What can be done about out of control gas prices and many goods and services?
It's not only at the pumps, we are also paying higher prices on home energy, groceries and clothing.
Why?
Truckers are paying $5. a gallon for diesel fuel, while the farmer uses fertilizer and gas to run their tractors which are petroleum-based products.
The world is demanding more oil and gas especially China and India. Here in the United States, we can and must start by utilizing our own energy resources. The United States must address the needs and reliance on foreign oil, by opening up areas that contains oil resources.
There are estimate of 10.4 billion barrels of oil in the plains of Alaska, National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) -- its only 1 percent of the 19.6 million acres of the refuge area.
But the leadership in Congress refuses to allow the United States to use these resources. Not only in Alaska, but also off our shores, there are 86 billion barrels of oil out there, but because of the off-limits moratorium of 1982 imposed by Democratic President Jimmy Carter, the U.S. can't drill. Again Congress refuses to pass laws to start drilling. On our federally-owned land, there are 31 billion barrels of oil again congress says no to let oil companies access to the land.
In the costal plains, the outer continental shelf and the interior lands, there are approximately 124.9 billion barrels of oil. This oil could be produced domestically If only Congress would act. The United States imports 4.5 billion barrels of oil annually. Added all together of the areas in the United States, there are 278.3 billions barrels of oil all that can be accessed if Congress would just act now.
Do you know the U.S. imported 1.97 billion barrels of oil from OPEC and another 1.69 billions from other countries in 2007, totaling 3.66 billions of oil.
With 278.3 billions of oil we have, (lets do a little math) take 278.3 divide by 3.66 that we import annually we have enough oil for 76.4 years. By then some sort of alternative energy will be found.
In dollars the U.S. pays OPEC and other nations $700 billion annually. Why can't we keep all that money here at home? We need the political will of Congress to take advantage and pass the laws that are required.
I researched all of the above, I'm Michael Visconti, and I approve this message.