Not to be rude, but most people have no idea how heavily regulated the oil industry is.
Just try to get permission to build a pipeline, or build a refinery, or drill a well. Just try.
For that matter, just try to get permission to build a power plant, or any kind of industrial facility whatever, but thats a story for another thread.
Make it impossible to drill and refine here, and by definition imported oil is the only kind you’re going to get. Most of the world’s oil is in the hands of government oil companies as it is. Nobody has a dial big enough to set that price. Private oil is the exception in this world, and not the rule.
What's so funny is that these same people push for "fair trade" deals to protect American jobs.
Yet they fail to realize that current oil prices justify domestic production that doesn't occur at cheap, 1990's level oil prices. I guess they have something against American lease holders making some money (and paying some taxes).