AND THE MAJOR TAKE AWAY FOR 2011

'For the first time, the top export of the United States, the world's biggest gas guzzler, is fuel.
Measured in dollars, the nation is on pace this year to ship more gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel than any other single export, according to U.S. Census data going back to 1990. It will also be the first year in more than 60 that America has been a net exporter of these fuels.
Just how big of a shift is this? A decade ago, fuel wasn't even among the top 25 exports. And for the last five years, America's top export was aircraft.'

'The trend is significant because for decades the U.S. has relied on huge imports of fuel from Europe in order to meet demand. It only reinforced the image of America as an energy hog. And up until a few years ago, whenever gasoline prices climbed, there were complaints in Congress that U.S. refiners were not growing quickly enough to satisfy domestic demand; that controversy would appear to be over.'

'The last time the U.S. was a net exporter of fuels was 1949, when Harry Truman was president.'

So much for the energy independence arguement. As another blogger stated - no manufacturing left in the USA, now corporations export natural resources - third world country, anyone?

'All the pollution but none of the tax revenues'