Would reducing our dependence on oil help stop evil dictators/leaders?

Let's face it, much of the Middle East, whom we consider to be unstable is very wealthy due to its oil reserves. That money has funded many a dictator and leaders that we don't like in the Mid East, including Saddam.





Oil also gives funds to Chavez in Venezuela as well as Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. Nguema who Condelleza Rice calss “one of the most brutal, most corrupt and unreconstructed dictators in the world”; he also controls the third-largest oil reserves in Africa.





Of course, the Bin Laden family is also immensly tied to oil.





So why shouldn't we stop funding these people?Would reducing our dependence on oil help stop evil dictators/leaders?
In the short term, if we pulled our investments out of their oil industry, it would hurt their power and wealth. In the long term, another commodity will replace oil. Before oil it was water, salt, gold, bronze, iron, steel, there was always some top commodity that controlled life.Would reducing our dependence on oil help stop evil dictators/leaders?
No they'll just sell their oil elsewhere.
Yes. I agree. Tell that to Bush and his oil family
Yes.


Every dollar that you spend on oil means that Saudi Arabia has one more dollar to spend on manufactoring Muslim extremists. Reducing the US dependence on oil means less money to hire terrorists, means less terrorists.
When we become dependent on something else, another dictator will appear.
The answer to your question is no. Although it might help curb some of the CURRENT evil dictators/leaders, it would create avenues for new ones. The world has always had evil dictators/leaders and always will; misuse of power is human nature.
Yep... but then again, someone would find yet another committee to hold over our heads.
You have to remember that G. Bush is also an oil barron.


Now what do you say? I hope we can shut all of them down, here %26amp; abroad, but considering the pres is one of them, it may not happen. They like the profits they are making, %26amp; they will fight to the death to keep the bucks flowing in!
Yes, I think if we reduced the amount of oil we used it would because we are the most powerful country they depend on us.