Why aren't we drilling for oil as much as we could here in the US?

There was a decision made in the 1970's, when following the oil shocks, the military and national security leadership realized that the US was on a path to run out first and reach a point of no options. Tax and environmental laws were changed that made drilling quickly unattractive. Further, alternative energy programs were begun. Shortly after this the price of oil plummetted killing the alternative energy programs but not the tax and environmental laws. Most of the world's reserves are in hostle places.

We could quickly convert to 100% internal production, but the long run cost would be very high.

Well, permanently destroying the environment for just a couple of month's worth of oil isn't really going to help, and is not worth the damage.

We do, after all, use our own oil, besides bying some.

What would make the most sense would be to develop ways to do things without using oil, or using much less of it. It would be better economically, environmentally, politically, and every other way.

But since those who profit from oil own the government, we haven't been working on this nearly as much as we should.

Imagine if, back in the 70's when everyone was telling environmentalists we were nut-cases, we had started to research alternatives. We wouldn't have the problems we have now; we'd be mostly using clean, cheap energy.

Better late than never, I say.

Because of opposition by many groups this has ruined our country's ability to drill for oil, and create other energy initiatives like nuclear power. I think we should be able to drill for oil in Alaska, and build more fuel refineries in the united states. Unfortunately people are brainwashed into believing doing these things will only bring harm to our nation. Hence the price of a gallon of gas heading over the five dollar mark soon.

if that isn't incentive enough the economy grinding to a halt, and inflation should be a wake up call to our leaders that we need a drastic energy policy overhaul to change our bleak future.

I don't know about you, but I cannot afford the price increases we are bearing because of soaring energy costs. initially freeing up areas to tap our energy reserve would be a great start.

along with developing, and implementing green technologies, at an accelerated rate.

Just an observation.

We have reached a time where this question will be posed more frequently to our leaders. For a while it was more efficient to buy the oil from others and exploit that source and their resources. Now we are being held hostage by these folks and we can no longer condone the position we place ourselves in. We will need a good 5 years to get the infrastructure built to get to our oil and get it refined at full capacity. We will have an uphill battle with the environmental folks. They rarely see things from an economic stance.

Low total oil deposits. Smarter to use foreign oil while foreign oil exists, and switch to the tiny US deposits when foreign oil runs dry.

We use ours for exporting to other countries but the only reason we use the Middle East oil reserves is because it is more abundant over there.

B/c President Bush has sent most or our jobs to other countries!

we want to use everyone else's first, then we will use ours!