IF WE BUILD THEM

TALK OF REDUCING OUR DEPENDENCE UPON FOREIGN OIL USUALLY DESCENDS INTO THE STUFF OF NONSENSE. POLITICIANS WHO PATRONIZE SOLAR AND WIND TURBINES AS ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY, THROW AWAY THE TAXPAYERS' MONIES. REBATES FOR SOLAR ELECTRIC AND WATER HEATING SYSTEMS CAN RUN UP TO 30%. REBATES AND TAX CREDITS UP TO 50%, LOW-INTEREST LOAN INCENTIVES AND UTILITY CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR WIND TURBINES. YET THESE ALTERNATIVES ARE NOT ONLY COSTLY, THEY ARE NOT COST-EFFECTIVE. OFTEN THEY ARE IMPRACTICAL AND INEFFICIENT IN THEIR USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES. WHERE IS PETA WHEN YOU NEED THEM TO VOUCH FOR THE BIRDS WHO ENCOUNTER DEATH AT THE ROTARY BLADES?

THE ELEPHANTINE FACT IS THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF OIL EVEN THOUGH WE NEED TO IMPORT IT. THE TOP FOREIGN SOURCES OF U.S. OIL IN BARRELS PER DAY ARE CANADA, MEXICO, SAUDI ARABIA, VENEZUELA AND NIGERIA. FILLING OUT THE TOP TEN ARE IRAQ, RUSSIA, ANGOLA, ALGERIA AND BRITAIN. THE TOP 5 REPRESENT 7 1/2 MILLION BARRELS AND THE BOTTOM 5 REPRESENT 2 1/2 MILLION, ONLY ABOUT A THIRD. OBJECTORS TO OUR PATRONAGE OF TERRORIST NATIONS FOR OUR OIL OUGHT TO NOTE THAT ONLY OUR ENEMY VENEZUELA IS IN THE TOP 5, RANKING 4TH. POLITICIANS WHO DIG AT EXXON FOR ITS EXCESS PROFITS BETRAY AN IGNORANCE OF ECONOMICS, CAPITALISM AND THE FREE MARKET SYSTEM. EXXON IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF GAS. WORLD-WIDE CONSUMPTION AND EXORBITANT FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ARE THE CULPRITS.

RETURNING TO OIL, 57% OF THE WORLD'S OIL RESERVES ARE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, BUT 17% ARE IN THE U.S. AND CANADA. NEVERTHELESS, WITH RESOLVE, WE COULD AVOID RELYING ON THE MIDDLE EAST FOR OIL IN THE FUTURE. WE COULD DRILL IN ANWAR WHICH WOULD BOLSTER OUR SUPPLY IMMENSELY, BUT ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND LIBERAL DEMOCRATS BLOCK THIS SOLUTION. WE COULD TAP INTO THE ENORMOUS RESERVE OF OIL RICH SHALE IN AMERICA'S WEST, BUT THIS OPTION IS NOT ON THE TABLE EITHER. WE COULD INCREASE OFFSHORE DRILLING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO OR CONVERT COAL TO GAS IN MONTANA.

WE COULD, ALSO, DISREGARD THESE CONTENTIOUS ISSUES DEBATED FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS OR PARTISAN POLITICS AND SOLVE THE ENTIRE PROBLEM OF DEPENDENCE UPON FOREIGN OIL. PIDDLING ALTERNATIVE PROJECTS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN EXPENSIVE BAND-AIDS. WE SHOULD BE BUILDING NUCLEAR PLANTS, FAST AND FURIOUSLY FOR THE SAKE OF AMERICA'S FUTURE. FRANCE - A STARLET IN THE LOVE LIFE OF LIBERALS - UTILIZES THEM FOR THE MAJORITY OF THEIR ENERGY. IT'S TIME WE MAKE A REVOLUTIONARY LEAP FORWARD, STORM THE BASTILLE OF POSSIBILITY, SO TO SPEAK, AND FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE.