EVERYBODY has an AGENDA when it comes to oil. In Moron County California, legions of yippie/yuppy/hippie/knotheads rally against anything to do with oil, then run out and buy a $90,000 BMW. When someone points out this hypocrisy, they point to their $5,000 carbon graphite bicycle that has gathered 09 miles on it in 5 years.
They then slip on their Nike's and Addidas and go march with others protesting Child labor.
But when I worked at Shell oil refinery during the big 1970's OIL SHORTAGE, the refinery WOULD NOT LET crude tankers offload at the wharf. The tankers were lined up in San Pablo Bay and Shell, Exxon, Chevron, and Tidewater refineries WOULD NOT LET THEM DOCK. When a sharp eyed consumer pointed this out to the SF Chronicle, the refiners said "Oh the tankers are empty". Yeah, right! Argue with the damned Plimsoll markers on the hull. When I passed through Texas, I happened to stop at a ranch. All the rancher's cricket pumps were stopped. I asked why "Sonny they got me pinched way back. Got a big pipe but the valve is near closed on the other end". Headlines were screaming "CRUDE OIL SHORTAGE!"
These people are CON ARTISTS. The most flagrant, arrogant, and uncaring in the world. The oil lobby scares Washington and scares state legislators. When the oil industry feels threatened, they suddenly have "Refinery Upsets" lots of them, all over.
Try convincing someone else. Been there, done that got the tee shirt and secret whistle.