For over thirty years, America’s energy policy has been summed up in two words: Cheap Gas!!

Every president since Richard Nixon has called for “energy independence”.  To them energy independence means ending dependence on foreign oil.  You can hear them in this video:

http://endependence.info/research/videos-c-12-v-65.html

Despite the talk, there has been no action.  America’s drive toward energy independence is in neutral.  In fact, since Nixon’s time, we have slid backward to the point where over 60% of our oil comes from other countries.  It used to be only 30%.

Can we blame the backsliding on the politicians?  Mostly, no.  We have to blame ourselves.

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Endependence is energy independence that ends dependence on polluting fuels.

Every barrel of oil we don’t consume reduces the market and political power of nations such as Saudi Arabia, no matter where that barrel would have come from. Likewise, every barrel we don’t consume helps the environment and slows global warming, and whether it is foreign or domestic oil makes no difference. Energy conservation is what’s important. Energy independence doesn’t matter. -By Roger Sant and Michael Kinsley Sunday, December 14, 2008; Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/12/AR2008121203280.html

Our sentiments exactly, energy independence doesn’t matter.  Energy Independence is politician speak for “we’re not really going to do anything about our energy challenges.”

That is why we are starting a War for Endependence, the key ingredient of which is ending dependence on polluting fuels.

Sant and Kinsley make the point quite well that the only true independence from “foreign oil” or let’s say “foreign oil from countries we don’t like” will come from reducing our oil consumption to the point where we are only using our own oil or oil from countries we do like.

So, how do we use an ever decreasing amount of oil while keeping a vibrant economy and a good standard of living.  The answer is combination of conservation and substituting renewable energy for oil and other polluting fuels.

Plot it out.  Personal, Local, State and Federal.

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