Geoffrey,
It is not about American society vs. the oil industry. We are intimately involved in the oil industry either through employment, investment, consumption, and just everyday living. Without oil, America and all developed countries would cease to exist as viable, growing societies.
It is impossible to allocate the true costs of defense to one industry just like it is to accurately estimate the benefits of oil production to the economy and our lifestyle.
In a world without oil, I am assuming that we would still maintain the armed forces in order to secure our safety and protect our vital interests. To the best of my knowledge, the world experienced war and strife long before petroleum was used commercially, and, I suspect, will do so once the last economically retrievable drop has been produced. Of course, being an idiot as you've suggested, I am probably all wrong and our children's children's children, on that fateful day, will all be singing "Imagine" and "We are the World" in perfect harmony. I hope so.
On your other points, I was under the impression that the most oil related spills are cleaned up at the expense of the entity which caused them. Also, the amount of taxes collected by governments all over the world for oil related products is staggering. Gasoline alone has something like 40 to 50 cents per gallon tax here and much higher in other countries. Add the lease revenues paid by oil companies, their corporate income taxes, payroll taxes, the shareholders' taxes on dividends and capital gains, automobile sales taxes, registration fees, and I could go on and on.
These are a whole bunch of taxes. Perhaps the better question from the Left might be to what extent is "Big Oil" subsidizing government and politicians to ensure its survival? By the way, I think that instead of subsidies, you might be really talking about externalities.
Sean,
No arguments with what you say. By the way, what countries get more output per barrel than the U.S.? Though rising energy costs are burdensome and regressive, it does have a positive impact on conservation.
Anthony,
Have you really thought about what you just said? There are a number of countries with cheaper gas and we can't keep their people from violating our borders. Do you suppose they come here to pay more?
Oil is a commodity. It is fungible. UK and French companies do not pay more for their crude than we do. Their governments just choose to tax the hell out of petroleum. So, if you are suggesting that we have a thriving economy because inexpensive gasoline prices, are you saying that the Europeans with higher unemployment and lower growth are a bunch of stupids because they make theirs ungodly expensive?
BTW, I don't like it that you drive an Audi. Perhaps you should think about a golf cart, or maybe taking public transportation on your trips. Bikes are very green and they are great for your health. Of course, this is just as nonsensical and inappropriate as you dictating to the SUV owner.
I do respect your right to write to your Congressman. Go for it. Let's pull out of Irag tomorrow, in six months, the sooner the better. Let the various factions go at it. What's a million people here or there? Then we can show the world that at least one party is not all about that evil oil.