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#12 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-05 05:18 AM
If America wasn't dependent on oil, the Middle East would be meaningless to us.
#13 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-07-05 11:43 AM
... to have your economy be so completely reliant on fossil fuels from the Middle East.
The US is not at all reliant on 'fossil' fuels from the ME - we are net exporter of oil, gas and coal... but most developed countries do: e.g., Japan just relaxed the rules - for a year (for now) - to increase the use of coal-fired power plants, despite increased coal prices, because they're very dependent on imported energy, partly because of shutting Fukushima nuclear reactors - they are importing LNG to meet 98% of gas demand, of which only 6% goes through Hormuz.
Outside of France - which has ~70% of domestic energy needs delivered by nuclear power, and is the world's largest net exporter of energy - large industrial countries in Europe and Asia are reliant on 'fossil' fuels, despite (or because of) heavy investments in renewable energy. EU even categorized NG as "green" energy and, with Hormuz closed, relaxed restrictions on methane emissions.
drudge.com - Electricity rates by state
Energy is a global market, and is priced accordingly. Most of the world's nations, capitalist or "socialist" - and tremendous industrial and technological progress achieved in 20th century - have been reliant on 'fossil' fuels, some hydropower and nuclear :
drudge.com - France's Solar Power Generation Hits Record High on Friday - 2026-05-11 :
... Because the worldwide demand for energy grows along with all the "records" of growing supply of energy [from renewables], 80+% of the world's energy is still generated by oil, coal, NG (32%, 27%, 24%) with hydro (6%) and nuclear (5%).
If only there were some better, efficient, cleaner energy sources discovered and produced in the 20th century! Maybe starting some time around 1940s? Bueller? Bueller?
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"I mean, even a plant moves toward sunlight, right?"
"Jonathan! Jonathan!"
Cue Bach!