend the Constitution with a 16th Amendment and there is legitimate controversy as to whether it was properly ratified by the states.  It is also common knowledge that a graduated income tax is a communist principle, whereby everyone works for the common government by their labor.  It is in fact a key plank in the Communist Manifesto (see plank 2)!  That's right, slavery was not abolished in America, everyone was merely given universal equality in the Government's Plantation.  Everyone's labor is now owned and claimed by the government.

So the government has always had to portray it as "patriotic" to pay Income Taxes which is setup as some kind of sign of moral righteousness to be a "good American".  The propaganda used to sell this is a proof that natural objections must be overcome to brainwash Americans into believing that it should be a thing of pride instead of subjugation and shame.

The following two videos in this regard are very enlightening and illustrate two contrasting views.  The Income Tax was introduced primarily as a means of financing an American war machine as an "arsenal of democracy" leading toward a system of world government with the ideals represented by the United Nations (also led by FDR, in context with the first video).   Republicans in particular should recall the great opposition they had historically toward FDR's New Deal (socialist) policies, also ruled as unconstitutional; a type and pattern that President Obama has followed almost precisely.  The truth is that both republicans and democrats have supported this same utopian global military vision of expanding "democracy" through wars for "regime change" which the Income Tax has been used to fund and support.

The Propaganda:  From the Federal Government (and Donald Duck, 1943)

Message:  "Be Patriotic!"  Income Tax represents "liberty and freedom".
The "axis" enemy just has a different name now:  Fascism Terrorism.

This kind of propaganda, making use of a cartoon to persuade Americans is frankly insulting, demeaning, and represents the stupid and childish mentality of the American mind.  It is also worth noting that the U.S. united and allied with the Communist Soviet Union to join Great Britain in the war against Germany (which the vast majority of Americans opposed until Japan, which was allied with Germany, bombed Pearl Harbor), which this propaganda film alludes to.  (See our previous article about President Herbert Hoover's opposition to WWII as well as a book by Pat Buchanan, where both claim that American freedom was "betrayed").




The Truth:  From Former Asst. Secretary of Treasury during Reagan Administration

Message:  The Government Owns Your Labor, Income Tax represents Slavery, Not Freedom

The Price Americans Are Paying at the Pump for Iran Sanctions

This is a quick follow up per our previous article about U.S. and Israel Middle East foreign policy driving high gas prices.   If you look at the gas price chart in that article you will see the steady rise in gas prices since Congress (i.e. both parties, as well as Obama) authorized AIPAC's plan of economic sanctions on Iran (which began in the last half of 2011).

The Christian Science Monitor recently posted this article just over a week ago providing more evidence that supports our article, citing experts, and also explaining those sanctions.  Are you sure you want Congress to impose those sanctions now?  Are you willing to bear the economic consequences of sanctions imposed due to pure propaganda and fear-mongering by the Israeli lobby (just as the neoconservatives did to sell you the Iraq war), when Iran has no nuclear weapons capability any more than Saddam Hussein did?  There is economic "blow-back" to all Americans due to this, and surely more to follow.  Think about it and let Congress know what you think!

What do Iran sanctions cost you? About 25 cents a gallon, experts say.

While consumers may support sanctions on Iran to dissuade it from pursuing a nuclear weapon, a foreign trade advocate says, they should also be told how sanctions impact Americans.

Then there is this good article too from Juan Cole:

Obama, GOP won’t Tell Americans that Iran Sanctions drive Gas Prices

Oh, and for good measure, to prove our analysis is unbias, even Fox Business has reported this, so it must be true [sarc]!   We just report, you decide:

 Experts To Congress: Iran Sanctions Fuel High Gasoline Prices

U.S.-Israel Middle East Foreign Policy Behind High Oil and Gas Prices

 A FRESH VIEW:  

AN OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS ABOUT GAS PRICES

If you listen to talk radio, whether national or local, you will probably only hear about supply and demand influencing oil and ultimately our gas prices.  The purpose of this article is to provide summary proof that our high oil and gas prices over the last decade are not only, or even primarily, linked to supply and demand (as Economics 101 teaches us), nor solely to Big Oil (as others claim, albeit they play a role), but by other factors considered by market investors, which some call "speculators", on Wall Street who ultimately set the price of oil through market trading.  They of course take into account supply and demand, output in millions of barrels produced, imports and exports, etc.  But a large part of speculation is entirely driven by what they forecast for the oil business climate particularly in the Middle East too. The headline states the conclusion up front, but let us walk through the analysis to demonstrate how we got there.

First, let's look at the clear and non-partisan history of gas and oil prices.  (Click on any chart for a clear and enlarged view).

POINT 1:  GAS PRICES HAVE BEEN HIGH UNDER BOTH ADMINISTRATIONS

During the Bush administration they were as high as 4.19 per gallon nationally.  We are close to 4.00 per gallon under Obama, projected to pass over that threshold in May of this year.

High gas prices during both administrations; sharp drop during Nov. 2008 elections

So the highest and lowest marks have been shared by both administrations, respectively.  But Americans have grown way too complacent about and used to this.  Note that during the elections of 2008 we were only paying about $1.79 per gallon!  Yet that was still high compared to about $1.29 per gallon when Bush took office in 2001 (not shown in these graphs). 

So what changed gas prices so dramatically?  The "elephant in the room" that no one talks about, as each party tries to portray their own talking points, is foreign policy and middle east wars.  The history of oil and gas prices shows that it was after 9/11 in 2001, and primarily when President Bush, influenced by the Israeli-neoconservative propaganda and persons within his administration (Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, and the rest of the PNAC group), moved America into a decade long war with Iraq under the false pretense of WMD and mythical images of "mushroom clouds".   That had a direct and immediate impact upon oil and gas prices as the following charts will show.

POINT 2:  WARS AND 'FEAR PREMIUM' TRUMPS SUPPLY & DEMAND--Middle East Activity, U.S. Foreign Policy and Wars, Drive Up Oil Prices 

Look over this graph very closely (click to enlarge) and try to refute or disbelieve that that wars and Middle East tensions are the most significant factor behind high oil prices.  Look and see what the norm of oil prices was prior to the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11:

High crude oil prices began during Bush administration, invasion of Afghanistan/Iraq.

Now notice on this graph the volatility of price compared to growing, steady supply.

Supply has been steadily increasing yet oil prices fluctuate dramatically.

  

First note after Bush was in office, and even after 9/11, oil was still trading well under $30 per barrel.

Second, that oil prices only rarely crossed $40 per barrel before 2002 (i.e. note too the CIA fomented the Iranian Revolution, which led to the Iran/Iraq War on chart), when the war on Afghanistan began and the war on Iraq became inevitable to the investors/speculators, and oil prices have never recovered since war in the Middle East has continued to this day.  It is NOW THE NORM for oil prices to be over $80 to $100 per barrel through the decade long wars for "regime change" in Iraq and Afghanistan, which are still to be completely ended.  And now Iran is in the cross hairs.  Thus the Bush administration's unnecessary war on Iraq has "reset" oil prices, with over a decade of Middle East wars now, including Israel's attacks on Lebanon and Syria during the Bush administration, per the market prices on oil.  Would not ramping down Middle East wars and tensions reverse oil prices?  Yes, just ask the traders who trade in oil.

POINT 3:  Growing Global Demand Does Not Account for the New Level of High Oil Prices

This article (with graph) shows that global demand (consumption) has indeed been increasing steadily and lately somewhat greater than supply, which does account for some upward pressure on oil prices.  But that does not explain the oil prices' dramatic fluctuations and much higher averages and spikes that this demand could account for.  In fact, recently the Saudis (who know quite a bit about oil supply and demand) called the present high oil pricing "irrational".  They mean that there is no limit of supply vs. demand that justifies the current market price of crude oil.   Note too that the Saudi oil minister spoke of "irrational fear" of shortage of supply versus that demand, affecting the spot price set in the market by investors and "speculators", which is a direct reference to the "fear premium" we have alluded to before, including regarding fears due to wars in the Middle East, past and present (Iraq, Iran, Syria, et al).  Already oil experts say that this year supply is catching up with demand while there is a price elasticity in gas prices--i.e. U.S. demand (consumption) has dropped during higher pricing.

POINT 4:  U.S. Oil Companies Are Not Helping with Supply--Cutting Refining, Increasing Exports

First, while just complaining about government hindrance of drilling refinery capacity has deliberately been reduced--to increase profits through efficiency, which puts a bottle-neck on supply!  I bet you have never seen this graph about their inventories as demand has increased.

 Second, though the U.S. is a leading oil producer (i.e. refining crude into petroleum products), it has recently become a greater exporter than importer!  Why?  Hoppy Kercheval should have asked this with the oil exec recently on Talkline.  Yes, more drilling is needed, which the current administration is hindering.  However, U.S. oil companies are not helping us either where they are able. 

U.S. Produces More Oil Than Iran

U.S. Companies Now Export More Oil Products Abroad

POINT 5:   Value of Dollar and Inflation Do Not Account for High Oil and Gas Prices


Look and compare this inflation adjusted chart to the ones above (noting differing date range).

Note again the same pattern, while considering these significant dates about foreign policy and regional tensions in the Middle East:

1.  The only prior high peak was during the 1979-80 Iran/Iraq War, which was in part sparked by the CIA's prior covert ops sparking the Iranian Revolution, which ran up prices immediately.  This is when Rumsfeld was shaking hands with Saddam Hussein and the U.S. was supplying WMD to Iraq and Saddam Hussein (ironically).

2.  Oil prices hit $60 per barrel during U.S. military ops against Iraq in Kuwait in 1991 under Bush I.

3.  Late in 2001 after 9/11 was a price spike as talk of war and invasion of Afghanistan began.

4.  Late 2002 was war-mongering moves by the U.S. and the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.  The steep climb in prices began.  The war on Iraq continued officially for over a decade until 2011.

5.  Prices consistently escalated as the U.S. and Israel expanded the "war on terrorism" and violence in Iraq, along with a "surge" of more troops.  Note oil prices continually increase in the trading markets (while supply continues its normal growth, per previous graphs).  Israel bombs Lebanon in 2006 and bombs a site in Syria and also bombs Gaza against Hezbollah.

    Prices also rose after Hurricane Katrina which pinched some U.S. refining capacity for a time.

6.  As the U.S. and Israel increased war talk about Iran as a "threat to Israel" toward the end of Bush's 2nd term oil prices spiked dramatically into 2008.

7.  Elections Nov. 2008 showed a sharp drop in oil prices as talk of ending the Iraq War was entertained and a softer Middle East policy was hinted at by candidate Obama.

8.  Oil prices began to rise quickly in 2009 as Obama talked about a "surge" of his own, appointed the same Bush-generals in war operations and violence surged up into 2010.  (See, no matter the administration; "it's the war policy, stupid").  Granted, this is also when the Gulf Spill changed Obama administration's policy on off-shore drilling, but with no immediate effect upon supply.

POINT 5:  It is Economic Suicide for the U.S. to Increase Conflict with Iran

Do you think this chart shows the potential for such a conflict to inflate oil prices from a "fear premium" on Supply?  Experts think so: See here in regard to Economic Sanctions already begun (though propaganda Op-eds from pro-Israel groups are now attempting to downplay this, to protect their policy on Iran).

Does anyone want a repeated spike of oil prices like during the Iraq-Iran War (see graphs previous)?  Prices of over $200 per barrel have been mentioned if there was an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, because of certain retaliation by Iran, and immediate inflammation of war in the Middle East.   TELL CONGRESS TO BACK OFF THE WAR-MONGERING AND SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN UNLESS YOU WANT TO PAY FOR IT, LITERALLY, IN YOUR GAS AND CONSUMER PRICES.  (It is irrational to believe Iran would attack Israel without provocation).

POINT 6:  Oil Prices Influence All Consumer Prices, The Whole American Economy

CONCLUSION


If foreign policy affects oil and gas prices, then foreign policy affects the entire U.S. economy, of which oil and gas prices is a key factor.  Isn't that what we have seen since the invasion of Iraq?  The price of all consumer goods has gone up, and stayed up, along with oil prices.  This pattern is undeniable and will continue.

ISN'T IT VERY CLEAR WHAT DRIVES OIL PRICES UP?

Why does neither party bring the "war premium" or "fear premium" or "foreign policy" about oil prices?    Because they don't want to offend the powerful Israeli Lobby, AIPAC, which holds a hammer over every member of Congress and causes presidents to tremble.  It's all about wars for Israel and/or "democracy" in the Middle East; regime change by force.  But President Obama, being provoked, finally let the truth slip out, for which he was quickly hit with broadsides from all propaganda cannons for.  But he was partially right.  See the article:  Obama Administration blames Israel for high oil prices.  That was frankly a breath of fresh air to even read the headline (even though we are against his entire philosophy and most of his policies).  

The truth is often not politically-correct and particular interests groups are always pressuring others to prevent free public debate.  But it is blind beyond belief not to talk about Middle East and Iran foreign policy when discussing oil and gas prices and the U.S. economy.  It needs to be brought into the discussion immediately as even the graphs show that oil prices began their increase immediately as sanctions on Iran and war-mongering by Israel and the U.S. surged last year.  Market investors in oil, who indirectly set our gas prices by consequence, pay attention to all of that.  So why shouldn't we in the social and political arena?  It is stupid to ignore it.

This also demonstrates that unjust wars (e.g. Iraq, potentially Iran) have "blow-back" effects on the U.S. domestic economy.  It is a Biblical axiom that "you reap what you sow".  There is a Law of Consequences.  "What goes around" has effects that "come around".  It's time to pay attention to this, and talk openly about it, including in Congress and on talk radio.  If you think this argument has merits, then by all means pass it on for the benefit of all Americans, irregardless of party.