Benprez - the original post was about sources of natural gas, not oil. You ask "If 99% of the natural gas used by Americans comes from North America then why has the government encouraged and continue to encourage North American suppliers to under produce thus driving the American market toward foreign oil?"
The answer is simple oil is not natural gas! We use natural gas to heat our homes, crude oil is refined to make gasoline. Keep your fuels straight and rant on the right subject!

If 99% of the natural gas used by Americans comes from North America then why has the government encouraged and continue to encourage North American suppliers to under produce thus driving the American market toward foreign oil? There is an obvious abundance of oil. So the question becomes, "Why?"
The reason for the obscene profits oil companies, be they foreign or not, are raking in would indicate that the increased prices per barrel and at the punp is not just for the money. What has to happen in order to bring gas and energy prices back to a reasonable level? Let both merchant and consumer be happy. 3 to 4 billion dollars a month coming in is a whole lot of cake. Back in time there probably were some folk riding along on their horse drawn cart or sitting in a cafe drinking whatever they drank back in the 1800's who were having this very same conversation. They too asked the question, "Why?"
When they heard the answer, "Let them eat cake...", well, you know what followed.
The Merchants of Venus who deal in oil and energy must be made to realize how much is enough.

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