aerospacepilot,

Respectfully, GO TAKE A VALIUM!!!
Oil is hurting us right now, but it is not the problem. The problem is we are letting "greenies" choke off our energy supply. Hitler ran a war machine on coal and derivatives for more than 4 years. The US has enough coal to supply the world's energy needs for about 110 years at present levels, but remember, "coal is bad." There is about 50 years of oil supply under the Green River Formation in CO, UT, WY. Heaven forbid we pull oil from those beautiful mountains and deserts. ANWR has about 30 years of oil, but you better not disturb those caribou. Off the shores of CA there is about 50 years of oil, but CA just 2 years ago banned all offshore drilling. There is oil in the Gulf of Mexico, maybe over 100 years worth, but heaven forbid we drill for it. Iraq may hold more oil than Saudi by some estimates, but let's abandon it to the terrorists instead of helping a fledgling democracy grow into an ally. There is plenty more examples of this.
Alternative energy? Accounts for less than 3% of our current supplies and speculators are betting that we will have to import wheat for the FIRST TIME IN OUR HISTORY!!!! Why? All the wheat farmers took the gov't subsidies and grew corn. Basic foodstock prices are up almost 50% this past year. It won't be long until it makes it's way through the production chain to your store shelf. And what about alternatives that make sense like wind? The environmentalists don't want us spoiling their views of the landscapes.

So what is the point? Wake up and smell the coffee!! Enviros and government regulators want you to believe there is a crisis instead of looking for the truth. The truth is government has gotten in the way and prevented us from developing the supplies we have. It is a power grab that someone is betting they can change our society and consolidate something else: power over the people.