Can't We Ever Get the Truth?
I learned many facts about the oil industry recently. Charles Gibson of ABC did a special report on the oil industry which aired on ABC's 20/20 television show last Friday.
The saddest thing about the oil industry is that we are never told the truth. I guess we're not grown up enough for the tough facts folks. And we seem to think it's OK for our politicians, government, and oil executives to get away with all the lying.
For those of you who missed the 20/20 show with Charles Gibson, here are the facts I found most surprising:
- Americans consume 400 million gallons of gas a day.
- Oil companies don't own gas stations, they are run as franchises now. Oil companies do own their "racks." Racks are stations where those large oil trucks fill up and visit the gas station to replenish fuel.
- The last oil refinery built was in 1978. No one wants them in their backyard, they do stink and forget about the pollution.
- All gas is the same. It doesn't matter if you go to Chevron, Exxon or some other gas station. No gas station has better gas than another. This is federally regulated so it's a true fact indeed folks.
- Even in 1978, our leaders in the government and the oil industry knew that our demand was exceeding our supply in the US.
- We only have 149 domestic oil refineries, 26 were closed as of 1995. Who closed them?
- Refineries can purposely make the price of gas at the fuel pump go up with delays. Where's that work ethic in America? How many of those delays are foced delays?
- The New York Mercantile Exchange is one responsible organization that through the speculation of oil prices, made oil more expensive. Greedy Wall Street pops into our lives all the time.
- President Obama, like other leaders before him, has promised to implement new rules to regulate the oil industry. Good luck on that one people! Obama the Auto Czar is too busy implementing rules for GM and Chrysler to follow: Look out Ford!
- Seventy percent of our oil is imported while we use an astonishing one-quarter of the world's oil.
- The war in Iraq which is all about religion and oil really, has cost taxpayers $700 billion dollars to date. How much of that are fuel costs? Lots and lots people.
- Our government is over- pressured by lobbyists to not regulate oil so big executives make big bucks. If you think they're willing to give up their money and lifestyles, forget it people!
- The average gas station owner only makes a ten cent profit on fuel sales. If a gas station owner wants to stay in business, they better sell sodas, beer, snacks, and the like.
The facts about the oil industry include these, along with too many others to list. I do hope at some point ABC re-broadcasts Charlie Gibson's report because it was well done, easy-to-understand for all ages, and well, perhaps finally a little bit of truth.
Photo credit: Oil Refinery by UrbanRaven/Flickr Creative Commons
Comments
What convinces you that you are getting total truth from ABC?
I take exception the tone of this article. The demonized subjects of the second paragraph do not often lie about the oil industry. They give incomplete truths intentionally or ignorantly to further an agenda. If that is an appropriate basis for demonizing a group or individual then add the author to the list. At least their motivations are concrete/predictable as opposed to the author that is able to muster disdain for a group of mostly very fine individuals from an ABC special. I hope the wanton use of free speech and poor judgment demonstrated by the author is not condoned by readers of her article. Item #4 is incomplete, gasoline is often transported in common carrier pipelines to terminals ("racks") supplied by multiple sources. However, there are significant differences in gasoline because of the difference in additive packages (engine cleaners, etc.) The implication of item #7 is ridiculous; the impact of unscheduled shutdowns is always lost revenue.
The oil industry has been trying to tell Americans the truth but their eyes glaze over and their attention wanders. Many Americans prefer a simple lie (e.g. from an anti energy industry perspective) to the complicated truth. The "arrogant elitists" (AE's) are the worst. If the energy industry says that a carbon tax is the most efficient way to reduce carbon emissions (truth) then the AE's push a cap and trade agenda (to avoid the word "tax"?). Reducing carbon emissions requires that consumers and energy producers make significant changes in the production and use of energy. If you think that the impact on the average consumer is going to be less than 50 cents per day (as promised by the AE's) then you do not understand what it takes to modify consumer behavior (e.g. gasoline at $3.50-4.00 gallon seemed to do the trick but not at $3.00 per gallon).
This was an interesting article. But I am still confused, particularly by point #4. If it's all the same gas, why do places like Chevron claim to put engine cleaners in their fuel. How is that legal? ( http://www.completemotorcare.com/display?pid=7#product=Additives-Coolant... )
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!