Sorry, I subscribe to 157 threads, sometimes it takes me a while to work my way back around.

I wish it didn't take crippling our economy, but it seems that Americans are alergic to making any sacrifice unless some catastrophic event shakes them awake. Perhaps I'm being pesimistic.

I do agree that we should continue to search for ways of getting our oil fix at home. And I guess I'd rather tap a large reserve than destroy the Alaskan refuge for a truly paltry return.

The thing is, and I may be wrong about this, but it really doesn't matter if we pull the oil out of rock here or buy it from foreign sources, we the consumer will be paying market prices for it. Why would Exxon sell it to us for $40 when they can sell it on the open market for more than twice that?

I'm not so concerned on the environmental end of things. There are plenty of ways we can cut back on polution (whether we will or not is another question). But I would like to live in a country that hasn't ripped down every "purple mountain majesty" and sullied every "fruited plain".

I just don't buy the argument that it'll take years to make the change. We invented the atom bomb on the double, put men on the moon in less than ten years, developed the SR-71 from drawing to flight in mere months... we can conquer this challenge too. It's what we do. And we do it best.

I also think you underestimate the effect this new technology will have on the US economy. But to take advantage of it, we must be the first and the best. Times a wasting.

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S.O.S. ------ United We Stand, Divided We Fall