EDITORIAL: Americans on energy independence

Energy independence is impossible. The energy market is global. The 2008 book "Gusher of Lies: The dangerous delusions of Energy Independence" by Robert Bryce discusses this situation. Harry W. Parker, PhD, PE

Everyone ingnores the most important component of energy policy: ending mass immigration.

Unless I have misread this article. There is something wrong with this survey. It does not seem to reflect other polls showing 70 plus demanding to drill now or other polls that show even the Europeans are questioning global warming.

THE DEMOCRAT CONGRESS CONTINUES TO BLOCK THE ONE THING THAT WILL STOP THE SURGE OF GAS PRICES - DRILLING, DRILLING, DRILLING ! SURE WE CAN KEEP WORKING ON ALL THE OTHER GREEN PROPOSALS AT THE SAME TIME, BUT UNTIL THEY ARE UP AND RUNNING, WE NEED TO DRILL. CONGRESS SHOULD FIND WAYS TO FORCE THE OIL COMPANIES TO DRILL AND BUILD NEW REFINERIES !

All we want is a transition plan for energy independence. Perform a reality check on current and available energy reserves (this includes drilling in ANWR and offshore). Stabilize the current environment with existing environmental standards and then plan for a transition (physical and behavioral modifications) to energy independence. Don't take the extremist path down absolutes. Provide risk assessments and constraints, but don't tell me to improve gas mileage with emissions caps. Give the manufacturers something to work with. Follow the plan, not abandon it like the DOE in 73. Make the transition sensible both behavioral and physical. The easiest way to build infrastructure is from the cities out, like a network and then start connecting the cities. Come up with an alternative that has the same potential energy and UTILITY (i.e. exchangable lightweight batteries that get 400 miles minimum on a charge that can be recycled) as current carbon products. How about MAG LEV instead of airplanes? We can do it if we get our noses out of our PC/laptops. Right now Congress is in reactive mode because of blame politics and partisan power tactics. They need to be in proactive mode doing what right for the country and not their party.

With the current composition of the U.S. Senate that believes we can TAX our way out of our energy crisis, our Nation doesn't stand a prayer of extricating ourselves from this self imposed dilemma. Simply review the recent Senate action on HR 3121 where Harry Reid and his minions such as Clinton and Obama, in sync with the Left-Wing Fringe Elements in our society, voted AGAINST the opening of a miniscule portion of ANWAR; AGAINST shale oil extraction of which America has the equivalent of ten Saudi Arabia's in recoverable reserves; and, AGAINST accelerated efforts to facilitate the gasification of America's abundant reserves of coal. The task then for the RATIONAL MAJORITY in our Nation is SIMPLY to recognize the SOURCE that sustains and provides the base of support for the LEFT-WING FRINGE ELEMENTS in our society; and, to undertake a decisive role at the ballot box to isolate and relegate these FRINGE ELEMENTS THAT COMPRISE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE BASE OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY to a decibel level that is barely audible. ANY TIME you vote for a Democrat, ANY DEMOCRAT, you're unmistakably multiplying the capacity of these LEFT-WING FRINGE ELEMENTS to continue to promote their radical agenda, and to bring our Nation to its knees. A circumstance that no external power ever could have accomplished. The ability to restore our Nation's status; and, to sustain this Sacred Land that the RATIONAL MAJORITY so proudly calls AMERICA, resides in your hands at the ballot box. GREG NEUBECK

If there were no restrictions of "any" type to drill for oil,would there be more wells?What is the motivation.When they are making a small profit now.Who do we rely on to tell us how much oil there is? I am an American. I don't believe anyone nor any entity has the Right to make a profit.If so,prove it.I thought it was a pursuit. Just like "Happiness".Rush Limbaugh can prove it. Ask him.A $400 million dollar contract.Anyone else hear him say "I am a business man first.We all agree the fat lazy over paid American wage earning laborer never did anything for this country.Goods and products are cheaper now.This cannot be denie.Trinkets everything we could live without are cheaper.Necessities, automobiles and energy, more expensive than ever,our dollar is weaker than ever.We Can live without cars and energy, I forgot "we are addicted".What ever President you wanted to be in office with what ever congress you want to make up,that same Congress could have stopped him from going to war,they all had the same info.Wait their millionaires too.If States were not stripped of the power they were meant have.It would take a majority of people in each state then a majority of states to go to war.One of the two Presidential candidates will save us. One does not believe in the First Amendment. Oops, that's not a Right. The other does not believe in the Second Amendment. Oops, that's not a Right.Our constitution was written by outdated doddering fools who knew nothing,about freedom,courage,economics and certainly the individual.I'll pick five Founding Fathers,they would not be allowed to know anything that has transpired since there deaths, they would have to defend the Document they bequeathed to us.You make up the opposing team of whomever and however many.You, pick the side you want to be on. Certainly the people who put money first will win every time. Yes I have an agenda. I am going to write book "How to Boil a Frog" If you can't wait for my book try reading "The 5000 Year Leap" I dare you. Who the heck do you think shut off the oil!

Here is a simple idea to find out where the Senate and House stands on this crisis of their own creation (we know where three quarters of the American people stand). Let's put forth a simple yes or no question to each member of Congress. "Are you in favor of drilling for more oil in areas now blocked such as the gulf and ANWR-yes or no"? None of this spin and obsfucation crap such as "the oil companies already have millions of acres leased, etc. would be allowed. A simple yes or no period! With the Democrat's propensity to never answer a straight yes or no question, this should be quite amusing. The whole process would be televised on CSPAN and it would be clear to the public where their so-called representatives stood on the issue. Everyone could then take appropriate steps in November.

US energy independence IS NOT impossible. It may well be impractical, uneconomical and unnecessary. It would certainly require the investment of ~$10-20 trillion. However, obtaining the environmental permits to achieve energy independence by 2015 probably IS impossible.