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I'm nearly finished with former CIA Agent Michael Scheuer's book Marching Toward Hell. In this book he proposes drilling to assist us in getting out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Are we preserving a few types of sea flora and fauna over the hundreds and thousands of US citizens we're losing to war in the Middle East?
Of course it's not that simplistic but neither is the supposition drilling is all bad. I was firmly opposed to it before, however it seems more prudent to me that we do drill to become stronger economically and less dependent on oil from the Middle East. If we reduce our dependence it takes the Middle East's proverbial gun away from our country's head that could bring our economy and our occupying military to a grinding halt.
In conjunction with drilling, establish taxes (I said, I meant it and I don't regret it) to fund research of viable alternative renewable sources of energy (probably not ethanol).
Our elected leaders need to take responsibility for the future now and stop floating assinine quick fixes like suspending the gas tax. Such pandering is only a temporary panacea and doesn't fix our problems as individuals or collectively as a country.
