We should eliminate one word from the discussion

[sutz12]

That word is foreign. The Repubs are touting their "energy plans" as freeing us from "foreign oil." That is a red herring IMO.

What we really need to do is free ourselves from our oil addiction, not our foreign oil addiction.

They are trying to play the word games again and control the dialog with semantic tricks. The real answer, of course, is not more drilling. I'm not against some relaxation on drilling, but I strongly support the need for the oil companies to explore the lands they already have under lease and use the drilling permits that are already extant. But any energy plan that does not include massive investment in solar and wind and electric vehicle programs is pretty much a non-starter for me.

[dkf]

1. Yes. We simply don't have enough oil to be independent of foreign oil, unless we get off it period.

[joshcryer]

3. Yes we do.

We've been over this.

What's more important is that we need to stop saying "The oil companies care." And deny them any access to any land whatsoever unless they plan to explore. Period.

They have shitloads of money, sitting on land with potential reserves is bullshit.

[RufusTFirefly]

2. Can't do it. Freeing ourselves from oil addiction would make Exxon unhappy

The last thing we are allowed to do is make oil companies unhappy. We have an entire military that does the bidding of oil companies, after all. These guys have a lot of clout.

[JDPriestly]

4. Solar energy is the way in Southern California.

If we had electric cars, home heating and cost-effective solar panels, individual families in L.A. could be truly energy independent. That is what the energy industry is afraid of.

[TexasObserver]

5. Yes, it's like telling an alcoholic he needs to stop drinking foreign booze

[The2ndWheel]

6. Should also replace oil with energy

The activity that we're able to do by concentrating massive amounts of energy for the benefit of a single species is the fundamental problem. We've been increasing our impact on the planet well before oil made up everything we do.

[Sisaruus]

7. Let's nationalize the oil companies.

Because what's to keep them from selling our resources on the international market?

[Rocknrule]

8. I was thinking we should eliminate the word "9/11"

Sick of hearing Repubs milking it for all it's worth. "3000 Americans died so I could be elected!"

[sutz12]

9. Now that Rudi's out and McSame is in...

That expression has been replaced with "POW."