Introduction - It has come to my attention that our entire economy is based upon oil. Well, it came to my attention a long time ago, but thats not the point. The point is, our need for reliable, cheap, convenient energy has grown so great that the removal of petroluem oil would surely cause the collapse of the world economy. Just as telephone services, electricity, and water has become a utility, I believe the government should step up and force oil to join the club.
Problem - Our dependence on oil has caused the oil market to do one thing, and one thing only - inflate. Massive price gouging, collusion, and monopolies have marked what is the most influential natural resource of the 21st century. Government subsidies of oil companies are not helping the situation. Government taxing of oil companies are not helping the situation. Oil has become one of those products that all other products depend on, thus by putting control of oil into the hands of private companies you effectively put the entire market's inflation rate in the hands of private companies. Anyone who has taken high-school economics will certainly understand the repercussions of such an action.
Solution :: Tree-Hugger - The most obvious and touted solution is to remove our dependence on oil, thus eliminating the problem at its source. Not only does this relax tensions in the middle east, but it will reduce pollution, global warming, globalization of energy sources, and possibly spawn new industries and jobs in the process.
Some current ideas :
Biodiesel
Ethanol
Hydrogen (not really viable, as its just an efficient battery)
Solar
Wind
Hydro
Geothermal
Microwave-Satellite (uses a compound that when hot on one side and cold on the other generates a current, when used in space its extremely effective)
Cold Fusion (the most promising, yet the most unattainable currently)
Solution :: Here-And-Now - Unfortunately, most current alternative fuels (Biodiesel and Ethanol) are simply supplements to oil, they can, at best, provide around 20% (this is at LARGEST estimates) of our current fossil-fuel supply. The other solution is for the government to step in and make oil a utility. Thus, market management becomes easier because of the control over energy, and any price increase will be protected by the best complaint-rebuking department on the planet - the US Government. Unfortunately, this means that all gas-station workers will become civil servants, but its a sacrifice I'm willing to make. The other benefit of utilizing the fuel economy is the tremendous bonus to the US treasury - over $80 billion from the largest 5 oil companies alone, not including the money that would be gained from the salaries of all the company executives, as well as the subsidies that the US would no longer need to shovel into the oil companies. The best part? Kenneth Lay will have nowhere to return to. And Liberals can stop hawking at the President about the influence oil executives have over the decision-making of our country.
Conclusion - Utilizing oil is a win-win situation, both for our Presidents failing grade (32%) and for the middle-class of America. A cutdown on the number of Hummers bought would probably help as well.
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