The answer from the Bush Administration to our energy woes is to drill for more oil. What planet are we on?
The country I live in has capabilities so far beyond my humble imagination, and the best our government and industry seem to be able to offer is to "Drill Baby, Drill." Never mind that any such policy would result in continued reliance on foreign oil no matter how much drilling occurred, and we wouldn't see the results of this renewed drilling program for years or even decades. Meanwhile, we would be further obfuscating the real issue, which is to get our butts off reliance on oil. Period.
The country I live in has vast resources. The most important of our vast resources is intellectual. When we put our minds together, I truly believe that we can do anything. The space program is a shining example. We put men on the moon. I think back to being glued to the television in July 1969 and being filled with wonder and awe as Neil Armstrong spoke the words, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." The possibilities were, and are, endless.
It takes focus. We have become a country so accustomed to short-term everything, that we seem to have forgotten that we can do anything.
Imagine what could happen if we set as a national priority figuring out viable alternative energy resources that would stop our need for importing vast volumes of oil from overseas. Imagine what could happen if we focused resources on finding real solutions for energy independence. Imagine how much better off we would all be if we stopped the flow of oil because we no longer needed it. I don't believe for a moment that this could not be accomplished in a relatively short term if we collectively chose to make it happen.
Creating viable alternative energy resources would also create new industry. New jobs. Technology that we could create and export.
The benefits are vast. The political consequences of being a leader in the world on alternative energy rather than a country that stonewalls change, the possibility of stopping war for oil, and reducing our impact on the planet whether or not you believe in global warming. It is all within our reach.
We CAN do this. The first step would be electing leaders that believe in our possibilities.
