Gang warfare…organised crime is now running most of the world and crime boss warlords are will look to take each other out. Trump has no idea what he is starting but he will take out Cuba then Panama and keep threating Greenland unless America wakes up and throws him in jail. Oh and don’t mention the Epstein files while this catastrophe plays out.
There's a flaw in your argument. Venezuelan oil is heavy and sour and is more expensive to refine than lighter and sweeter crude. It has to be blended to be piped it's so heavy. It's similar to shale oil and it needs a price of ca $70 per barrel to be profitable. In the long term that will work out. Short term? Not so much.
I think you've misunderstood the argument, Bill. My point was that Trump needed a big symbolic gesture to show his voters he cares about the affordability crisis. The last sectino of the article explains why this gesture won't work, and won't reduce bills.
But it won't achieve any reduction in prices, the Trumped up (heh) charges are about drugs so will enough people make the connection? I did read all your piece and I liked it.
I think we are all agreeing here - this wont bring down prices - and it was a massive publicity stunt by Trump to show his voter base how "strong" he is and how he is working to protect America - all bullshit, of course. But anyone daring to sell oil in a currency other than USD better watch out, as doing so, takes away at least some power from the mighty US dollar
Agreed, Grace: manufacture an existential fear and then posture as saviour. War and repression are costly, and interventions contrived to keep the domestic ideological upper hand generally do not make any neatly obvious fiscal return. However: the subplot of trying to contain China as some spectral competitor to an economically floundering USA does seem to factor large in much of this otherwise seemingly random geopolitical flailing of the current USA administration.
"Since the 1944 Bretton Woods agreement, and especially after the 1973 arrangement with Saudi Arabia that created the “petrodollar,” the US dollar has functioned as the world’s primary reserve currency. This status grants the United States an almost supernatural economic power."
Indeedy and thank you: for I thoroughly appreciated that fascinating article, Bill.
Please help a confused guy... You mentioned oil prices being high but you go to the gas pump and it's well under $2 a gallon. So I was under the impression that it was some kind of deal with the Saudis over producing or something to that effect. Maybe the two billion that Jared got for his venture capital company. So I worry that these idiots see the low price at the pump and forget that they're grocery bill is twice what it was a few years ago. Thanks in advance for the explanation!
Thanks Grace. Thanks for the new word — autarky — with a “k”. I had to look it up. There are two variations — “k” versus “ch”. The “k” version refers, as you state, “…a devout economic nationalist…, a group, state, or nation. While the “ch” variant refers to an individual or group of individuals, such as organized crime or oligarchy. I believe the both can apply, but I believe the “ch” would be a more accurate application. DT, as “King” — as figurehead for the dominant power structure — the Lords, Ladies, and the merchant class. Sarah Kendzior’s 2020 book, Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America. Sarah (@sarahkendzior) has been warning us about DT for over a decade (Trumpmenbashi). If you have doubts regarding my organized crime connection, see Robert Mueller’s (former head of the FBI and the same Mueller who was tasked with the congressional investigation during DT’s first term) retirement speech.
Because it’s a discussion about the fossil fuel-military-industrial complex and not every article can be about everything! I’ve written extensively about how renewables play into these calculations elsewhere https://graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-military-fossil-fuel-complex
Trump is turning the US into an abominable gangster. One positive benefits of this is the third world countries and its former allies can unite to turn against the US imperialism and US crumbles its legitimacy very quickly. Trump is an emperor without any clothes. 2026 will be hugely volatile and new wars may break out which will plunge our world into great chaos. Another big reason for US to invade Venezuela is that China and Venezuela have established very close comprehensive strategic partnership. US just wants to see China's reactions if Venezuela is bombed and insulted.
Trumps actions are again pushing the boundary’s and once again try growing the rule book out of the window.
Is it more complex or is it just as simple as doing that, that hitherto hasn’t been done? …. You can’t just take a head of state and make the remainder of government do your bidding, surely not?… but he, Trump can do anything if he wants to!
Making people do what he wants is his way. Anyway he can. And he does the unthinkable in the name of power. He will do it say anything that suits his agenda and consequences don’t worry him as it’s what he wants.
Ultimately, controlling the massive reserves is to him key. It’s the biggest! And so he wants to be in control of it. He has taken a leaf out of the books of the Russians and the Chinese. If you want it have it! And rather than before in Vietnam or Iraq or Afghanistan or as seen in Ukraine the cost of boots on the ground is too costly, so he has chosen control by fear and stealth. Making Venezuela think it’s still in control, leaving the control in place just he is in charge of the asset.
He is showing Putin and Xi how to do it! He admires those who control and have done for decades. But he can be better because of the US military.
It’s true, Venezuela has failed to manage their asset. It’s been underinvested and stripped of all its production from an underinvested business. Diverting profit away to help the people. Without protecting the goose that lays the golden egg!
But the economic model of Capitalism is flawed.
As they get richer and their poor get poorer, they look for other vulnerable people to earn from. To take money from. So the control of asset wealth is key to then siphon more untapped money, from the world. Or do they believe.
You are right Grace. The USA as in the UK are struggling to pay their way as governments. Their borrowing costs are so high it’s eye watering!
The rich pay themselves more and more dollars and pounds as they ‘lend to themselves’ in essence making sure they repay themselves and more! As interest and future profits are added each time. So the rich do get richer.
But as the poor get poorer.
So what used to be on a country scale is now a world scale. The drug trafficking charges of Maduro are cause to go in, in Trumps eyes. It’s an excuse to act. And in so doing instil a puppet regime who does Trumps bidding.
A ‘clever’ way, a better way and a successful way in Trumps eye. He sees the action of Putin as unnecessary and unfortunate. When a threat can be just as effective. If you show you mean business.
As compelling as the China angle is, it’s a secondary consequence to him. A byproduct. No, I believe it’s his aim to control.
He is controlling Europe in a way that is succeeding.
Feeding Putins brain with his ‘help’. Giving in one hand and taking away Zelenskyy’s in the other! By selling arms he is a businessman, and in his eyes is helping EU in their hands to aid Ukraine. So taking away from the Russians as well!
It’s smoke and mirrors diplomacy. Bring kind and being unkind all at the same time. Confuse and disguise the enemy. Give and deny. Kind yet harsh. Creating confusion and bewilderment like a master sorcerer.
He knows if you tell it often enough people can and will believe it!
But conversely if you keep people guessing, then that’s good enough to keep them in the ‘headlights’ of blindness. It’s controlling and he is in a position to do it. It’s working!
But the one democratic leveller is money. If they have it they want snd get more. But if the politicians understood that, making money have to move by SPENDING it instead of keeping hold of it and loaning it will stop in its tracks their control!
People can again control the democratic vote. By all having to SPEND money do it’s not in their hands long enough to control the rest of us. Don’t take it by taxation. Force them who have it all to SPEND it! Once you do that they have to control by agreement and democracy snd not dictatorship.
Gang warfare…organised crime is now running most of the world and crime boss warlords are will look to take each other out. Trump has no idea what he is starting but he will take out Cuba then Panama and keep threating Greenland unless America wakes up and throws him in jail. Oh and don’t mention the Epstein files while this catastrophe plays out.
Meet the new boss... ;)
…[but not the] same as the old boss…
There's a flaw in your argument. Venezuelan oil is heavy and sour and is more expensive to refine than lighter and sweeter crude. It has to be blended to be piped it's so heavy. It's similar to shale oil and it needs a price of ca $70 per barrel to be profitable. In the long term that will work out. Short term? Not so much.
But here's the kicker (and potentially a bigger reason for the kidnapping), how the price of oil is set. It needs to stay in dollars. Venezuela has been selling oil to China in yuan. https://kasperbenjamin.substack.com/p/the-real-reason-why-the-us-overthrew
I think you've misunderstood the argument, Bill. My point was that Trump needed a big symbolic gesture to show his voters he cares about the affordability crisis. The last sectino of the article explains why this gesture won't work, and won't reduce bills.
But it won't achieve any reduction in prices, the Trumped up (heh) charges are about drugs so will enough people make the connection? I did read all your piece and I liked it.
I think we are all agreeing here - this wont bring down prices - and it was a massive publicity stunt by Trump to show his voter base how "strong" he is and how he is working to protect America - all bullshit, of course. But anyone daring to sell oil in a currency other than USD better watch out, as doing so, takes away at least some power from the mighty US dollar
Yeah, I'm not sure this military incursion had very much to do about projecting affordability in the US.
But even nationalisation can't bring down the cost of refining that much
Agreed, Grace: manufacture an existential fear and then posture as saviour. War and repression are costly, and interventions contrived to keep the domestic ideological upper hand generally do not make any neatly obvious fiscal return. However: the subplot of trying to contain China as some spectral competitor to an economically floundering USA does seem to factor large in much of this otherwise seemingly random geopolitical flailing of the current USA administration.
In solidarity & goodwill!
"Since the 1944 Bretton Woods agreement, and especially after the 1973 arrangement with Saudi Arabia that created the “petrodollar,” the US dollar has functioned as the world’s primary reserve currency. This status grants the United States an almost supernatural economic power."
Indeedy and thank you: for I thoroughly appreciated that fascinating article, Bill.
Please help a confused guy... You mentioned oil prices being high but you go to the gas pump and it's well under $2 a gallon. So I was under the impression that it was some kind of deal with the Saudis over producing or something to that effect. Maybe the two billion that Jared got for his venture capital company. So I worry that these idiots see the low price at the pump and forget that they're grocery bill is twice what it was a few years ago. Thanks in advance for the explanation!
Thanks Grace. Thanks for the new word — autarky — with a “k”. I had to look it up. There are two variations — “k” versus “ch”. The “k” version refers, as you state, “…a devout economic nationalist…, a group, state, or nation. While the “ch” variant refers to an individual or group of individuals, such as organized crime or oligarchy. I believe the both can apply, but I believe the “ch” would be a more accurate application. DT, as “King” — as figurehead for the dominant power structure — the Lords, Ladies, and the merchant class. Sarah Kendzior’s 2020 book, Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America. Sarah (@sarahkendzior) has been warning us about DT for over a decade (Trumpmenbashi). If you have doubts regarding my organized crime connection, see Robert Mueller’s (former head of the FBI and the same Mueller who was tasked with the congressional investigation during DT’s first term) retirement speech.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahkendzior
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250245397/hidinginplainsight/
https://thediplomat.com/2016/03/trumpmenbashi/
https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/speeches/the-evolving-organized-crime-threat
This is a discussion of energy issues but no mention of renewables. Why not?
Because it’s a discussion about the fossil fuel-military-industrial complex and not every article can be about everything! I’ve written extensively about how renewables play into these calculations elsewhere https://graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-military-fossil-fuel-complex
Trump is turning the US into an abominable gangster. One positive benefits of this is the third world countries and its former allies can unite to turn against the US imperialism and US crumbles its legitimacy very quickly. Trump is an emperor without any clothes. 2026 will be hugely volatile and new wars may break out which will plunge our world into great chaos. Another big reason for US to invade Venezuela is that China and Venezuela have established very close comprehensive strategic partnership. US just wants to see China's reactions if Venezuela is bombed and insulted.
Yep, he is the ‘gringo’ version of Maduro, except Trump is all puppet and Miller, Vought, Musk, and Thiel trousers.
Another thoughtful piece Grace.
Trumps actions are again pushing the boundary’s and once again try growing the rule book out of the window.
Is it more complex or is it just as simple as doing that, that hitherto hasn’t been done? …. You can’t just take a head of state and make the remainder of government do your bidding, surely not?… but he, Trump can do anything if he wants to!
Making people do what he wants is his way. Anyway he can. And he does the unthinkable in the name of power. He will do it say anything that suits his agenda and consequences don’t worry him as it’s what he wants.
Ultimately, controlling the massive reserves is to him key. It’s the biggest! And so he wants to be in control of it. He has taken a leaf out of the books of the Russians and the Chinese. If you want it have it! And rather than before in Vietnam or Iraq or Afghanistan or as seen in Ukraine the cost of boots on the ground is too costly, so he has chosen control by fear and stealth. Making Venezuela think it’s still in control, leaving the control in place just he is in charge of the asset.
He is showing Putin and Xi how to do it! He admires those who control and have done for decades. But he can be better because of the US military.
It’s true, Venezuela has failed to manage their asset. It’s been underinvested and stripped of all its production from an underinvested business. Diverting profit away to help the people. Without protecting the goose that lays the golden egg!
But the economic model of Capitalism is flawed.
As they get richer and their poor get poorer, they look for other vulnerable people to earn from. To take money from. So the control of asset wealth is key to then siphon more untapped money, from the world. Or do they believe.
You are right Grace. The USA as in the UK are struggling to pay their way as governments. Their borrowing costs are so high it’s eye watering!
The rich pay themselves more and more dollars and pounds as they ‘lend to themselves’ in essence making sure they repay themselves and more! As interest and future profits are added each time. So the rich do get richer.
But as the poor get poorer.
So what used to be on a country scale is now a world scale. The drug trafficking charges of Maduro are cause to go in, in Trumps eyes. It’s an excuse to act. And in so doing instil a puppet regime who does Trumps bidding.
A ‘clever’ way, a better way and a successful way in Trumps eye. He sees the action of Putin as unnecessary and unfortunate. When a threat can be just as effective. If you show you mean business.
As compelling as the China angle is, it’s a secondary consequence to him. A byproduct. No, I believe it’s his aim to control.
He is controlling Europe in a way that is succeeding.
Feeding Putins brain with his ‘help’. Giving in one hand and taking away Zelenskyy’s in the other! By selling arms he is a businessman, and in his eyes is helping EU in their hands to aid Ukraine. So taking away from the Russians as well!
It’s smoke and mirrors diplomacy. Bring kind and being unkind all at the same time. Confuse and disguise the enemy. Give and deny. Kind yet harsh. Creating confusion and bewilderment like a master sorcerer.
He knows if you tell it often enough people can and will believe it!
But conversely if you keep people guessing, then that’s good enough to keep them in the ‘headlights’ of blindness. It’s controlling and he is in a position to do it. It’s working!
But the one democratic leveller is money. If they have it they want snd get more. But if the politicians understood that, making money have to move by SPENDING it instead of keeping hold of it and loaning it will stop in its tracks their control!
People can again control the democratic vote. By all having to SPEND money do it’s not in their hands long enough to control the rest of us. Don’t take it by taxation. Force them who have it all to SPEND it! Once you do that they have to control by agreement and democracy snd not dictatorship.
I've read maybe a dozen analyses on this situation, and this is genuinely the best and most convincing.
Meet Paul Singer, the Billionaire Trump Megadonor Set to Make a Killing on Venezuela Oil | Common Dreams, Jan. 5/26
“Paul Singer’s shady purchase of Citgo has everything to do with this coup.”
https://www.commondreams.org/news/paul-singer-venezuela