Elk County Forum

         
           Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the
           middle of a desert.

           Congress said, "Someone may steal from it at night." So they
           created a night watchman position and hired a person for the
           job.

           Then Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job
           without instruction?"

           So they created a planning department and hired two people,
           one person to write the instructions, and one person to do
           time studies.

           Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is
           doing the tasks correctly?"

           So they created a Quality Control department and hired two
           people. One was to do the studies and one was to write the
           reports.

           Then Congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?"

           So they created two positions: a time keeper and a payroll
           officer then hired two people.

           Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of
           these people?"

           So they created an administrative section and hired three
           people, an Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative
           Officer, and a Legal Secretary.

           Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation
           for one year and we are $918,000 over budget, we must cut back."
           So they laid-off the night watchman.

           NOW slowly, let it sink in.

           Quietly, we go like sheep to slaughter. Does anybody
           remember the reason given for the establishment of the
           DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY during the Carter administration?

           Anybody?

           Anything?

           No?

           Didn't think so!

           Bottom line is, we've spent several hundred billion (BILLION
           with a B) dollars in support of an agency, the reason for
           which very few people who read this can remember!

           Ready??

             It was very simple... and at the time, everybody thought
           it very appropriate.

           The Department of Energy was instituted on 8/04/1977, TO
           LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.

           Hey, pretty efficient, huh?

             AND NOW IT'S 2015 -- 38 YEARS LATER -- AND THE BUDGET FOR
           THIS "NECESSARY"DEPARTMENT IS AT $24.2 BILLION A YEAR. IT
           HAS 16,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND APPROXIMATELY 100,000
           CONTRACT EMPLOYEES; AND LOOK AT THE JOB IT HAS DONE!

           (THIS IS WHERE YOU SLAP YOUR FOREHEAD AND SAY, "WHAT WERE
           THEY THINKING?")
           38 years ago 30% of our oil consumption was foreign imports.
           Today 70% of our oil consumption is foreign imports.

           Ah, yes -- good old Federal bureaucracy.

           NOW, WE HAVE TURNED OVER THE BANKING SYSTEM, HEALTH CARE,
           AND THE AUTO INDUSTRY TO THE SAME GOVERNMENT?

           Hello!! Anybody Home?

           Signed....The Night Watchman


The most recent info I could find on imported oil to the US.

America is one of the world's largest oil producers, and close to 40 percent of U.S. oil needs are met at home. Most of the imports currently come from five countries: Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela and Nigeria.Apr 12, 2012

But this is not about the importation of oil but the concept of Federal Governments wastefulness.