Well, Carol,

It says that we elected politicians ready to say whatever it takes to stay in office.

Big surprise, huh?

As to my understanding of the Alaskan drilling, it would NOT solve the energy crisis. The percieved optimistic amount of oil in the reserve (I'm going off of memory. Please correct me if wrong, as I really think I'm off) as being between 2 years worth of usage, 10 if we increased purchases from overseas suppliers (the optimistic view) and 6 months, (2 1/2 years under the same increased buying). In neither case does it do anything but stave off the inevitable.

What IS of concern are the collusions and price fixing that are quite possibly happening behind the scenes. A federal judge recently stated that a memo passed between competing natural gas companies showed a clear tendency towards mutual price fixing and a distinct attempt to manipulate California's current crisis for their economic benefit.

I find it hard to believe that this is an isolated incident. I also find it hard to believe that Pres. Bush is completely dismissing his and his VP's family and friends' financial futures by encouraging further reliance on fossil fuel and nuclear energy... Nor do I believe that the Congress (ALL parties involved) doesn't hope to further feather their nests from the same sources as well.

I DO think that the hope lies in what the automotive industry is FINALLY coming around to releasing - hybrid and fuel cell vehicles. Watched a recent interview with a hybrid owner (now that it's become expedient to let the general public in on them), and these vehicles could be a good step towards the needs of the future. Plus, they still use fossil fuels in low amounts, allowing the oil companies to economize their expenses and jack the prices up even more.

*sigh* Depressing topic. It's a form of famine, and as has been often noted - in recent history, every single famine has at its heart a political cause.

M