Just a quick thought. The President had been talking about our nation's oil consumption and using statements along the lines of how the USA uses 20% of the oil produced in the world but only has 2% of the supply.
Not arguing those facts, however the two percentages are not directly related; some conversion is required to compare a consumption rate to given quantity. For all I know, our annual consumption rate of 20% of the world's oil output would use up the USA's 2% portion of the world's oil resources in 2 years. Or 20 years. Or 200 years.
Suggestion: instead of "we only have 2% of the oil", replace it with, "we only produce 10% of the oil". That way we're comparing production to consumption.
Main point has been stated, but there is semi-related jibber-jabber below the scroll-thingy.
The issue is, is this "2% and 20%" a fair comparison to make and do we want to make it? Do we want someone on the right to be calling the President on a simple misstatement?
I realize it's short and sweet, can be put on a bumper sticker and be grasped by the average voter. But there are also voters out there that can rub two brain cells together. And they're going, "hey, wait a minute". Please, let's not disillusion the smart ones; we want them on our side.
I realize the Faux News crowd would have trouble explaining to their audience why the President was incorrect in this instance, but if they thought they actually had him dead to rights in an honest mistake, do you ever think they would let him live it down? In an election year?
I just think maybe the President's team should retire that comparison or restate it or find another way to make the point. It's a good point and needs to be made.
If we are currently importing less than 50% of our oil, then we are producing over 50% of our needs from that 2% reserves. If our annual consumption is 20% of world production, then we are currently producing over 10% of the world's production for our own consumption and importing slightly less than 10%.