# OPEC...why play games?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opec-why-play-games/472765>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 14, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opec-why-play-games/472765 "2008-11-14T20:41:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opec-why-play-games/472765/21 "2008-11-16T13:43:54Z")

</div>

Another factor is that there’s no equivalent in food production of corporations like Saudi Aramco, the National Iranian Oil Company, or Petróleos de Venezuela - big state-owned companies that manage production. The President and Congress don’t have any direct control over wheat growth or its sale.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opec-why-play-games/472765/22 "2008-11-16T15:51:21Z")

</div>

> [@Sandwich](#):
>
> How can we force them to trade at the fair price? I’m thinking maybe 100 euros a hectare?

Sounds like a ripoff to me. The last time the island was sold the entire thing went for a mere $24! 100 euros/ha is way too high.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opec-why-play-games/472765/23 "2008-11-16T18:50:26Z")

</div>

How about just removing the US Navy from the shipping lanes? Let the Saudi’s and Venezuelans protect their own dam oil. Shit, we can give Kuwait back to the Iraqui’s while we are at it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opec-why-play-games/472765/24 "2008-11-16T19:03:29Z")

</div>

> [@jtgain](#):
>
> I admit that it is harsh and potentially unfair, but I can’t believe that we are this impotent to the OPEC cartel. If they were in the U.S., their activities would be considered illegal. Oil is our lifeblood.

It’s their fucking oil. If you don’t want to pay for it, get your own or come up with some other energy source. You sound like a smack monkey blaming his dealer for his problems.

Oooh oooh oooh, evil OPEC, not giving us their oil for a price WE want to pay. It’s our lifeblood! Well, suck it up, buttercup. Nobody owes you cheap oil.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opec-why-play-games/472765.md?page=1)