rag heads?
Got pogrom?
Thought about not even dignifying your absurdity but then I thought it might be fun.
To even start to answer your question, context is required:
- the US has only 4% of world population
- the US uses over 25% of world energy production annually
- the US doesn't produce all the oil it needs, hasn't for decades
- a significant portion of daily oil needs comes from the Persian gulf.
- other advanced economies produce more GDP $ per capita with far less energy
In short, almost in parallel with the expanding waistline of the western world, we are, quite simply, energy pigs.
You might also be interested to know that 4 billion dollars of US taxpayer money is *given* to Egypt and Israel, *every year* so that they can buy weapons. Many billions more in direct sales to the region happen every year. Many billions more is spend on military funding for Middle East operations.
Perhaps you weren't aware that if the true cost of foreign oil (these days totaling well over 100 billion annually in military expense alone) were built into every gallon of gas you'd be paying something like 5$ a gallon. Instantly. Flying from San Jose to New York would triple in price. Instantly.
Perhaps you weren't aware that current foreign policy basically amounts to "might makes right" and hand over your resources or we'll blast you...
Would someone please remind me why are we on Saudi soil protecting ...
Yes, its because two - no three - generations of citizens have grown addicted to an economy driven by low cost and accessible oil, only the true costs have never been reflected at the pump because no politician would get elected and none of them care to be that blunt with the public.
Its because too many people drive to the corner store six blocks away to buy their individually plastic-wrapped twinkies instead of walking or biking there. Its because we have incentives to buy vehicles that are less fuel efficient than more. Its because no one will stand up and demand that industry do more, with less resources. Its because foreign policy is guided more by domestic consumer sentiment than common sense.
Its because our sense of the future is totally distorted by the common drive to "live for the day".
Its because too many people are concerned about their next tax cut instead of the effect that domestic policy has on foreign policy and therefore both national and world security. Policy too damn hard to understand, pass the twinkies!
Its because no leader seemingly can grab attention from the 47% who voted for one man and the 53% that voted for another, because one group is drooling over Benny Hinn, Falwell, et al (while secretly watching the the sex channels at night) and the other is spending too much time plunked down in front of Survivor hoping to see some flesh.
Its because the people - not all people, but far too many people - are addicted on the opiate of modern living, have little sense of what's real in the world, too much expectation of privilege and too little sense of obligation. Too much yammering over rights and too little over responsibilities. TOo much me and too little we.
We don't care what happens on the other side of the world as long as it only happens on TV and the remote control is nearby so we can switch the channel. We tolerate abuses as long as they are made by people who kinda look like us.
Why are we "protecting" them? We aren't. We are protecting the furtzing oil.
Well I could go on but I've not had a glass of wine, yet.
Perhaps not the answer you wanted. And its not even the full version... |
