Assuming we have the goods, how can we be energy independent without nationalizing our energy sector?
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You’re not getting it. The USA is becoming oil independent despite the best efforts of the Obama administration to prevent that from happening....
Nationalization of the oil industry would kill it.
That’s not currently in the cards.
Oil is sold on the world market. If we are not paying top dollar for it (wherever it is extracted), then it goes elsewhere, not here.
So, our choices are 1} have the most expensive energy or ... 2} nationalize energy resources, keep what we consume here and control the cost internally and be “energy independent”.
I’m not advocating for nationalizing energy. I don’t think we should. But I’m asking how can you be “energy independent” if you do not do this? The only other way to be energy independent is to pay the highest price for the energy.