the US oil production may in fact be at an all time high. That statement by itself does not address the fact that our dependency on foreign oil has almost doubled over the last 40 years. The doubling of an insufficient amount to be independent from foreign oil is still = to an insufficient amount of domestic production to break the hold the foreign producers have on our energy use destiny.

Supposedly production is up while domestic demand is down. One reason is that refineries are exporting gasoline. So there could be a real demand on overall capacity while the domestic piece is down.

Another reason is that a significant number of refineries are not in production. Hence another impact on available capacity (and pricing).

It has been a point of discussion (no progress) for years that all the USA has to do is to announce it's plans to begin opening oil fields for drilling....increase domestic production and decrease import quantities AND become a competitor on the open oil market. The announcement followed by a long term plan would in fact have an impact on investors, speculators and foreign oil producers.

We have yet to do anything "substantial" (there is that word again!) to increase our domestic capabilities. It is business as usual in Washington on this subject. The speculators and investors and the foreign oil producers know it and have become accustomed and comfortable that politicians will do nothing to change the status quo of our energy capability.

We certainly don't want to upset our FRIENDS in the middle east do we? The current admistration certainly isn't by his energy lack of action(s). Please don't insult us with the so called green energy partisan BS!!

btk