Should fossil fuels be nationalized?

[muon2]

Fossil fuels are in a sense already the property of the state. In most states mineral rights require a purchase agreement, generally through a paid permit, to extract the minerals. Then there is a severance tax placed on the volume of minerals removed from the state, essentially paying the public for their minerals as they are taken. In a sense the state is contracting the work of removing the fossil fuels.

Perhaps what you are suggesting is that you would like the extraction company to be a public entity. Consider that states own roadways but the department of transportation contracts out the work to build and resurface the roadways. Should private road builders with union workers be abolished and the roads built only by the state directly?

[muon2]

I haven't seen anyone yet respond to the fact that the fossil fuels already are the property of the state. The state issues a permit (for a fee) to a company to recover the minerals then charges a severance tax based on the value of minerals extracted.