The Cure for Energy Independence is High Prices

Imagine the day when cars run off of salt water. Pretty sweet deal right? Wrong! Even though it may seem that cars running off salt water is a better solution then gas, the end result will be the same. It might seem that salt water is an abundant energy resource compared to oil but everything else that makes up the vehicle is not abundant. For example, the main reason why a society where cars that run on water would not last would be because it would be so cheap to travel that more cars would be on the road, thus more tires and plastics would be needed to produce the cars. Unfortunately, we have limited resources on rubber trees and well plastic . . . you know where that comes from.

Denmark’s prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen claims, "In all other countries, including in America, people are complaining about how prices of [gasoline] are going up. The cure is not to reduce the price, but, on the contrary, to raise it even higher to break our addiction to oil." I agree with this statement. As we have Republicans complaining about Congress not wanting to meet to vote on a bill that would remove the ban for offshore drilling, ironically this bill was created and passed by President George Bush, Sr. in 1992. Republicans are deceiving the nation when they claim that lifting this ban would alleviate our pains at the pump. Wrong! We would not see a return for years and then at best we would save pennies not dollars as they like to claim.

The Republican Party . . . the party that seems to have an issue with change does not think about the future. Instead of demanding that we explore new forms of alternative energy, they want to fight for the old failed policies of the past. It isn't like we were in this situation before right? Think again . . . this happened 30 years ago and we made the wrong choice then and it is time that we make the right choice like other countries have . . like for example Denmark.

Unlike America, Denmark, banned all Sunday driving for a while due to the 1973 Arab oil embargo. The Danish people responded to that crisis in such a sustained, focused and systematic way that today it is energy independent. There is no secret formula to becoming energy independent. It takes innovation and dedication. As we complain of $4 a gallon gasoline, the Danes live their life with $10 a gallon gasoline. Has their economy suffered? Have jobs been outsourced? Are they so bad off that they are now considered a third world nation? No! Their economy is stronger then ever and it can all be attributed to becoming independent from the constraints of oil dependence.

Instead of Americans getting mad about $4 gasoline . . . we should get mad because no one wants to propose an alternative means of energy. Perhaps this high gas prices is a blessing in disguise. There are less cars on the roads thus less traffic. People are walking or biking more which translates to a better healthy lifestyle. People are socializing more as they team up to carpool to work. The current Republican campaign of #DontGo is a joke. If they truly care about providing what is best for America . . . they would be fighting for alternative forms of energy, instead of promoting those of the Oil industry which funds their campaigns and lifestyles. Don't believe me? Just ask President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney . . . they are the two biggest lap dogs for the Oil industry.