A lesson from 1973, but Big Oil owns the government

If you think $4 a gallon is anything but a full-court press by Big Oil and Big Government to get America to agree to off-shore drilling, then you're too young or too historically lame to know how the game was played in 1973. That's when Nixon, Agnew, OPEC and Big Oil conspired to force the building of the Alaska Pipeline over objections of environmentalists.

I saw it coming early in May when I wrote here to watch for Bush to seal some Big Oil/Energy deals because it became evident to me that we were into a replay of the 1973 shafting.

May 2 was when Pat Tiberi, (the Republican representing the western part of Licking County in the U.S. House) revealed the Bush Government's plan to "reduce energy costs in the near term" - and put the blame on Democrats. I wrote then that "This is the Bush Empire's first move in a final drive to seal some deals for the oil/energy brethren before he departs. Watch it unfold."

Since then the drumbeat has grown louder. Yesterday, no less than Senator McCain joined up. According to today's Washington Post, he called "for an end to the federal ban on offshore oil drilling, offering an aggressive response to high gasoline prices ..."

Oh, yes, John. Like this isn't an exact replay of Big Oil/Big Government conspiracy of 1973?

First, a little tussle between the Jews and Arabs October 6, which gave OPEC an excuse to impose an oil embargo 11 days later. According to a report by PBS: "Overnight, the price of a barrel of oil rises from $3 to over $5. Gas at the pumps will soon rise from 30 cents per gallon to $1.20, and drivers will wait in long lines to fill up their tanks."

Then on Nov. 16, the report continues: In direct response to the oil crisis, President Nixon signs the Trans Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act into law. Nixon introduces "Project Independence" in a televised speech: "Throughout history, America has made great sacrifices of blood and also treasure to achieve and maintain its independence. In the last third of this century, our independence will depend on maintaining and achieving self-sufficiency in energy."

By December oil was at $11.65 and January 3, 1974 a federal permit was issued that allowed construction to start.

So watch the Bush-McCain Government at work. And if you don't think its owned by Big Oil, you will before this is over.