Well, its becoming more political than financial but I can't say I 
    
disagree with any of the reasons cited as why it is imperative that 
    
we elect people who will design and implement an "moon program" to 
    
reach energy independece within a decade. However, that said, it 
    
must be economically viable. Productivity = energy costs. Therefore 
    
any energy alternative must allows us to still compete on world 
    
markets. If done properly we will develop alternate energy that is 
    
actually cheaper than the cost to produce conventional hydrocarbon 
    
energy and thereby remove the manufacturing compeitive advantage that 
    
China is positioning itself to hold thru its extensive program to 
    
secure long term conventional global energy. Thus we would not only 
    
neutralize the future chinese advantage but turn it into a stone 
    
around their neck as they are left saddled with uneconomic "old 
    
energy" investments of trillions of dollars.
Energy Independence 
    solves much of our economic, environmental, 
security, and technologic 
    problems looming ahead.
Dick Berger
At 08:26 PM 2/20/2008, you 
    wrote: