No doubt this round of layoffs will challenge conservative values and beliefs of many at APC, i.e. that your own hard work, faith and special skills helped you achieve the American dream. Unfortunately, the reality is that your destiny is controlled by a group of Islamists and very little by you. If Saudi Arabia decides to keep prices high, then you make a bonus. If they decide to recapture market share and lower prices, then you lose your job. The reality is that that well being of those in the oil patch is directly correlated to how much money most of America's enemies make - Russia, Iran, ISIS, and the not-so democratic fiefdoms of the Middle East. High oil prices are actually bad for our country for mre than just geo-policial reasons.
And it's not coming back like people on here think. You are victims of your own success. By uncovering a large domestic supply, you have guaranteed that prices will remain low. As soon as prices go up, market entrants are encouraged, flooding the market with supply once again. Prices might go up a bit, but they will not return anywhere near $70-$100 per barrel. The new equilibrium prices is much lower. Saudi Arabia has learned that high prices, while good in the short term for them, invite too much competition which puts their only source of revenue at too great a risk.