Matt Simmons (Bloomberg): Peak Oil Now, Oil Perhaps to $300 

We all know of the struggles in the Middle East.  These issues have been occurring for thousands of years, and are unlikely to be resolved any time soon.  Although we as Americans have made numerous attempts to create positive change in the region, it often serves to have the opposite effects of what we intended.  Each new administration has its own policies, and each new presidency ushers in new ideas of how to tackle the problems.  In effect, we’ve alienated ourselves from the people of the Middle East because our help is often perceived as meddling.  In fact, it’s nearly impossible to help one group of people in the region without angering and instigating another group.  It’s a very delicate situation.  

As everyday Americans, most of us have no control whatsoever over Middle Eastern policy.  However, this does not mean that we don’t play a role in it.  We elect our officials who appoint other officials and conduct larger elections for even larger and more powerful figures.  We pay our taxes diligently, and we tell those officials where we would like the money to go.  Ours is the most effective democracy that has ever existed, although admittedly we still have a lot of work to do.  However, it should be noted that every time we spend money; indeed, any time we pay a tax of any sort, we are supporting current policy. 

So, let’s say you are someone who lies in New York, and you’re down on your luck.  Perhaps you’ve sought the help of a New York bankruptcy attorney.  What does this have to do with you, you might ask?  How could policies in the Middle East have any impact on what may be an impending bankruptcy?  The answer, as always, is rather simple: money. 

It doesn’t take a Muslim scholar to tell you that our lives are inexplicably tied to oil, and to an even larger extent, petroleum.  We power almost all modern vehicles and large equipment with oil-based fuels.  Nearly all plastics, packaging, and medicine utilize petroleum in some way.  Our entire lives depend upon these dwindling sources of fossil fuels.  And of course, our entire lives depend upon the ability to procure this precious commodity from the Middle Eastern countries that possess them.  So when we create policies that have a negative effect on the oil industry, we all suffer.  When we blunder into affairs without appropriate planning and forethought, it causes everyone that relies on the American economy to cope with the effects.  Who relies on our economy apart from us?  Everyone!  That’s right- almost the entire world depends upon stability in America.

When the price or availability of oil products is compromised, it costs everyone.  This concern is a major component of our economy.  When it goes awry, we feel it in our wallets and bank accounts.  So, if you’re in a delicate situation and may be considering bankruptcy, things could clearly get worse if the price of groceries, fuel, and medicine is increased.  This is why it is important to understand these issues.  Contact your senators or legislators and advise them on your thoughts- that is how change in this country is initiated.  This is crucial, because the Middle East isn’t just “their issue”; it’s everyone’s.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 at 7:26 am and is filed under General Information, Long Island Bankruptcy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.