Oil Subsidies

It is a good thing that we are subsidizing big oil to keep them afloat. If it weren't for the federal government, they would not make any money at all!

Maybe if we stopped subsidizing oil so much with tax breaks and direct subsidies switching from oil dependency wouldn't look so bad.

We are subsidizing them with tax breaks and other subsidies. They are making more money than they have ever made in the history of their industry. They are taking that money saved in subsidies and money made in sales and using it to further influence the political process to make more money and slow the development of alternative energy options. We pay for their profits and lobbying efforts and then we pay for the cleanup when they have an environmental disaster.

If we had to really face the cost of oil, like Europe, we would realize the need to develop alternatives, use public transportation, not buy SUVs and increase fuel efficiency. This will not happen for a very long time because the exact industry that needs to get changed is the one that continues to make enormous profits and use their money and influence to continue to do so and because Americans are content and we are not willing to change our ways in the short run to benefit us and our children in the long run.