[thackney]

I think that if we were to stop being a customer of OPEC, we would have less influence over them and other nations would jump in to provide that missing influence, nations hostile to our interests. Before you know it,OPEC will be accepting rubles or yuan or euros for oil and then, the next thing you know, demand for the dollar will plummet which will result in a fiscal crisis unlike anything we have ever seen. Our way of life has evolved around the petrodollar arrangement. I’m pretty sure it’s in our interest to maintain that arrangement at any cost. all just my opinion of course.

So you believe it is in our best interest to limit domestic oil production and set a minimum OPEC purchase? I am still trying to convert your concern into an action. If you don't define an action, nothing happens but talk.

[RC one]

I think we have to consider that the petrodollar arrangement has been very very good for America and that it would be very very bad for America if it were to suddenly end. We also need to consider that as our welfare/ warfare state grows around this whole arrangement, the severity of the consequences of it ending grow with it. I suspect that there are no lengths to which we will not go to to maintain the status quo- wars, revolutions, assassinations, etc. With all this in mind, I think it’s pretty obvious that we can’t allow anything to come between us and the Saudis so, yes, we need to keep them close and the best way to do that is to keep buying their oil, protecting their interests, and respectfully bowing to their kings.