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First off, China, India and the other developing nations are using oil and gas in unprecedented amounts with those numbers to continue to increase substantially. The most positive outlook show greehouse gases able to continue at its present rate. These will not decrease for many years, period, short of a major breakthrough. We all must deal with that reality.
Currently the world is close to its maximum possible oil flow. Added to that is the fact that alternative energy sources that could replace oil in any volume appear to be decades away, at least. Had we OK'ed new drilling, refining and nuclear plants years ago we wouldn't be in the place we are at.
I would love to see the day that we can kiss oil and gas goodby, but it won't be for decades. I believe we should all conserve, but drying up the economy to do it is the wrong way.
By the way, if we pump more oil, the money stays in the US. We don't make our enemies rich, we keep the money in our economy making it far better not worse.
Ask Al Gore to cut back. He used 10% more energy on his house than he did the previous year (over 20 times the average US household) . He flies around in private jets and claims he is carbon neutral. Like many rich environmentalists, saving energy is for the little guy.
