Oil company coverups make Obama the best candidate in 2008

ExxonMobil claims on its website that that "Fuel prices are impacted by a number of factors, including changes in the price of crude oil, supply and demand, fuel specifications, government regulations, taxes, and transportation costs."

On the face of it, this is probably true. But it's so vague as to be noninformative.

What they do not tell you is the whole story. On the other hand, there is a good, well-researched resource for facts that the oil industry would like to hide from you. These facts affect your finances, America's addiction to foreign oil and the ecology of the entire earth.

Here are some shocking facts, many from Antonia Juhasz' new book, The Tyranny of Oil:

• "Drill, baby, drill, and drill now." This 2008 Republican National Convention mantra drives and/or reflects the lie that many believe: that drilling now will save us economically. But oil companies are already drilling in the US and off our shores. And they are increasing their already large stockpiles of oil.
• Debate has raged recently about how much the US Department of Energy's rising stockpile raised gas and oil prices in Fall, 2007.
• More drilling now will not affect oil prices for 10 years or more.
• Oil companies simply don't sell to Americans much of the oil they've found here. As a typical corporation, they sell it to the highest bidder. There is no requirement to sell fuel found on our territories to us--so they don't do it.
• Oil companies choose not to refine the oil they've stock piled, in order to drive prices higher. They are largely responsible for fuel prices in areas they can control--like the amount to refine.

Meanwhile, John McCain seems to be talking about green living and sustainability to the press, but to his Republican base he talks mostly about nuclear power and drilling for more oil. Who is the real McCain here? Is he simply pandering to Republican and/or conservative voters, who largely don't care about, and don't understand the environment and it's relationship to our lives?

An Obama presidency would likely be more sustainable, based on Biden's record, examined by Living on Earth, NPR's environmental news program recently.

Actions you can take for change:

• Contact your Congressperson. This site makes clear just how big a supporter of Big Oil your Congressperson is. It shows the percentage of votes that support the oil industry, and how much Big Oil paid to support your rep: http://oilmoney.priceofoil.org/
• Support Obama/Biden in 2008 for a greener, safer, cleaner and less addicted America.

Resources:
Factors in Fuel Prices - ExxonMobil website:
http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/energy_issues_gasprices.aspx

Oil Change International: http://priceofoil.org/

Living on Earth: Sound Journalism for the Planet: http://www.loe.org/index.htm