Oil

[_Thunder_]

Oil companys rule the world. I don't know if anyone else has noticed this but they do and here are some reasons why.

1. They can crush the economy at any given time

2. Could reduce or increase the price of gas at any given day

3. Talks to the government and thats what the governments rely on.

4. Other countries know that oil is running out and is trying to keep more for themselves.

5. Oil companys could cause war and could crush any given country.

These are some reasons why i think they rule the world in a manner of speaking.

Comments? More reasons?

And at the rate we are going.. we have about 2 trillion barrels and thats not alot for the world. The rate we are going the oil will run out in about 46 years.

[shatterstar]

actually no, oil wont run out. profitble oil only will run out. there's plenty, especially in canada which is more expensive to get out. since they've already inflated oil rates so much through politics, digging more expensive oil cant be passed on the the customer, so it'll cut into their profits.

and no, oil companies rule only the US. whether that equates ruling the world is another issue.

[_Thunder_]

True, True, And i forgot the mention the big oil hit in the gulf of mexico, biggest hit in history!

[Tempest Fennac]

Techniocally, controlling the USA probably equates to ruling the entire world due to how America's huge amounts of political influence and the fact that it is responsible for 25% of the worlds economy. Other countries need oil as well (there are plans to grow sugar which would then be used as a petrol substitute near where I live, but that won't come into operation for a while).

[Realist]

Not only do oil companies not rule the world, oil companies don't even rule the oil. Nations rule the oil, since nations have the military to control the oil. All oil companies do is transfer oil from producing nations to consuming nations.

Moreover, oil companies compete against each other, meaning that oil prices are a function of supply against demand and are therefore not determined by oil companies themselves. At least, theoretically. Consider what would happen if Exxon decided to double the cost of its oil. Everyone would go to the other companies instead and Exxon would lose all its business. So no, oil companies don't really control the price of oil.

Now if you want to say that oil itself controls the world...heh heh...maybe you have a point.

[russian]

1. They can crush the economy at any given time - WTF? Lrn2economics101? How could they do this? Why would they do this?

2. Could reduce or increase the price of gas at any given day - And I'll drive to the next station to buy gas where the price is the same as the day before.

3. Talks to the government and thats what the governments rely on. - WTF? The government relies upon talking with oil companies; therefore oil companies rule the world - Lrn2notbeadumfuk.

4. Other countries know that oil is running out and is trying to keep more for themselves. State owned oil companies do not rule the world either.
They tend to be less profitable then privately held companies. So I don't see state oil companies running the world either. Putin grabbed Lukoil on BS charges for himself and the Gov, and he does not rule the world.

5. Oil companys could cause war and could crush any given country. - OK, Exxon vs Bulgaria next week. I'm betting on Exxon.


You are either:
1) 10 years old, or
2) From France, or
3) Communist, or
4) retarded, or
5) a retarded 10 yr old commie from France.

[Northwind]

actually no, oil wont run out. profitble oil only will run out. there's plenty, especially in canada which is more expensive to get out. since they've already inflated oil rates so much through politics, digging more expensive oil cant be passed on the the customer, so it'll cut into their profits.
What do you mean oil won't run out? I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying that oil is an infinite resource? 'Cause that seems easily disproven. Are you saying that oil is being created faster than it's being used? 'Cause that's also easily disproven.

There's no question that we will eventually deplete the earth's supply of oil. Once we hit "peak oil" capacity (the point at which every subsequent year we extract less oil than the highest point) prices will skyrocket. The resulting price increases will absolutely be passed onto the consumer and will eventually mean that only the very wealthiest can buy it. There might be some arguement as to whether this will happen in 10, 50, or 100 years, but it's eventual depletion seems undeniable.

The real question is WHEN are we going to run out of oil and what alternative energy sources are we developing in the meantime?

[Glamdring]

We'll convert our diesels to veggies and run on vegetable oil!

Which is still oil... DAMN!

But it's not made from crude oil! so there.

[uniquinous]

no he's actually right northwind - we won't be running out of oil in 46 years. They said that 50 years ago. We're just running out of cheap and easy-access easily-refined oil. There's a TON more in the Earth, it just is harder (read more costly) to remove. Yes, it's still finite, but so is, say, oxygen, water, and the sun.

No armies will fight for oil, so it can't control the world. *covers the war in Iraq with a black curtain and hopes no one notices*

[shatterstar]

aye, iwas being lazy. yes oil is a non-renewable resource and will eventually run out. but not at the rate or however many years is the favor of the motnh right now.

i remember a paper dealing with this stuff i ahd to write a while ago, while i dont remember most of it, here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_shale) and here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tar_sands) is something i found. shale oil alone bumps up oil reserves by 50%, if they would just go get it.

uniq - oil is still the most powerful form of energy around. until soemthing renewable replaces or we invent cold fusion, oil can at some point rule the world. its a resource, hence we fight over it. armies will fight, just feed em the right rationalization.

the good thing is the western world is now less reliant on oil than it used to be, something about productivity.

[_Thunder_]

Oil itself does control the world until we can find a reliable source of fuel.

[Hellblazer]

Oil itself does control the world until we can find a reliable source of fuel.

Don't you mean until we can't?

[EleMENTAL]

Oil itself does control the world until we can find a reliable source of fuel.

We got around the world just fine for 1000 years.

Don't hold me to numbers. But I do know we didn't have oil for a while....I think.

[ThinkTank]

My dad bought a few cans of corn oil and put it in his diesel truck.

The truck ran perfectly. O.O

[Anarchy_United]

Bah, everyone knows that a bunch of 7 year olds in spidey man outfits hitting eachother with lightsavers while wearing Tighty-Whiteys on their head rule the world.