Gail -- I'm not talking about a state working a tax angle in the rationing scheme. The oil I'm talking about actually belongs to the state. They purchased those mineral rights long ago. The status of those rights is no different than the royalty rights the Feds own in the OCS. The state can take physical possession of all that oil and do as it wishes with it. Somewhat similar to the Colorado River water right Cal purchased years ago. I doubt Cal would accept the Feds coming in and giving that water to AZ, for instance, regardless of how "fair" such a rationing plan would be.

On the one hand, I don't think such actions are guaranteed. But I've been in Texas for almost 30 years and have a good handle on state politics and general public sentiment towards the Feds. In a truly catastrophic long term shortage situation (a true nightmare scenario) I can honestly envision an armed conflict if it came to it and neither side back off. That may sound absurd to some but come on down and spend some time here...might change that thought. I’m really not being a doomer. I just really know the folks down here. It’s not just an old joke: many here think of themselves as citizens of Texas before they consider themselves US citizens.