NIMBY pressures . . . and oil slicks

The Washington Times ^ | May 24, 2004 | Tom Bray

[xsysmgr]

As you contemplate those numbers spinning by on the gas pump, here is another number to remember: 1976.

That was the last time an oil refinery was built in the United States, thanks largely to the Not-In-My-Backyard (NIMBY) syndrome cultivated by an environmental movement that has successfully anathematized all things chemical and carbon. There are, of course, other reasons for the latest spike in gasoline prices -- prominently including a return to robust economic growth and a desire by oil producers to protect themselves from recent declines in the dollar -- but even if oil supplies could be suddenly expanded, refiners would have a tough time churning out more gasoline.

[Mister Baredog]

Prediction: blackouts this summer, coming to a town near you!

[JLAGRAYFOX]

The American people have gotten just what they deserve! I will not tolerate or listen to any American moron that bitches about high oil prices. You brought it on yourself! And...you are about to bring something much worse than a high oil price on yourselves. Death at the hands of Arab Muslim terrorists emboldened and strengthened by John Kerry and the "Traitor" Democrat Party!

[Willie Green]

Environmental regulations amount to a tax too, though even Republicans tend to shy away from the implications.

Spineless RINOs are afraid someone will club them over the head with Adam Smith:

Excerpted and condensed from:

Adam Smith: The Wealth of Nations, Book 4, Chapter 2

Of Restraints upon the Importation from Foreign Countries
of such Goods as can be produced at Home

"There seem, however, to be two cases in which it will generally be advantageous to lay some burden upon foreign for the encouragement of domestic industry...

• The first is, when some particular sort of industry is necessary for the defence of the country....

• The second case, in which it will generally be advantageous to lay some burden upon foreign for the encouragement of domestic industry is, when some tax is imposed at home upon the produce of the latter. In this case, it seems reasonable that an equal tax should be imposed upon the like produce of the former....

[elbucko]

The only thing "Green", about being green, is the amount of green money it costs to be as green as the Greens want us to be. The greener we get, the more in the red we go.

[CedarDave]

Bill Richardson was spilling his bile on Fox yesterday blaming Bush for high gas prices (via lack of an energy policy -- yeah I know, RATS in Congress have opposed such). Of course he is against drilling in ANWR. Here in NM has joined with the enviro-wackos by directing his oil and gas agency to oppose drilling in the Otero Mesa area (an area as desolate as much of Iraq and therefore roadless which means its off-limits for drilling) and opposes expansion of drilling in the existing San Juan and Raton basins. So much for new drilling in the US. The Times editorial is right on the mark.

[Redbob]

"Nor will leaning on Saudi Arabia likely make much difference. The Saudis are already pumping relatively high -- and have a vested interest in keeping prices reasonable."

The Saudi's also have a vested interested in the stability of the U.S. government, which to them means the re-election of the incumbent President.

As they have publicly stated, they try to keep high oil pricecs from being an election-year embarrassment to the President, no matter which Party he comes from.
They've acknowledged doing as much for Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton.

[GailA]

How much has the population increased since the last refinery was built has to be factored into this.