Energy Crisis

Wow...

So, gas prices have hit above $4.00 per gallon, and they are expected to continue to rise.

Everyone gripes, and moans and groans demanding that the government DO something about it all. (And it should.) BUT!

The North American and European public really needs to do the following so that our citizens do not have to choose between being able to buy the gas necessary to get to work, and feeding our kids.

1. Stop driving all over the damn place! Ride a bike, take a walk and only drive when you have to. Carpool! The gigantic oil energy demands of the Western developed countries is a bit ridiculous.

2. Punish OPEC and the oil companies by putting price caps on gasoline and diesel. (Of course...that might lead to OPEC reducing output which would lead to long lines like we had in the 70's.) But so what? The Saudis and others have been made wealthy off of us...we DO have the power to hurt thier wealth. We also have the power to invest in alternative energy. What will OPEC do when we no longer are reliant upon their oil? Mmm? I wonder.

3. Demand that our governments truly invest in alternative energy and make it a national priority to move away from petroleum based technologies. There are already a number of inventions and ideas in the market but the oil industry has squelched them. Lets not allow that to continue!

4. In the meantime, we should demand that our government (At least here in the USA) allow off-shore drilling, thereby reducing our need for foreign oil. We should also demand that more refineries be built here, and allow incentives for individual investors who want to invest in American oil refineries. Then, once our dependence on foreign oil has been reduced, we can begin the process of moving to other technologies and once more, provide incentives for businesses, individuals etc. to move away from petroleum based technology to something else more efficient and much more clean.

Right now, in the USA at least, one should be able to buy gas from Valero which, I believe, is the only Gas Station that offers gas that does not buy foreign oil.

I am completely for hurting the Saudis, the Iranians and Venezuelans in any way, shape or form monetarily. Every single one of these countries are backwards, human rights abusing, and we continue to make them rich which allows their aweful governments to continue in the courses they've taken.

I think the above methods would, at least somewhat, help to solve our current economic energy crisis.