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Nationalize Gas and Oil Companies

Sedona AZ – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor:

Readers:

Exclusive SedonaEye.com photograph

This should make Americans ask the fundamental question: What is the difference between what a public non-profit utility company provides and what a private for-profit oil company provides? After all, they both sell energy to all United States citizens.

The difference is that natural gas and electricity are sold in the form of a public good, whereas oil is sold in the form of a private good. Accordingly, on the grounds of promoting national security, the United States Congress should convert all oil companies to utility companies. This would eliminate the windfall profits and force the oil industry to earn just enough income to cover operating expenses just as natural gas and electric utility companies are required to do.

The resulting drop in gasoline prices would further stimulate the economy and lighten the energy stranglehold upon the United States by the Middle East. It would also eliminate the influence of the oil lobby.

In this case, desperate times call for deliberate measures. But as pathetic as the energy policy is in the United States, the effort to develop alternative sources of energy won’t really be accelerated until the oil dries up and the Saudi’s place solar cells all across their desert and then sell us the electricity.

Joe Bialek
Cleveland, OH

135 Comments

  1. Nims says:

    Most utility companies are for-profit, although they are tightly regulated

  2. E. C. Haffner says:

    Why would it ever be in your best interests to nationalize any company? Government is the most inefficient and bloated “corporation” on the planet. They will stifle desire to be more efficient and it is counter to our efficient and highly regulated oil and gas companies of today. California is the best example of why nationalized or state-owned utilities are massive failures – equipment upgrades are almost nonexistent and innovation that surrounds CA in other states and countries are never considered because of its unions and state protection of paychecks. Please reconsider your hypothesis. Have you seen the ecological damage that digging for the goods to manufacture recyclables costs our environment? It’s an eye opener and makes one reconsider why green isn’t greener and that fossil fuels with strict environmental guidelines are best for the globe. You will never see China or Russia ever stop using fossil fuels or ever regulate for clean and green initiatives, and they are the biggest global polluters while the US is among the lesser polluters globally. Do your own research and stop believing what pop culture and ad driven media offers as how-to information.

  3. Ulele Kissane says:

    @Joe I’m from Tunisia and living there makes you NEVER like government. United States of America is God’s gift to my parents and my sisters and me after we saved money to come here. To hate this country is wrong, and it’s time to recognize gifts from family back and forward.

    Slaves from Africa and Europe and Asia and South America sacrificed for their children to be better. The land of opportunity offers them more than they would ever earn in their old countries. Be happy for your blessings instead of miserable for a life that wouldn’t have cared if you lived or died.

  4. Quinn Thompson says:

    ?Do you know what solar cells do to the land? Seriously man you got to do more reading about your ideas and be receptive to other voices. Lots of holes in your words.

  5. Dave, VOC says:

    I’m tired of being responsible for past poor decisions. How about you? Time for people to realize we have the perfect life here and we need to keep it as is. Don’t like it then move on, lots of global real estate. You won’t be missed and you can experiment there. We’re all good here.

  6. Maria Zakiah L. Garcia, Flagstaff AZ says:

    Youre wanting solar power? Go do solar. Buying solar panels assisted by government help is like us. Put on your roof and if its great, others follow. If its a government lie, then we will be fine with many choices because we lived where government gave no choices and impossible to survive there.

  7. Barbara Sherman says:

    Oil isn’t the problem, it’s more of the solution. Shout out to Czech Republic and Slovakia for their tanks aid to Ukraine. In most world opinions Russians are genocidal perverts that should be convicted and shot for war crimes and their oil should never be bought by America or its Allies or UN members. The evidence is clear and unmistakable and on videos that Russians are genocidal murderers lead by the same in Putin. You ought to be worrying about nowadays and not the future.

  8. Tanner Collins, Tucson says:

    Right @barbara

  9. Jason Smith says:

    Bet the Russians will never have ECO FRIENDLY PLUG IN AND GO tanks and cars and jeeps and airplanes. You stupid liberals are all the same – stupid liberals. BTW China just flew 6 warplanes into Serbia, a European country that courted a Chinese investment and has become a Silk Road Chinese carpetbagger heaven. Are you brain dead on dope what is happening here in your eco green utopian anti pipeline mania???? Turn the pipeline back on!! Hey Sweden and Finland and Ukraine and Serbia into NATO yesterday. China has billions of people to repopulate any nuked territory at its command. Remember that.

  10. @jason says:

    Oh Jason
    Your outrage” is so so cute.

  11. Jason Smith says:

    @jason you’re not my type, I prefer pretty and intelligent.

  12. TKF says:

    In December Pres Biden said inflation was at its peak. He also said BBB would help grow the economy but has fueled it to outrageous heights with the pieces approved. This government hates the poor and middle class. He wants us to pretend it’s Putin’s fault and it’s not and if it was then why aren’t we doing something to bring Putin down?

  13. Nancy says:

    California gas prices keeping us from going for Easter to visit family. Neighbors aren’t even driving down to Chandler.

  14. Van Dyke says:

    US and other nations have given Russia almost a billion dollars in oil revenues in one month and given Ukraine only 100s of millions.

    Russian government has told its soldiers that Ukrainians are dirt and they are to rid the world of every trace of Ukraine and its people. Genocide in Rwanda and Ukraine and Congo and China and other nations must never be accepted by any human on earth.

    They will come for you next. Turn on the freedom pipeline , our Keystone to independence. To those who support Russia in this war no matter in this world, they need to be treated as traitors no matter where they live and bank accounts and animals discards like Canada does.

  15. Dick says:

    Russians need to be sent a message they don’t like.

  16. Krissy Lee, Flagstaff says:

    Here’s info and be safe out there. Help your neighbors and protect the animals. https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/tunnel-fire-burns-north-of-flagstaff-along-highway-89.amp

    They’re turning off electricity to keep people safe I herd.

  17. Richard, Camp Verde says:

    Time to decide how much self flagellation we employer and worker class have to do to prevent the poor and disadvantaged we support with government welfare, state and federal taxes, and social programmes. While Kamala wears Converse sneakers and Joe writes a letter urging more money for Ukraine but includes Afghan names and programmes…what say you about doing right by demanding our pipeline is mandatory and time to fire and hold up for Justice Dept investigation many in the White House supporting Russian and Chinese goals? Time to decide.

  18. West Sedona Dave says:

    This thread is to funny but not surprising….Yea lets take over the oil companies like the same socialists you despise…..Talk about dumb uneducated rubes…..Man you nailed it!…………………….What is the next hypocrisy you will cry out?…..

  19. Michele - Opinion says:

    Keystone Pipeline is a No brainer for climate control and removing control of our oil and gas from Russia and China and Saudis. Tell Hunter Biden and Biden family no more dollars for their slush funds. The laptop proved it. Now the justice dept needs to uphold its oath to the American people. No Ministry of Disinformation in America ever! It’s unAmerican and it’s socialistic and communistic.

  20. Carl says:

    Our gas prices at the pump are 3 times what they were last year under Trump administration. Why? Is the Biden administration is aligned with Russia and China?

    The Biden administration destroyed our energy independence, threatened our nation’s security by doing that, and gave Russia the greenlight to take over Europe and former Soviet Union countries that declared independence. The Biden administration has taken higher wages and killed the benefit with inflation that’s so high it makes us earn less. The Biden administration supports not investigating Biden’s son whose laptop was legitimate. Our financial safe haven has exploded under the Biden administration. Now he’s raised interest rates. Beginning to be fearful the country is headed down the abyss?

  21. @Carl says:

    Where ever you get your news from STOP, your making a fool out of yourself! Nothing you posted is even close to reality! (Deleted by editor)

  22. Permits won’t happen says Biden admin says:

    Biden lies that inflation is his top priority administration, but he cancelled oil and lease sale at Interior Dept today and blamed industry for “lack of interest”.

    Catastrophic lie. Why would any company including a local housing developer pay for a leases that it can’t get PERMITS for???!!!

    Washington Post blamed Biden today for inflation policies and they’re in the progressive Democrats pockets. Not the fault of Ukraine or Russia but the fault of the canceled Keystone Pipeline and failure of the various government departments to help grow the economy. Biden wants inflation.

    Nobody blames Trump, tell the idiots in the White House. Fire the communists advising the President and get smarter people.

    Capitalism is the savior of the poor and it’s funded by the rich and the poor together. Stop drinking drug bubbles and start getting back to work and get us back to a civil society where we all are American Best.

    Give the permits and give the oil and gas leases now.

  23. AT says:

    America and the world runs on gas and oil and will for centuries. I’m pro eco friendly but not pro eco stupid.

  24. Andrea says:

    Gas taxes fund highway and bridge building. Go ahead and change to electric. Goodbye new roads. Goodbye new bridges. Goodbye funds to fix them except by taxing the taxpayers who should start saving for poverty now.

  25. Lyndsey Wang, Seattle area says:

    Washington state has begun to reprogram gas stations to sell at $10 and above per gallon prices. Thank you President Biden because you are responsible. Now our family wishes that we had voted Republican. In November we will not be voting Democrat. My CA family will be voting Republican and they want Arnold back. No one likes the Vice President and hope she will offer her resignation soon. We love Sedona and will visit again for a day in the future. For now American gas prices will keep us from traveling on auto trips. Our stays will be closer to home with family and friends. (Deleted by editor) thank (Deleted by editor).

  26. @Lyndsey says:

    Hey Thnks for sharing.. (deleted by editor)

  27. Fawn Berkeley says:

    @lyn seattle don’t blame me either I voted for trump order a sign or shirt from amazon

  28. Jackson Ableman says:

    So roughly 7% of the country watched the first hearing. If it was up to the Democratic Party Central Committee it would be the very last and don’t mention it again. I’d bet at least 2% of that 7% were conservatives watching to confirm that they have absolutely nothing new or noteworthy to reveal. It was all much ado about less than nothing. They blew it. No smoking guns figuratively or literally. Young Sheldon drew more viewers!

    Btw that the on scene film producer was staging his film pretending to be a white power filmer and that knocked any credibility over the scenes. Now he has a movie contract? You’re making it impossible to be a Democrat and forgive 8.3% inflation and six dollar gas prices this week knowing next week will be worse. I’m done.

  29. Pete, West Sedona says:

    Please read and implement in your shopping. Sedona can do it better than other cities because we care about each other. Our businesses should stock accordingly.

    Subject: Fwd: Diane Sawyer’s report

    Diane Sawyer’s special report was about all the items in our houses made in China. They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family’s home that were not made in the USA. There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they showed truckloads of items, USA made, being brought in to replace everything and talked about how to find these items and the difference in price etc..

    It was interesting that Diane said if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items for one year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs. When buying food at Walmart, often on the label it will say MADE IN CHINA or PRC.

    For example “Our Family” brand of mandarin oranges say on the label “Made In China” I was shocked for a few more cents I could buy the Liberty Gold brand or the Dole brand made in California, look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says ‘Made in China ‘ or ‘PRC’ (and that now includes Hong Kong), simply choose another product.

    Think about this: If 200 million Americans each refuse to buy just $20 of Chinese goods, that’s a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor, fast!!! Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this NOW. Share it.

  30. LD Blocker, NY & Sedona visitor says:

    The big oil companies are not gouging butthe Biden administration is. Exxon paid $4.8 BILLION dollars in taxes last year which is pretty damn patriotic to me.

    New York state and the feds get 3 times gas cost with taxes on each gallon while Exxon for example gets less than 2 cents for that same gallon of gasoline. How much tax did you pay City of Sedona? How much tax did you levy? Do you collect a gas tax or road tax?

    Biden administration is earning its unpatriotic 18% approval rating and needs to take responsibility for this inflation.

    Trump can show how to run the same country with the same resources and make us stronger not weaker. Trump didn’t beg for Saudi oil. Trump didn’t buy dirty Venezuelan oil. Trump didn’t fund a global murderous homicidal maniac’s war by buying his oil.

    Trump warned us about the Biden’s corruption and involvement with manipulating oil security and Biden family pocketing oil money and influence. I didn’t vote for Trump but damn he did the job done with 50% of the nation living in the swamp and sucking at the corrupt eco grid. He pushed back on the government flunkies and do nothings. No wonder they hated him enough to pay to smear him. My opinion and I dont give a damn if you agree, facts are facts. Biden own this recession that you and your people brought is into and stabilize the dollar.

  31. Berkowitz P. says:

    Common sense says Democrats disbelieving in Biden progressive policies need to say stop bankrupting our nation and its people. We’re making Iran, Russia, Venezuela, China and other anti democracy nations rich.

    Stop these ignorant histrionic progressive policies. Nobody disagrees the world needs renewables and the media and government know it. The local Rotarians and Republicans and Greens and Democrats and Libertarians know it. The teachers and kids and politicians and voters know it. The world needs renewables BUT THE WORLD NEEDS GAS AND OIL MORE and everybody knows it. We need flex fuel cars. Grow up Progressives! You act like uneducated totalitarian elitists and your leadership and media cohorts are losing their moorings and maybe the country. Find your belief in Americans, the best people on the planet no matter their color, age, religion and political beliefs. We are one people. Have a nice weekend.

  32. Gray Merrill Conaway, Sedona says:

    California switches to electric vehicles in its battle against climate change, auto stores and mechanics skills will be needed less and less over the next decade. By 2040, the state projects that nearly 32,000 auto mechanics jobs will be lost in California, since electric vehicles need far less maintenance and repair than conventional combustion engines. In an effort to transform to a carbon-neutral, climate-friendly state, California’s proposal to phase out all new gas-powered cars by 2035 will drive a wide-ranging transition of the workforce and loss revenue which will drive higher taxes elsewhere. Gas stations holding large underground storage tanks will be a thing of the past as pay as you go electric sockets become the norm and do not require convenience items or bathroom facilities.

  33. Dave, VOC says:

    Follow the money.

  34. Liz says:

    Blue Tweets
    ·
    Jun 22
    Fed Chairman Jerome Powell breaks with @JoeBiden , telling a Senate Committee inflation was already raging before Putin invaded Ukraine.

    ·
    Jun 22
    .
    @joebiden calls on states to suspend gas taxes as well. In Virginia, Democrats refused to do that in recent days. Will they change their minds?

    ·
    Jun 22
    In 2008, then-candidate @BarackObama called it a “gimmick” – “an idea to get them through an election”. Today, @JoeBiden will call on Congress to pass a 3-month gas/diesel tax holiday. Gimmick, or good idea?

  35. Randy, California Going Back to Fossil Fuels says:

    California politicians will tap its fossil fuel plants to offset lack of power from green energy sources which cannot produce enough electricity to provide for its needs. Who knew this? Nearly every state but California politicians.

  36. George says:

    Pelosi has approved a committee to look into having Joe Biden examined for competency and Harris will step in. Pelosi will be Vice President under the rule of the Constitution. Democrats want power so much they’re throwing Joe under the train. Fear them in DC!

  37. Hey George says:

    Bet you $1,000 your story is full of BS?…..If it wasnt for fake news what would you people have to do with you fake outrage, disinformation and plain out lies?

    Lets hope all these ANTIFA, BLM, and FBI agents get charged for 1/6! I mean you spread that one also….The list is very long….Shall I go on?

  38. LA says:

    Who uses the most water in California? Agriculture (food) uses the most water. About 80% of reservoir water is used to irrigate crops and raise livestock food, a necessary and highly efficient system of feeding the nation and world.

    Next is landscaping which uses about 10%.

    Tied for third are leaks and indoor use by homeowners.

    It’s the 20% that requires attention and is possible for immediate and long term action.

    California’s population has increased by half since the last major reservoir was completed, New Melones in 1978.

    The population increase had little effect on total water consumption. CA’s acreage under cultivation hasn’t changed much in over a century and produces more food with greater efficiently.

    Landscaping require xeriscapes to add water back into supply. That’s the answer now.

    Water use by individual homeowners is a very small part of utilization.

  39. Harrison says:

    Xeriscapes help climate by keeping air cooler. No paving should ever be done except on major highways when hard pack earth works in subdivisions and city and country roads. Almost no cost to maintain except to scrape and fill potholes. Close golf courses in deserts unless xeriscaped except for greenway.

  40. Bob, west Sedona says:

    There’s no talking to liberal ideologues and socialists. We know from hundreds of years of recorded history that legislated socialism doesn’t work in any form and it keeps poor people poorer and less educated and no pathway out of poverty.

    Clean air isn’t a problem here in US but we can’t be expected to fix global issues without China and Russia and India and Indonesia and Argentina and Brazil and Middle East and Africa joining in and shutting down the coal plants by the thousands and it’s not ever happening in our grandchildren’s lifetimes. US has clean coal plants and we have cleaner burning gas. Get over listening to rich socialist elites wanting to take our good lives and livelihoods away and rule the middle class and poor by controlling our access to inexpensive utilities that allow us to live like they do – without their permission to travel and to be independent of their rule. Think about it.

  41. Marion, VOC says:

    @Bob Germany climate legislation has practically bankrupted a once thriving economy with its really clean healthy standards. Germany and Europe now vulnerable to China takeover because they turned off coal and gas and oil and allowed China to build its Silk Road through their countries and encouraged the culture to break down. Russia will get the spoils of any war waged by China because we’ve shown no ability to stand up against them. You voted for it not me. I like my life that’s better than my parents and grandparents. I work hard and give plenty to charitable causes and do my best to be environmentally and humanitarian sound. But don’t mess with me and my ability to do any of those things. I’m voting all Republican in the midterms to get this country back to fiscal soundness and centrist values. Get your abortion if you want but I’m not voting to let you murder babies at full term or late term. Black babies have been aborted more than white babies and it’s time to put women on free birth control whenever they want to go on it despite age. Thanks for letting me spout off here at SedonaEye. #1 here in our NoAZ house PS fire is scary but looks like they’re doing good job

  42. Dry Creek Home says:

    Found online just released – According to a survey by Quinnipiac on Wednesday, President Joe Biden’s support rating among Hispanic voters has dropped to 19 percent.

    The study involved 1,523 people in the United States. It showed that Hispanics are the demographic group that is least likely to approve of Biden. Only 19 percent of Hispanic respondents approved of how Biden handled the economy, 23 percent agreed with his handling of foreign affairs, 45 percent liked how he responded to the coronavirus, and 22 percent approved of how he handled gun violence.

    According to the findings of the poll, Hispanic respondents appeared to have a preference for former President Donald Trump over Biden. Of these respondents, 38 percent held a favorable view of Trump. In the upcoming midterm elections, this group also preferred Republicans, with 45 percent desiring Republican control of the Senate and 43 percent preferring Democratic control.

  43. JG says:

    @Harrison interesting comment

  44. China Cuts Production says:

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-cuts-power-to-factories-homes-as-reservoirs-fall/ar-AA10Karq?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=cd389b9fbac3429892e06241de5b06af#:~:text=China%20cuts%20power,in%20scorching%20temperatures.

    Our administration is pushing a new law that says we have to buy solar panels and ETVs in US. This is why Biden administration doesn’t understand global economics and supporting a Made in USA necessity. Hoover Dam will be next and your water supply in the west will evaporate or be severely diminished. Prepare your businesses now and your homes now to have alternatives to be more than unemployed government handout recipients. Do not spend money on high cost ETVs in California, move to the other 49 states and let California recuperate with less household demand to allow agriculture to feed us. Food first.

  45. Roundabouts - Nice News says:

    Carmel, Indiana, has 142 roundabouts on its roads, and it’s planning to add even more. That may sound like a headache to the everyday car owner, but Mayor James Brainard has assured residents there’s a method to the (winding) madness that will help pedestrians, bikers, drivers, and the environment. Roundabouts slow traffic while still maintaining a flow of cars, and they don’t require electricity like traffic lights, meaning they still work during blackouts and severe storms.

    According to former city engineer Michael McBride, getting rid of idling at stop lights removes 5,000 cars’ worth of carbon dioxide and saves drivers $14 million in gas annually. And according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Carmel’s decrease in lights and increase in roundabouts cut injury crashes by nearly half overall, and by 84% at busy intersections. “We’re talking about human lives being saved by roundabout intersections,” McBride told CBS News. “Once the world embraces that, roundabouts will be everywhere.”

  46. Ray says:

    Biden popularity rating hasn’t moved off 20%. Why? Because he just hired 89,000 hired guns called IRS agents. Why do you think Biden called it the Inflation Reduction Act, fools? Think about it. The government oversight of this Act is said to increase debt by trillions and they’ll need someone called us to pay it. Who else will pay? They’ll come to your home and take you and your home and your car and your goods away and your kids will be given to the state to raise and you will spend time in prison. You will pay and not the illegals and not the Uber wealthy or the spammers or hackers or criminals or those on government handouts but us, the hardworking taxpaying lower and middle class. This isn’t a movie, it’s a reality. They plan on coming for people who make $125k or less, check the Act which by the way doesn’t mean they have to do it and can change it to $1 any second they want. It’s a lie they don’t intend to come for our money: Rich people have lawyers on speed dial, we don’t. You complain about paying for a new Will, try paying for tax lawyers at minimum $10,000 a case. Think about it. Don’t be an ASS this next election.

  47. Don says:

    https://www.theepochtimes.com/fbi-team-involved-in-censorship-of-hunter-biden-laptop-story-identified_4781643.html

    If shoe fits—You knew and voted for him to continue with family business using his son.

  48. Nicole Knight, Flagstaff AZ says:

    Caught on camera was Joe Biden ridin’ AF1 and a group of US government fat cats in France castle after they flew there for a wine fundraiser. These people aren’t even trying to appear like they give a damn about climate — because they quietly flew there on their own or private planes even our climate czar. Joe seems to have a lot of paybacks to fill because the people he gives offices to are richer than his millions! In the old days we called that (deleted by editor). Looking backwards is a good mirror to Joe’s rise and why Barack didn’t back him or trust him. Gas prices? Oil independence? Food prices and stocked shelves are still rising higher a few months after 20% increase. AZ Kelly voted open border and its destroying Arizona. Housing? Ask Kelly why he votes every single way Pelosi orders. Good riddance political hacks in DC.

  49. Travis says:

    Strategic oil reserve release of another 15 million barrels of oil.

  50. Sheryl, VOC says:

    That ignoramus in the White House come out and address us on television today and tell us it is the fault of OIL COMPANIES for (deleted by editor) higher oil and gas prices and supplies.

    Prior administration had the same oil and gas companies supply and kept Obama’s pipeline before Obama’s backstabbing stooge Vice President Joe and his team of political fools TURNED IT OFF and went begging to OPEC because his economic policies are bullshit. This President is off the wall.

    This White House of corrupt bicoastal FOOLS needs dumping. That oil reserve was refilled by the prior administration and is now at lowest level since 1984. UNTHINKABLE SCARY STUPIDITY.

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