Rising Gas Prices

Gas prices in San Francisco have reached roughly $3.46 - for unleaded. Production has slowed at BP and other refineries because of "unexpected maintenance" - only further increasing the strain on Americans. Meanwhile, the Saudis and Iranians are paying 46 cents and 33 cents/per gallon respectively.

Therefore, my question is when are Americans going to finally learn that the nice message in the little shimmering commercials by oil companies during sporting events do not have their best interests in mind. Oil companies want to make huge profits - which they are - while Washington politicians want the contributions that those large dividends provide. This cycle of indignity needs to stop.

America needs to become innovators once again. Its time for people to stand up and demand alternative fuels spurred by hard working, industrious, and innovative Americans. There is no reason that America cannot lead the way in developing sustainable cheap alternative methods of energy. As the world's super power the amount that America could invest in new research and development is much larger than any other state or IGO could supply.

Not only would America regain its status as the "shining city on the hill," by promoting clean alternative fuels, but it would also save Americans money, and leave the Middle East at the mercy of reform in order to survive.

As Thomas Friedman articulated in his piece a while back on "Petropolitics," as the price of oil goes up, the more free speech, civil and politic liberties, and tolerance disappears. No wonder Ahmadenijad can go on rants about the Holocaust, or the Saudia Arabians can put a woman in jail for being raped because she dared to walk down the street alone. Promotion of alternative energy is how you get serious with the Middle East.

Now I have gone this whole discussion without even mentioning the environment. I won't even go there right now - no need. The geopolitical urgencies sell the idea of reform by itself.