Ken Berwitz

I don't mean harp on how Democrats have made the USA so energy dependent (I've posted a number of blogs about it already), but Herman Cain's latest column says it so well that I would like you to see it.

Here are excerpts from Mr. Cain's column, which can be read in full by clicking here:

HermanCain

Read Herman's bio and previous columns

May 26, 2008

Oil Abounds in America, but Democrats Vote to Keep It In the Ground

The Democrats in Congress have gone beyond ignoring real solutions to the pain at the gasoline pump and other critical problems. They are ignoring the people altogether in order to gain more political power.

Sadly, the mainstream media is allowing it to go almost unnoticed. I will not.

During the week of May 15, 2008, the Senate had three opportunities to increase the domestic production of oil and help ease our economy’s dependence on foreign oil. All three times the Democrats voted as a block to deny passage of critical oil liberating legislation.

The American Energy Protection Act of 2008 (Senate Bill 2958) would remove restrictions on oil exploration and drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This would have opened access to about 24 billion barrels of oil, which is enough to keep America running for five years with no foreign imports, while other energy technologies are being developed.

Senate Bill 2958 was offered as an amendment to another bill on the floor of the Senate and the Democrats promptly voted it down. Only one Democrat, Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, voted yes with the Republicans on increased production.

Secondly, Senate Bill 2958 would have removed commercial leasing restrictions on oil shale rich areas of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Oil shale is a solid material containing oil, which makes it more expensive to extract than traditional oil liquids. But today’s oil prices have made access to this source of oil more cost effective.

It is estimated that there are two trillion barrels of unexplored oil shale right here in the United States. That’s trillion with a “t”.

Lifting the oil shale restrictions was considered separately as an amendment to the FY2008 Supplemental Appropriations Bill in Committee, and failed on a party line vote of 15 to 14. No Democrats voted in favor of oil shale development.

The third opportunity came as a motion on the Senate floor to give governors the authority for increased exploration on the OCS in their “backyard” for new areas of production. The motion was voted down by the Democrats 51 to 44 with three Democrats voting with the Republicans. Sen. Landrieu was one of the Democrats . . . another bone to the people.

As the Democrats in Congress hold useless hearings to attack oil companies, pass useless legislation to try and sue OPEC, and continue to promote their wrongheaded idea of a “windfall profits” tax, the people continue to endure the pain of their irresponsibility.

There is nothing more critical to our national security than addressing our rapidly increasing dependence on foreign oil. And there is nothing more frustrating than the Democrats in Congress continuing to block all attempts to explore the oil resources we have right here at home.

But there is still hope! The original Senate Bill 2958 is stuck in committee.

A few thousand emails to Sen. Jay Bingaman, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, might help to blast it onto the Senate floor. If you are interested, go to www.hermancain.com and click on “Do Something Now!”

Mr. Cain is nothing if not blunt about the problem and who is to blame for it. He is also 100% correct. 

If  you think that doing something about our energy dependence means hauling in oil company executives and telling them off in front of the cameras, I'm sure you feel much better these days.  Because that is the Democratic congress's battle plan regarding our energy dependence - that, and "taxing the wealthy", its all-purpose panacea for all problems of all kinds. 

What a wonderfully easy way to avoid DOING something about a problem!

But does it get us more energy?  Does it lower the prices of energy?  Does it make us more independent and, concomitantly, less dependent on countries that hate us? 

No on all counts.

Time to wake up.  Time to stop the dog and pony show.  If the people don't demand a policy change (votes being the only thing this sorry bunch in DC cares about), it isn't goint to change at all.

Mr. Cain is right.  It's up to you.