It is starting. Low gas prices are luring Americans away from the desire to establish fuel independence. 

I have to admit, I am not a huge “go green” guy. By that I mean I am not on a sidewalk carrying a sign demanding some company changes their behavior, but I do believe that we must, as a country, engage in this new industry.

America needs to be number one at exporting something other than music, porn, and reality television shows. By “needs” I don’t mean as in we “need something to do.” I mean if we are to survive as a world leader and a democracy, we must have something to supply the world. 

We had the industrial revolution and supplied the world with goods and services related to that time. 

We had the technological revolution and, for a brief period of time, we were on the forefront of that revolution. Some can argue the technological revolution is still in existence but I would suggest most of it has transitioned outside the U.S. borders at this point. Have you called a technology company lately? 

So what is next? 

I think we only have two industries on the immediate horizon. Stem Cell research and Green Technology. 

As for Stem Cell research; although we are probably behind in the race to understand and apply it, we could still be a significant force. It also comes with two very big challenges. One is moral, although once people really understand Stem Cell research is not about creating babies in test tubes I think we can get past that one. The other challenge is the U.S.’s lack of scientists. I also don’t think there will ultimately be enough wide-spread money in it for the average worker. 

Green technology is well within our grasp and it could place the U.S. in serious worldwide demand as time goes on (this opportunity is going anywhere). We have the technology, infrastructure, and manpower. What we may or may not have it urgency and desire. 

I used to think, as much as I hated it, that gas at $5.00 gallon would ultimately be the best thing for America (making us so uncomfortable we had to find alternative fuels – and then we would profit world-wide because we did). 

Maybe we don’t need $5.00 fuel to keep us on track but now that fuel is back down in price I sure don’t hear anybody impassioned for the U.S. to become self sufficient anymore – we need something!

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Saudi Arabia is planning to increase oil production next month by a half-million barrels a day. The increase could put the production levels at close to 10 million barrels per day.

So why when the Saudis are getting record-breaking pricing would they want to increase oil production?

The move is a clear sign the Saudis are getting a little nervous about the effect of high oil prices. Not that they don’t like the pricing, but they are becoming aware of how the increased pricing is effecting economic world-wide growth – thereby leading to less oil needed.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Friday cut its 2008 estimate of world oil demand. Citing slower economic growth and high oil costs – which leads to lower demand in major countries.

If you think about it, reliance is key. If they keep the overall oil pricing in an area where there is still growth (and the general consumer can afford it) then, due to general apathy, there will be no real focus on finding alternative fuel sources.

We have been here before with the same result. Will we learn from it this time? I doubt it, some things never seems to change…

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Unless you are, say, a family with oil ties to Saudi Arabia, the headline probably scared you. 

I will go on record by saying that although I am not happy with the oil prices going up, it may indeed be the best thing for America in the long term. 

No, not for any environmental save-the-platypus reasons — just old-fashion we-need-to-be-self-sufficient reasons. 

• We burn 25 percent of the world’s oil but only have 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves — see a problem yet? 

• We cannot continue to rely on other countries for our energy (or food or supplies or insert just about anything here). 

• China and India’s energy demands are expected to double by 2030 (they would then import more oil than the U.S. and Japan combined).

Yeah, who cares…that is 20 years from now. Well, I don’t think oil is trending down, so just imagine it takes the next 20 years to get to $46.23 per gallon. My guess is you will be sacrificing a few more things than a weekly outing to the movies (tickets will be $21.00 each by then). 

Please don’t send me an e-mail about Ethanol being the answer. It takes approximately 123 gallons of gas to get 100 gallons of Ethanol — how did you think they harvested and transported the corn anyway? 

Wake up! We are the Saudi Arabia of coal. Let’s get going and finding efficient ways to refine it, up the mileage on our cars, and be self-sufficient. 

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