Independence and Freedom

Independence and freedom mean more than being able to pierce our tongues, write songs lambasting our President, or move from state to state without governmental approval. Independence also means being free of the influence of oppressive, crazy governments across the globe who control the oil spigots we depend on for economic survival.

Without oil revenue, the troublesome nations of Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia would be powerless. They have produced nothing the world wants. Their governments and civilizations are based on 8th-century rules. Their women are oppressed. They have no freedom of the press or freedom of religion. Many of their leaders want to submit all humanity to the rule of Sharia, by any means necessary.

Let's stop the madness. We can start by creating more U.S. based sources of oil. Let's allow off-shore drilling and oil exploration in ANWR.

But that's a short-term solution. Long-term, let's start a massive Manhattan-Project or moon-landing-type enterprise towards energy independence. I don't care what source of energy we explore: solar, biodiesel, nuclear, coal, or ethanol. Heck, I’d even support development of the flux capacitor and the Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor.

The project could be similar to the X Prize contest that produced SpaceShipOne. There are probably a lot of budding Burt Rutans out there, just waiting for their chance to produce the next big energy source.

We have to regain our independence so that we Americans, not the mullahs, dictators and monarchies of the Middle East, control our future and our destiny.