| Everybody's talking about exorbitant gas prices. No | | | | that global warming wasn't a serious threat, that it |
| matter where you go, no matter what you do, no | | | | doesn't make economic sense to invest in renewable |
| matter who you see, the big topic is how we're | | | | energy, and that it is impossible for the United States |
| being ripped at the pump. | | | | to ever become energy independent. |
| While President Bush's drill some more for some more | | | | So, how do we get around lobbyists and |
| policy will boost oil company profits even higher in | | | | weak-kneed, self-serving politicians to make this |
| 2017 and beyond, it won't do anything to cut the | | | | country finally energy independent? |
| price for a gallon of gas tomorrow, next week, next | | | | We start by understanding what energy |
| month, or next year. | | | | independence would really mean to us. |
| Congress won't do anything about high energy prices | | | | Energy independence will do more than just lower |
| until Representatives and Senators figure out how to | | | | the price of gasoline at the pump. Energy |
| come up with some sort of compromise that won't | | | | independence will mean more than freedom from |
| tick-off cash-flush oil companies or offend voters | | | | decades of OPEC threats to disrupt supplies and |
| three months before an election. | | | | increase prices at will. Energy independence will do |
| Talk about the impossible dream! | | | | more than eliminate terrorist threats to interfere with |
| Seven administrations, eighteen Congresses, and | | | | the flow of oil into the United States. |
| umpteen 'Energy Acts' after the 1973 Arab oil | | | | Energy independence will mean that we can finally |
| embargo, we are where we are . . . in the same old | | | | begin to reverse global warming. Energy |
| energy mess, only worse. | | | | independence will give us the freedom to pursue |
| The Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and | | | | economic and foreign policies without having to |
| Bush II administrations did nothing to make us energy | | | | worry about how countries like Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, |
| independent even though they knew what we know: | | | | Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab |
| There are only two ways to free ourselves from the | | | | Emirates, Ecuador, and Venezuela might react. |
| oil stranglehold we've been bound by for the past | | | | Moreover, energy independence will free up the |
| thirty-five years: First, we have to develop viable | | | | resources we need to revitalize and stabilize our |
| alternative energy sources and, second, we have to | | | | economy for the long-term, eliminate the federal |
| intelligently, consistently, and significantly reduce the | | | | deficit, pay down the national debt, rebuild our |
| amount of oil we consume. | | | | infrastructure, increase our investment in education, |
| Not that hard to understand. | | | | and fund social security for the foreseeable future. |
| So why did 7 Presidents and 18 Congresses fail to | | | | After nearly eight years of unprecedented |
| make the United States of America energy | | | | incompetence and lack of direction in Washington, |
| independent? | | | | D.C., America is sick and tired of 'politics as usual' and |
| Some say the answer lies in the half billion dollar | | | | is ready to make sweeping changes this November. |
| contribution trail that runs from oil companies to | | | | This is your opportunity to vote for candidates for |
| lobbyists to politicians over the past 20 years. | | | | the House, the Senate, and for the Presidency who |
| Oil companies understand that they'll never make the | | | | demonstrate they have the vision and the political will |
| really big bucks if they allow Washington politicians to | | | | to lead us through the economic, social, and |
| write legislation without a little lobbyist input. At the | | | | technological changes necessary to finally make us |
| same time, they're too smart to let you to catch | | | | energy independent. |
| them manipulating Congress and the White House, so | | | | Don't miss out on this chance to vote for change . . . |
| they pay lobbyists millions of dollars to do the dirty | | | | the country may not be able to wait until the next |
| work for them. Oil and gas lobbyists came up with a | | | | election. |
| 'hat-trick' when they convinced Congress and the | | | | Can you? |
| White House to parrot the oil industry's 3-part mantra | | | | |