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America's Oil Problem Essay

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The United States is in a recession and depends on foreigners to fuel our country. Oil companies are taking advantage of the power they have over gas prices and the economy is at one of the lowest points in all of our history. It can be seen that the way things are going now that change needs to occur for America to get back on its feet. Drastic changes will need to happen if we are going to continue to enjoy living in a very advanced and prominent country. By developing proper offshore drilling techniques, and alternate energy, America could eliminate debt and lessen dependence on foreign oil. As it stands, oil companies have a firm grasp of the American economy. As the price of oil increases, the price of living also increases. Not …show more content…

Exxon Mobil's profit excelled 30 billion in 2010. "Exxon Mobil's 4th quarter profit in 2011 has soared 53 percent in large part due to oil prices. Recently, in London Brent Quality Crude Oil passed $100 a barrel for the first time in nearly 3 years" (Exxon Mobil 1-2). Oil profit is at an all time high and is contributing to our current recession. It is well-known that nowadays America is in a heavy recession with debt in the trillions. "In the summer of 2009 the debt was nearly 13 trillion dollars" ( The Federal Budget Deficit 1 ). "In 2010, the average American owed nearly $50,000 in consumer debt, and according to figures in 2009, the average American earned just under $40,000 a year"(Consumer Debt 2). The average American's debt is greater than the average American's salary. Increasing oil prices only make things worse. When oil prices rise, every price rises. "Fedex just raised its fuel surcharge on air deliveries from 12 percent to 13.5 percent. Local pizza parlors have been adding a few dollars to pizza deliveries" (Saporito 4). Gas prices are going to hurt truckers, taxi drivers, limo drivers, airlines, and shipping companies especially. An energy adviser, Joe Stanislaw, says, 'Do they pass it on?' when speaking about the price of oil (Saporito 4). Fossil fuels will not last forever and they've had a drastic effect on the environment. On January 28, 1969 there was a giant oil

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