noteworthy wrote:
] It was clear from the moment they took power that Bush and
] Cheney were determined to greatly accelerate oil and gas
] drilling on the public lands of the West. All anyone asked
] for was a balanced approach.
]
] The administration has not produced a balanced policy.

It is always worth mentioning the alternative of reducing consumption. Something the US will eventually have to face in the coming onslaught of energy consumption from China. There is no doubt that China will win this competition, if only by emulating the US (as it is already winning in manufacture). Unless the US recognises the need for restraint, we need not expect to see it in China. Therefore our best interests in the West lie in restraint, good example, and developing alternative energy resources. And as the most wasteful nation on Earth, the US needs to take a long hard look at its energy policies ...