Hillbilly wisdom: when the facts don’t add up, you are missing some facts or being purposely mislead. The current situation in the oil market is a case in point. According to the reported media, oil products are moving in the gulf again, but Trump is asking for more releases from the emergency supply both in our country and from foreign countries. As the production rates increase around the world one would expect the emergency reserves to be replenished not further drawn down. Stabilizing the price was the plan in the first removal of reserves and it doesn’t seem to be working. Our emergency reserves are reported at forty year lows.

Short term gains of 40 million more barrels through a loan program designed to stabilize the energy markets would be just that. There has been no effort to repay the previous loans to energy companies from draw downs. There were increased profits for said energy companies. Congress, how is this helping the national security of the United States?

Less emergency supplies means increased vulnerabilities in a non-secure world. For a country positioned as the United States with an abundance of raw material and the ability to refine it, the dangers of interrupted supply would be less than say European countries. So Congress, what is going on? Is there some hidden advantage to drawing down reserves as supply increases? What facts are missing or is the American public being hoodwinked? Congress, do not place the United States in danger for a short term gain before the election. Short term gains are short term. Do your job.