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Advice for Your Readers Jack

by James Reza

Mon, Jul 21, 2008, 02:37 PM

Below is a letter I wrote to my local newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) as a rebuttal to an article written by Columnist Jack Z. Smith pertaining to our country’s energy problems and the high cost of gasoline. I often wonder if newspapers don’t understand why their readership has fallen drastically throughout the United States. Most newspapers are left of center with the exception of a few. As an example, take the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which recently laid off many of its employees and many in management positions. These people know full well that Fort Worth by and large is a very conservative Republican leaning city. Yet, day after day they spoon feed their readers with leftist garbage and expect us to idly accept their socialist and left leaning daily diatribes. Just recently, they cut down the newspaper due to lost advertising dollars. I was born and raised in Fort Worth and subscribe to it because I have many friends and family here. If a family member, or close friend dies, I want to know about it, and the paper with its obit section gives me that needed info. Other than that, I subscribe to it for their Sunday’s grocery coupons and use it to line the bottom of my canary’s cage.

Dear Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

I found Jack Z. Smith’s article on high gas prices this past Thursday I believe, in the Star-Telegram beyond stupid.

In his piece, Jack writes about how he noticed that his neighbor traded in his gas-guzzling vehicle for a more fuel efficient one. Jack went on by trying to explain to us gas consumers what needs to be done to bring down the price of oil, and inevitably, gasoline. He cited, correctly I’ll admit, that there is more demand for oil and the supply is limited. Which is true. Interestingly, Jack made note that we need to drill, but he didn’t say where. Which is also true. He also mentioned that we need more nuclear energy, alternative fuels, and wind and solar power devices to produce electricity. Again, Jack was right on the button.

Yet, throughout his piece, Jack never mentioned who is largely responsible for this gas mess were are in now and how we can get out of it.

Jack, here is my take which I believe is just as good if not better than yours to lower gas prices. And take note Jack, you, nor I, or the politicians, particularly the Democrats have a clue as to how to explore for gas, drill for it, refine it and ship it to our local filling stations. The only thing you and I know about gas Jack, is how to put it in our car, lawnmower, and edger, and pay for it.

Jack, if you, with your articles want to send a message to Washington about high gas prices, you need to tell the readers of the Star-Telegram that they need to vote out those politicians who oppose drilling here and drilling now in our country, in our Texas Gulf Coast, and in Alaska. If not, then we will kick them out of office come this November. Those radical and socialist politicians found mostly in the Democratic Party are in bed with the environmentalist and have prevented oil companies from drilling, building new refineries, and exploring for oil in our own country.

Democrat voters, if you like paying these high prices for gas then keep voting for those in your party who don’t want us to drill in our own country. If you don’t, then join me in voting for Congressmen and Senators either Democrat or Republican who are for drilling here, drilling now, and finally pay less at the pump!

If you are a Senator Obama supporter, or are for Senator McCain, that doesn’t matter that much as far as lowering gas prices. I really don’t trust either one of our Presidential candidates. The only government branches that have the power to allow drilling here and building more refineries and ultimately lowering gas prices is the Senate and the Congress. So let’s elect more "Let’s drill here in the USA," Republicans and Democrats.

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written by Paul Barnes , July 21, 2008

Mr. Reza, the oil and gas rigs in America are as busy as they can be. From Kos, here are the three lies that the Bush Administration would have you believe:

No. 1 - Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less. A Newt Gingrich group is promoting that theme. The truth: No significant impact on production or prices before 2030.

No. 2 - China on Our Coasts. Rudy Guiliani, Dick Cheney and others claim the Chinese are drilling for oil off the coast of Cuba. They aren't.

No. 3 - Not a Drop Was Spilled. Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Mike Huckabee, George Will, and Bill O'Reilly have all claimed "not a drop of oil was spilled during Katrina or Rita." BS piled deep. According to the Minerals Management Service, those hurricanes caused 124 offshore spills for a total of 743,700 gallons.

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written by MRN , July 21, 2008

No. 1: How do you know?
The fact we are serious about doing it will have a significant impact on prices now.

No. 2: What is your cite?
How do you know?

No. 3: What is the Minerals Management Service? What is your cite to them?

Pardon me for not taking you at your word, but who are you, anyway?

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written by Paul Barnes , July 21, 2008

1.) A published report by the Dept. of Energy on the possibility of production from ANWR.

2.) News reports from the AP and statements made by Florida representatives (Senator Mel Martinez among them) discrediting this falsehood.

3.) The Minerals Management Service is part of the Department of the Interior and regulates and reports on all oil and gas production from federal lands and coastal areas.

I am a person who happens to read and tries to think critically. I do not watch Fox News or listen to Rush Limbaugh - major sources for the above disinformation.

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written by Byron George , July 21, 2008

Paul,
Maybe you should be listening to Rush and Hannity. You might learn some truths.

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written by Byron George , July 21, 2008

It would take a few years to get the ANWAR and offshore oil into the market but you can bet that IF the democrats who have blocked it for years suddenly relented to the drilling, oil prices would come down immediately. The middle east countries are lapping up hugh profits knowing that our Congress had rather buy from them than to endanger some frog. Just the threat of drilling would reduce the price of a barrel of oil. They know their "gravy train" will come to an end if we start using our own petroleum.

During the recent hearings when the oil executives were being grilled by congress, I kept waiting for one of the executives to produce a chart showing how much profit they made and compare it to the profit the government got off of the same oil when the government didn't have to do one thing to produce the product. My guess would be that the government brought in more money than the oil companies.

Mr. Barnes, I must ask..do you support (as some in your party) that the solution is for the government to take over the oil companies?

Other than the military, tell me one thing the government does better than private free enterprise.

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written by randye , July 21, 2008

Fine letter Mr. R. Kos, Hannity, Rush? Good grief.

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written by Austin Chase , July 21, 2008

Paul Barnes,

1. Who cares if it is 2020, 2030, 2040. You and I might not be around but somebody we know will need oil. I don't even get the point you are making. We didn't get into this fix overnight but you want to resolve to only attempt solutions that will resolve our crisis overnight? The short sightedness doesn't make sense to me.

2. George Will's claim appears to be wrong but what isn't being pointed out is that Cuba is letting a range of firms including China's Sinopec do EXPLORATION. So you point out that they aren't drilling today, but what will your argument be when they start. Seems to be a bit short sighted again.

3. Your oil spill facts are WAY off. The MMS in it's Setting the Record Straight Report identified only 125 minor spills of petroleum for a total of 16,302 barrels that were lost from platforms, rigs, and pipelines as a result of Katrina and Rita. The spills were mostly limited to oil that was stored. Also none of the spills were the result of loss of control of the producing wells and none of the spills reached the shoreline.

Note 1: Oil enters the ocean from natural underwater seepage at a rate of 1700 barrels a day.

How would you know if Fox or Rush are major sources of disinformation if you don't watch or listen to them? They fact check better than most. Just because you don't care for them doesn't prove anything. Give some examples of when they were "sources of disinformation". As a critical thinker what do you think of '60 Minutes'? They have had their problems with 'disinformation'. How about the NY Times or CNN? All have had their problems with properly sourced material and passing on 'disinformation'.

I'm not a Fox or Rush fan, I just think you shouldn't throw around such terms as 'disinformation' unless you have proof.

Disinformation to me means more than a mistake, it is intentional. I would like to hear the proof you have of that.

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written by Herb Reeves , July 21, 2008

Obviously , Paul only listens to the Left Wing views of KOS? ( One Side)

I guess the Surge didn't work either?

BTW, what is the Current stats on The Pelosi/ Reid
congress? What was it when they took over and promised lower gas prices?

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written by Guy Arnold , July 22, 2008

If the Congress would take their heads out of the sand, they could learn very quickly that the Willistin Basin, right in the middle of our great country contains the Bakken Oil Field, which contains 503 billion barrels of sweet crude. The Rockies, although it is Shale Oil, it is easy recoverable as Shell Production has a new electric heat generator and they heated a 40 Ft. X 30 Ft. section of Shale and after that it pumped 1770 barrels daily. Not bad for such a small section of Shale deposit.The Rockies have 1.2 trillion barels of recoverable crude oil.

We have oil recoverable in California now, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Louisiana, West Virginia and 100,000 Stripper wells that can be re-fractured, wet sanded and get another 60-70% of the oil out of the ground, not to mention the Bakken Oil Field coming from Alberta, (Shale) Manitoba, (shale)North Dakota (Sweet) South Dakota (Sweet) and Montana, (Sweet)

We have plenty of crude we just need a Congress to give authority to let the W#ild Catters go to work and they will make new oil everywhere for us, domestically.

I am a Certifed Petroleum Engineer with 39.5 years of experienceand i will discuss this with any one who wants to debate me.

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written by Bob Reagan , July 22, 2008

I have to go along with James. The American oil producers must explore and exploit more of the petroleum resources we have. Congress must get the government out of their way, and allow such exploration and production. Will that provide overnight relief? No, but we have to start somewhere. Over a hundred years ago, many worried about running out of iron ore for steel production. Development of methods for extraction and production of aluminum, and then organic based plastics, allayed that fear. The lesson there is that other energy sources, particularly nuclear, as well as coal, wind and solar, have to be developed. And they will. Environmental concerns should be addressed, but the principle in that regard is that the earth’s resources are our servants to use wisely and frugally, not our masters.

The government should also do take action where it can effectively. That is providing appropriate common carrier infrastructure. The states and Congress have subsidized motor vehicles, particularly the trucking industry, long enough by providing inexpensive (for the users) roads. The government must now begin to de-emphasize highways in favor of rail corridors, both local and regional. Leave long distance travel to the air.

The only solution the left appears to offer is that we retreat to the stone age. Americans will not stand for that. By and large, we are not whiners and snivelers (although many of our wannabe leaders are, as Phil Gramm pointed out).

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written by Leo Elliott, Pecos, Texas USA , July 22, 2008

I agree with James & Bob, this did not happen over night it started back with the Bush senior, an progressively as governmet progresses got worse.

If we had started when the prices started up we would be at a breakingpoint, but gevernment moves like a snail age it gets to be a big thing. Nrither of the candidates has a clew what they should do, so maybe they will do something positive this time.

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written by Paul Barnes , July 22, 2008

I would urge everyone to learn more about Peak Oil. Matthew Simmons' book "Twilight in the Desert" and even T. Boone Pickens will offer you good reads about the decline of oil production. The Oil Drum is a good website to learn more. Mr Reza is a good story-teller but his anecdotes are fact-free. To claim that we can drill our way out of our current crisis is just flat wrong. Dick Cheney himself corrected George Will on June 11 about the Chinese drilling off Cuba. Here's a quote (still uncorrected) from Sean Hannity on June 17:

"I mean, you know, we've got China, you know, joining with Cuba, they're drilling 60 miles off our shores of Florida.

But we can't drill there. And any effort that we've ever had, the Democrats have rejected any attempt to expand offshore or any drilling anyplace, anywhere, or any attempts to become energy independent. I'm telling you, it's nuts out there."

Sean Hannity falsely suggested that federal areas legally available for leasing by oil companies contain no oil. In fact, federal agencies have estimated that more oil exists on the tens of millions of acres of federal areas currently legally available for drilling than there is in the areas currently off limits to drilling.

I do not support nationalizing the oil and gas industry. What political leaders have suggested such a thing? It is not a position of the Democratic Party.

Newt Gingrich has manufactured this issue and Sidney J. McCain III is now trying to blame Barack Obama for high gasoline prices. Such is the political discourse in our land. Solar, natural gas (Barnett shale), wind, nuclear, clean coal are all great - but none will address our transportation needs. Only oil does that. The American people are the real losers here - both parties are refusing to call for the sacrifice needed to wean us off our addiction to oil. I guess those permanent military bases in Iraq are there for a reason. It's where 1/4 of the remaining oil on our planet exists.

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written by Byron George , July 22, 2008

Price of gasoline when the Democrats took control of Congress..$2.23

Price of gasoline today..$4.05

Cant wait for the liberal spin on this one.

BTW Paul, Congresswoman Maxine Waters was the first to mention the government takiing control of the oil companies.

Finally, How much profit did the oil companies make in the first quarter of this year?

How much did the Democratic controlled Congress take in on the same oil?

Any guess on who made the most!

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written by Byron George , July 22, 2008

One more thing..didn't I read where the Democratic controlled Congress is thinking of raising the gasoline tax another $0.10 cents?

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written by michael a. , July 22, 2008

I hope that gas stays above $4.00 a gallon if it will get all these huge people out of their corresponding huge cars. Most of these little Napoleons in their Hummers are suffering from penis envy anyway.

You guys keep arguing about how it's your God given right to keep being the largest consumers of natural resources on the planet. Keep getting mad that other countries are getting cars and want their turn at the pump. And keep blaming Democrats with their two year marginal majorities in Congress while your two fat cat oil men run have been running the White House for eight years.

This nation is blessed with many natural resources and oil is one of the smaller ones but we're one of the largest users of it. It's not rocket science. As Phil says, stop whining and get yourselves a car that gets better mileage. If we had a decent leader there would be more of them to buy.

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written by Byron George , July 22, 2008

Michael,
You bet I keep blaming your democratic congress. They have not done one thing to make this country energy dependent. They talked a good talk when they were running but now that they have the majority they are only standing in the way of independence. Interestingly, Pelosi asked OPEC to increase their production while voting against domestic drilling.

And pray tell, how does President Bush have anything to do with getting better gas mileage.

My guess is you are one of those "tree huggers." CORRECT?

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written by Bob Reagan , July 22, 2008

I recently saw a cartoon that showed a map of Iraq divided into "provinces" labed with the names of the big four or five oil companies, ExxonMobil et al. I'm for it! Maybe the war was worth fighting.

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written by ElHombre , July 22, 2008

"Maybe the war was worth fighting."

Tell that to the dead and wounded.

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written by mike shaw , July 23, 2008

My head spins at the stupidity (like Paul Barnes)of some of these comments.
1. NOT drilling here and now is what has gotten us into this mess. No, I'm not an oily.
2.China has for years been drilling off our coasts in the Gulf, in conjunction with "Cuber". So says the left wing media.
3. Very little was spilled from Katrina or it would have been on the news every night. Believe me they were gunning for it.
We just got back from AK and took a glacier cruise around Prince William Sound where the Exxon Valdez made it's spill. The ships' crew pointed out bays and glaciers they said the cleanup crew never got to. It took the salt water and sun 2-3 years to clean up the spill and then you couldn't tell it ever happened. Oh, and the town of Whittier is being moved because of the glacier above it growing and coming their way. Some glaciers are growing, and ones nearby are in retreat.
Petroleum is not a fossil fuel. There never were enough dinosaurs to make it all. I believe when we began calling it a fossil fuel was the first step to letting the Sierra Club lie us out of using it. The planet makes it, for crying out loud, just like it makes helium, gold, silver, copper, and quartz.
Coal is a fossil fuel, not petroleum! Petroleum is a mineral, kids. It is where you find it and you have to look in different places!
We are not running out of it, we are finding more.
Now if only those leases gave the oil companies the right to PRODUCE what they found...

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written by michael a. , July 23, 2008

Byron,

There is not a veto proof majority in the Senate. Therefore, anything radically different is vetoed unless some spineless Republicans join with the Democrats which is happening now as they all have to run from Bush to keep their jobs. Also, energy dependence would also be not using so much of it, or does it only equal everybody having as much cheap energy as they need for their excessive lifestyles?

Bob, Don't you remember how they lied to us how the oil in Iraq was going to pay for the war? That's working really good huh?

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written by Byron George , July 23, 2008

The vast majority of the families who lost their brave soldiers in Iraq are proud of them and know their children were fighting terrorist. Of course, there are those such as Cindy Sheehan who profited off her son's death. Now that is sad.

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written by Paul Barnes , July 23, 2008

Mike, I can understand why your head spins if you believe that oil is not a fossil fuel.

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written by Tom Elliott , July 23, 2008

Mr Reza, Enjoyed your post. You are right on target despite what some of the comments say.

Just to add my 2 cents; The U.S. hasn't had an energy policy since 1978 when President Carter shopped around for a geological study that supported his views and came up with price controls on oil & gas. One of the things his study stated was that we would be out of natural gas in 15 years. Do the math. However, the fact that we haven't had a real energy policy we have had a de facto policy. That policy was as long as oil is relatively cheap let's buy the other guys oil. You couple that with the impact of the radical marxist environmentalist and what do you get, ever increasing prices for oil.

Evidence the recent decline in the price of crude oil for the high $140/bbl to the mid $120/bbl in about a weeks time. All it took was President Bush lifting the presidential ban on offshore drilling. It doesn't mean there will be more drilling since Congress also has to act. Any bets on when that will happen. The markets do react to positive news even if its symbolic.

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written by Tom Elliott , July 23, 2008

The lies Paul Barnes and KOS would have you believe.

1. no impact on prices until 2030. THEY MUST THINK WE ARE STUPID. Oil markets are like all other markets 50% supply & demand and 50% physiological. EVIDENCE: Bush lifts the presidential ban on offshore drilling which has no real impact until congress acts and crude prices drop to a 6 month low.

2. China off our coast. GIVE ME A BREAK. The Bush administration didn't say it, the Cubans and the Chinese released a statement that said they had reached an agreement and will be drilling in a tract that is with in 40 miles of Key West, FL. You can't have it both ways Mr Barnes. It will take us decades to drill & get the oil to market but the Chinese can do it in a matter of days.

3. Not a Drop Was Spilled. I searched the MMS website extensively and couldn't find this anywhere. I even emailed them. Haven't heard back yet but if I do I will report my findings.

Drill now & Drill everywhere.

PS to Leo in Pecos. It started longer ago than G.H.W. Bush. Jimmy Carter enacted price controls on both oil and gas. Ever heard of the NGPA 1978. [Natural Gas Policy Act] Well, it was based on the fact that we would run out of NG in 15 years. And yes I have been to Pecos, never stopped but I have been there. Turn left towards the Davis Mountains...

Yes, there are mountains in TX.

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written by michael a. , July 24, 2008

There is another school of thought that says it was because the administration st down at the table with Iran and stopped threatening them that oil dropped. In which case, if Bush would've suppressed his arrogance months ago maybe it would've made a difference. Iguess he needed Obama to lead him.

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written by ElHombre , July 25, 2008

And now for a fact interlude. Let's ask actual economists why oil prices have fallen slightly. Short version: Due to the crappy economy, Americans don't have money to spend on gas.

"Falling prices at the filling station reflect the concern of many energy traders that the weakening U.S. economy is hurting demand. Analysts say that is helping keep oil prices from racing back higher."

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written by Jane , July 25, 2008

James,

Your summary of the Startlegram is bang on. However, you are kinder to the refuse than I am. I use it to line the bottom of the cat box. I wonder if the few good reporters are left amongst the debauchery.

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written by Jane , August 09, 2008

James,

The problem is that you are expecting too much from a McClatchy Company owned paper.

The price is about right but it should be delivered in a 4 roll pack.

I just couldn't resist.

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