High gas prices...just another tax! Why doesn't Bush open up the strategic oil reserve?

Reuters ^

[babble-on]

all of the above, except, you could easily argue that high oil prices are GOOD for helping Iraq succeed

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

It's high time to open up more sites for drilling and build about 10 new refineries.

Unless we defeat the reactionary environmentalists, this nation will stagnate and decline rapidly.

Energy independence must start before gasoline hits $10 a gallon!

If we can successfully fight and defeat Iraq twice, why are we so timid when it comes to our homeland terrorists, the radical environmentalists?

[Swiss]

No new refineries is what is causing the gasoline price rise.

We have 20+ year old refineries operating at full capacity and you know a 20 year old car will break down more often than newer ones so will the production systems in this country.

Now if the Feds and State governments would suspend the gas taxes when gas prices go above a certain point it would have more postive effect on the economy than releasing the reserves.

[babyface00]

Does anyone know what is stopping refineries from being built? Is it a lack of investment dollars? Prohibitive regulations? Both?

If we can import crude from half way around the world, why can't some state (Nevada, for example) encourage the building of a massive high-technology refinery complex, and then ship the refined products nationwide? Seems like all the oil companies would benefit and so would consumers.

Better yet, maybe we should take a small piece of the massive federal government land holdings and give it to a refinery company to build (a) new refinery(ies) in return for a discount on petroleum products to the military or tax incentives.

Any new refinery has got to be more efficient and less polluting then the old ones we have now running at capacity.

[Dane]

Prohibitive regulations?

Back in 2000, when the first gas spikes started happeneing Cheney said it was due to the lack of refinery capaicty and I would guess it would be because of enviro whacko regulations and the "not in my backyard mentality".

Building new refineries would mean plenty of jobs for an area, but that would go against the envirowhackos, not only because they are refining more of that evil crude oil, but giving an opportunity to that evil(to the envirowhackos)corporation, Halliburton.

[KC_for_Freedom]

Whatever, dealing with the enemies within the rat party is frustrating, and it seems that very few people ever truly realize just how much they hurt us and all Americans.

True, and lower energy prices could really kick the economy, but it seems to be rising anyway. This will put more pressure on drilling in ANWR and nuclear power. but it will also help Iraq with higher oil revenues just now when they need money. Venezula will eventually raise production and OPEC can only pass up the revenue for a limited time, (their greed always crashes their agreements after a time.) So, we live through this and watch another cycle in the oil industry.

[sr4402]

Gas prices are hitting record highs in many parts of the country...I really think it is in Bush's interest to leak out some of our huge reserves to drop prices. This is just another tax on the American people, and its the last thing he needs in an election year. The economy is ready to zoom and $30+ weekly fillups are putting the recovery on hold.

ALERT: TEXT NOT PART OF ARTICLE. POSSIBLE DU or LIBERAL OPINION HERE. Comments are to be added in Comment window AFTER Excerpt!

[1Old Pro]

Well, if we starting drilling in ANWR 10 years ago he could just start pumping to lower prices.

[Sloth]

I'd rather keep the reserve and abolish gas taxes.

[TexasCajun]

The American Petroleum Institute has stated that oil imports are at an all-time high of 62%!

US Oil Companies have NADA, ZERO control of oil prices.($36.28 per barrel)

Unleaded Gasoline is $1.06 a gallon on the commodity market. That's way before it hits the pump. Add Federal, State & Local taxes + delivery. And that's not the 'special blend' that Californian's have to buy.