listen to this astounding comment I heard today in class...

**HopliteGlory** · October 24, 2006, 10:11 PM

First, I'm not sure of where to post this, but since this happened in a political science class(con-law II), i'll post it here.

So, these two female students sitting to my right were chatting before class about whatever. However, when the rest of the class became quiet enough i overheard one of them make one of the most jaw-dropping comments i have ever heard......

"Well, my mom thinks that they are deliberately opening gas stations over here so they can control the oil over here, too." Then, "Isn't it weird that they DO own the gas stations here?"

in this context, I can only assume that "they" refers to all middle-eastern looking peoples, including peoples that are entirely NOT of middle-eastern descent...

also, WOW! That is a very lame and dangerous "insight," to say that people who run gas stations control oil!

What the hell is going, I mean really! Are some of us in the USA still this close-minded and ignorant? I have been losing a little faith in the populace for some time(since 2000), but this kind of stuff just pulls the rug right out from under my feet.

**bdh** · October 24, 2006, 10:43 PM

"Well, my mom thinks that they are deliberately opening gas stations over here so they can control the oil over here, too." Then, "Isn't it weird that they DO own the gas stations here?"

I think she means that Middle Eastern Gas companies (Saudis, Kuwaittis, etc.) are buying gas stations so they can control production as well as distribution of Gasoline. I don't know if they are doing this, but thats what she appears to be saying.

in this context, I can only assume that "they" refers to all middle-eastern looking peoples, including peoples that are entirely NOT of middle-eastern descent...

I think she means Middle Eastern companies.

**Big War Bird** · October 24, 2006, 10:54 PM

In a sense your classmate is right. "They" do want to control the entire production and distribution system of oil. That includes gas stations, freighters, ports, (remember the Dubai port deal?) refineries and pipelines. Without knowing what "they" meant its hard to judge her comments. If she was refering to the local Shell Station owner then she was off base.

**ErikinWest** · October 24, 2006, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by Big War Bird

In a sense your classmate is right. "They" do want to control the entire production and distribution system of oil. That includes gas stations, freighters, ports, (remember the Dubai port deal?) refineries and pipelines. Without knowing what "they" meant its hard to judge her comments. If she was refering to the local Shell Station owner then she was off base.

Are all the oil producers in the Middle East gov't owned?

Erik

**Big War Bird** · October 24, 2006, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by ErikinWest

Are all the oil producers in the Middle East gov't owned?

Erik

I confess that I don't know how oil company ownership works in some OPEC nations. However it is a given that OPEC heads of state can dictate production. Therefore any private ownership does not equal private control.

**mrjesushat** · November 01, 2006, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Big War Bird

I confess that I don't know how oil company ownership works in some OPEC nations. However it is a given that OPEC heads of state can dictate production. Therefore any private ownership does not equal private control.

Well, if you follow the investment chain, you'll find that several American and European companies are responsible for the construction of many of the Mid-East's oil companies, rigs and drilling operations. And you'll also find that a cat named Prescott A. Bush was responsible for sinking a lot of money into the Saudi racket.

"They" could therefore mean the American and European oil conglomerates that control Middle Eastern oil production, refinement and distribution. But this is of course just a silly conspiracy theory, since no investor is ever due dividends and profits for anything they hand a hand in financing, developing, or building. Which is why we have to send more young Americans to do the dying, lest those evil terrorists keep control of the oil resources they were unable to develop without Western aid.

**General_Curtis_LeMay** · November 01, 2006, 02:48 PM

Here's the US government site that will tell you who sell how much oil to the US: http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/rankings/crudebycountry.htm
It is a basic fact that supply alters demmand and that demand alters supply. Read any book on econimics to find this out. For example, if the demand for pink bunny slippers increases, then the production of pink bunny slippers will increase because the sellers want to make more $$$. If however the supply of pink bunny slippers decreases because of striking factory workers, the consumer will improvise by getting blue bunny slippers. This is simple supply and demand. Thus if people want gas, and a station is charging more than anther, they'll go the the cheapest one. Or if all stations are part of this conspiracy, then someone somewhere would figgure it out and start thier own chain, supplying the populace with the desired good, cheap oil.

**HopliteGlory** · October 24, 2006, 11:08 PM

You guys needed to be there to here this....I most certainly believe she was referring to the locals. I should not have included "assume" in there; she referred to one owner in particular, an ITALIAN named MARIO(

funny, but nonetheless). I'm sorry, I should have specified this up in the original post. This young lady had SINCERITY in her tone and all over her face. I feel she really thinks that there is a pan-middle-eastern conspiracy to take over American gas stations, and that it is part of the plan to bring down or otherwise hurt the United States.

**Fenris** · October 24, 2006, 11:27 PM

At the same time, I wouldn't be too afraid seeing how the american gas companies hold everyone by the nuts. As soon as it rains, they raise the prices to no extent, whatever.

**Jan III** · October 25, 2006, 12:06 AM

We do have a sort of open prejudice about Indian and Middle-Easterners and their ownership of convenient stores. Senator Clinton once said something to the extent of Ghandi, oh yeah he worked at the gas station down the road. If I were a conspiracy theorist I would probably see something nefarious about the fact that many convenient stores are owned by the same nationality as the OPEC members, but many of these are chain stores that are owned by other people, of whose nationalities are not known to me. HopliteGlory, why the little faith in our fellow citizens since 2000, please tell me you are still not over losing the election.

**harm** · October 25, 2006, 01:12 PM

it's true, they own all the gas stations.

**Sher Khan** · October 25, 2006, 02:16 PM

Middle-Easterners don't own gas stations. South Asians do. You've got your stereotypes mixed up.

**Tecumseh** · October 25, 2006, 06:48 PM

Doesn't surpise me.

My grandfather thinks the pakistanis are slowly "invading" our country by buying all of our convienience stores. I really disagree with his beliefs over this. Hope that those types of beliefs die out quickly..

[toned things down a bit...]

**Ahiga** · October 25, 2006, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by Tecumseh

Doesn't surpise me.

My grandfather thinks the pakistanis are slowly "invading" our country by buying all of our convienience stores. I really disagree with his beliefs over this. Hope that those types of beliefs die out quickly..

Is your grandfather Italian, or Polish, or irish? You should get an old and senile anglo-saxon guy to go over and beat him up. :tooth:

(Simply because the anglo-saxon american's felt the same way towards those two ethnicites as he feels toward the pakistanis)

**gigagaia** · October 25, 2006, 06:53 PM

Please remember in the regular forums, no matter how upset you are about a situation or the context of your post, to avoid using foul or offensive language in posts.

**Tigran of Sasoun** · October 26, 2006, 02:45 AM

Originally Posted by HopliteGlory

What the hell is going, I mean really! Are some of us in the USA still this close-minded and ignorant? I have been losing a little faith in the populace for some time(since 2000), but this kind of stuff just pulls the rug right out from under my feet.

Im sorry to tell you this but yes, yes they are. Only by watching CNN and Fox does my mind say to itself every other day: "did I just hear that right?, did this public figure who is well respected in America just make that false sometimes racist and most times B.S comment I have heard in a very long time?"

Not all "Americans" are as smart as the guys that come to this forum, and highschool girls are dumb like a bat. Believe me western society is going to hell. When you have kids not able to tell where thier own state/province is you know something is wrong. but good luck with trying to fix it.

Just wondering, why not did you try to correct them? Are they like popular and you think you are a "nerd" or do you have a crush on one or both of them? Just wondering, cause im my day (2 years ago, lol) i didnt care what anyone thought i said it to thier face, kids change.

**Sidmen** · October 26, 2006, 03:30 AM

Actually, you'd be better off not geting involved in highschool conversations... unless you want a long hard discussion ending in an illogical statement like "my dad said so"

**HopliteGlory** · October 26, 2006, 08:13 AM

This is actually college, and I did not no how to respond to something like that. Any suggestions?

**KaerMorhen** · October 26, 2006, 08:23 AM

leave it as it is, it doesn't seem worthy involving in.

**edders** · October 26, 2006, 01:12 PM

It was just some college girls having a run-of-the-mill converstaion, and you don't even know what they meant by "they". Most people say silly things they don't think through in normal conversation (I'm sure everyone here has done it at least once too). There's no reason to go on a forum and start asking rhetorical questions about how stupid the population is.