Charbonneau 1
Trevor Charbonneau
Mr. Adams
English 1301.018
Essay 4 Causal Argument
25 June 2012

Why not make our own fuel prices?

Thesis: If America were to be more open to drilling for more oil on our own soil it could raise the purchasing power of all citizens, lower prices on all goods, increase jobs, and even gain independence from the corrupt oil companies overseas. I. If we drill on our own soil, consumers will find more money in their own pocket. A. If a consumer spends less money on gas weekly it can greatly increase their purchasing power and cause them to stimulate the economy by spending more money at family owned businesses and corporations. B. People wouldn’t be afraid to make a trip driving a large distance, thus making the hotel and resort, the outlet mall, and any recreational activities who’s distance away diminished the fun that could be had. II. Not only if we have lower gas prices will consumers have more disposable income but all consumer goods and commodities will also be cheaper.

Charbonneau 2 A. Freight costs whether it be from ups to send pallets of goods to retail stores or if it is Sysco sending trucks of food to restaurant there costs are directly proportional to those of the fuel prices. B. The lower the costs to get a product to a store the lower the retailer can put the item on sale for, making an item more affordable and boosting the economy. III. Drilling in the United States creates jobs we wouldn’t have otherwise. A. Instead of giving the jobs overseas to OPEC countries or any other oil exporting countries we can keep them on our turf and have these incomes bettering our economy, and these taxes going straight into the government. B. Examples of an eagle ford, “It creates close to $1.3 billion of gross state product impact, supports 12,601 full-time jobs, and adds $2.9 billion in total economic output (or revenues).This in turn generates close to $60.9 million in State’s revenues and $47.6 million in local government revenues.” Why give these benefits to other countries, when we could use them tremendously. IV. America has its enemies why buy oil from them. A. As of now we import 60% of our oil, by 2020 that can increase to 75% of our oil coming from overseas. B. As Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn puts it in an oil testimony before the US Environment and Public Works Committee: “In 2008, we
Charbonneau 3 sent $386 billion overseas to pay for oil – much of it going to nations that wish us harm. This is an unprecedented and unsustainable transfer of wealth to other nations. It puts us in the untenable position of funding both sides of the conflict and directly undermines our fight against terror.”
Why not make our own fuel prices?
Gas prices used to be an after thought, while today it is one of my biggest budget expenses of the week, and it affects my disposal income week in and week out. If America were to be more open to drilling for more oil on our own soil it could raise the purchasing power of all citizens, lower prices on all goods, increase jobs, and even gain independence from the corrupt oil companies overseas.
It is an extremely heated argument, an argument with many right answers, and for every right answer there is an equally wrong one. The activist against drilling believes we should starve ourselves of oil, until prices get so high that we have no choice but to find alternative resources to oil. They also believe we should import our oil from other countries when in reality that is just polluting the environment before it is even burned by the transportation of the fuel across the Atlantic Ocean. On the other side of the discussion are the people who want to drill on our own soil to better our economy and lower fuel prices for the American people.
The days of sub two-dollar a gallon gas of a few years ago, could be back in outlives easier and quicker than we think. If America decided to put