That headline sounds like an April Fools gag, but it isn’t. This is what we have come to as a country: we are afraid to talk to countries we see as our enemies, and if they don’t sell us more oil, we’ll send in the lawyers and sue them.
The United States is responsible for 2% of global oil production but consumes 24% of it. That means we rely on imports. America needs to find a way to reduce our need for oil, period. So does the rest of the world. Self-reliance is the only sure way to guarantee national security. If we are not self-reliant when the crisis hits, then we will find ourselves fighting in various places around the world to ensure our supply of oil.
And not with lawyers.
But our House of Representatives doesn’t get Peak Oil, yet. They think OPEC is holding back on oil production. And they think legal action can draw more oil out of OPEC.
H.R. 6074 is the ‘Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act of 2008’. It is also called the ‘No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2008’ or ‘NOPEC’.
Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act of 2008 – No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2008 or NOPEC – Amends the Sherman Act to make it illegal for any foreign state or instrumentality thereof to act collectively or in combination with any other foreign state or any other person, when such action has a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on the market, supply, price, or distribution of petroleum in the United States, to: (1) limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product (petroleum); (2) set or maintain the price of petroleum; or (3) otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for petroleum.
Denies a foreign state engaged in such conduct sovereign immunity from the jurisdiction or judgements of U.S. courts in any action brought to enforce this Act.
States that no U.S. court shall decline, based on the act of state doctrine, to make a determination on the merits in an action brought under this Act.
Authorizes the Attorney General to bring an action in U.S. district court to enforce this Act.
Makes an exception to the jurisdictional immunity of a foreign state in an action brought under this Act.
Directs the Attorney General to establish in the Department of Justice (DOJ) a Petroleum Industry Antitrust Task Force to, among other things, develop, coordinate, and facilitate the implementation of DOJ investigative and enforcement policies related to petroleum industry antitrust issues under federal law.
Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study evaluating the effects of mergers addressed in covered petroleum merger consent decrees on competition in the markets involved, including the effectiveness of divestitures required in such decrees in preserving competition in those markets.
Apology for the cynical note……..somehow finding it difficult to not be cynical today, but I do say it as I see it. I think that “peak oil” as an issue is getting enough lip service……………not many are making efforts to take notice of it is another story, and hopeless methods such as Congress voting to sue OPEC are probably going to only make matter worse-like pouring oil into the fire (pun not intended).
I think “talking the talk” about peak oil is now the past-time for everybody, it is “the” trendy thing to do, but frankly speaking very few folks who are talking the talk are actually walking the walk.
To stay ahead of the curve and set a refreshing trend I suggest that your forum should explore the possibilities of providing some feasible ideas and coverage on real stories that are inspirational or provide alternative solutions to the “post peak oil” phase.
For some reason it did not come as a surprise that after a basic internet search on phrases such as peak oil, post peak oil, post peak oil solutions, solutions for post peak oil phase, solutions after peak oil……….I found very little of what everybody will soon need most i.e. practical and useful information on the “management” of the post peak oil phase.
Again, it is the voice of the hidden cynic inside me speaking today but who cares!!…………… The cynics are right nine times out of ten.-Henry Louis Mencken (1880-1956) American journalist, satirist and social critic.