Iran wants to develop a nuclear program, amid fears a that they will achieve a nuclear bomb in the near future.  Israel is getting increasingly nervous, and is under suspicion for the recent assassinations of Iranian scientists.  Tensions are rising in the Middle East yet again, now with the specter of another war in the region raising its head.   Oil prices are guaranteed to rise to new heights, amidst all this uncertainty.  Not a lot of good news for American consumers, already suffering under recent economic hardships.  Somehow, we’ve just become complacent and accepting to this tiresome threat to our prosperity.     Yes, America should offer support to our allies, but, I can’t help but think that, if the world’s economies weren’t so dependent on oil from the region, all the tribal saber rattling would go by without much notice.  Imagine not even caring if Iran, or any other Middle Eastern country stopped the flow of oil…think of how different American foreign policy could be.

But, thinking about that scenario should cause us to ask:  Why is the issue of foreign oil dependence not really being addressed in the current presidential race?  Why are Americans not demanding real alternatives to oil for our transportation energy needs from our government and the free market?  Recent developing fuel sources like hydrogen, ethanol, and biodiesel are just not enough…so many smart people in our country, where is the innovation?  I mean, we have reached the stars, we can’t figure out how to travel the earth without fouling it?  The history of the electric car is long one, punctuated by all kinds of lobbyist interference from oil companies.   Why are the big oil companies even a consideration in the national energy conversation?  Our economy needs fuel, goods and services must MOVE, and it makes bad business sense to keep propping up a oil industry that continually blocks new ideas that are against its own interest. Do we really need to wait until big oil companies figure out how to get a choke-hold on any green fuel sources, is that the holdup on making real changes?  Big oil deserves no more favors or handouts from the American people.  Remember, this is the industry that fouls our shorelines and oceans without real consequence or punishment, all while breaking profit records year after year, paying little in taxes and enjoying many protections and considerations not afforded to other industries.  Are our elected officials so addicted to oil money, they refuse to do anything but maintain the status quo?