I throw this into the mix because dear old Pops believes the USA can actually come up with such a devilishly simple idea yet keep it under wraps even now.

1. Consume other people's natural, perishable resources while NOT looking at our own resources. Sure, we'll pay a fair amount of money out, but we'll get some of it back anyways, and besides, we can always make more (productivity etc)

2. Watch and snigger while stupid oil sheikhs spend their money on wonderfully wasteful things such as a 7-star hotel, artificial islands, yachts with names such as Terrible Titties, with prow fixtures of the same.

3. Wait until said resources are exhausted everywhere else BUT the USA, THEN start doing the needful.

4. Laugh evilly while the rest of the world now pays monopoly prices on oil that only WE have left.

Which sounds great! Sort of like Joseph and the Egyptians. Only one problem: I don't think any of your pollies are smart enough to do this. And, even if they are, the timescales would have to be taken into consideration. Not to mention a thousand and one other tiny, niggling factors to keep track of.

What are your thoughts?

Yeah, I've heard that idea before. But that strategy would only make sense if we were going for flex-fuel vehicles, which we aren't.

By the time we get around to drilling, at this rate, the entire world will have moved on to something better.

I'm afraid it's fears about environmental impact that are holding us back.

"Does Matt Groening work for the French?"...doubt it...France *makes* nuclear equipment as well as operating it, and if the US would become more nuclear-friendly, they could maybe sell some of it to us.

Areva, the primary French nuclear company, is run by Anne Lauvergeon, who is said to be an exceptionally charming individual. What she needs to do is to get her charming self over to the US for a couple of weeks and arrange some TV appearances so that she can mesmerize liberals & environmentalists with the benefits of nuclear power, using her charming French accent, and therby stir up some future sales for herself.

Oh.

I didn't know that the French sold their nuclear tech to democracies ;)

I think it's time for an educational video. Don't moan--learning is important. And some people have so much to share they can't keep it in--they are natural teachers. So, as requested by many girls,

http://www.XXXYYY.com/watch?v=jP5gg2xh_ts

Substitute you for XXX
tube for YYY
Fluffy demands it!

So sad that no one is interested in education these days! You are cheating yourself!

Hey! I watched the video, and I'm truly amazed that she never had any lessons. I would never have the coordination to manage those moves: all I can do is drive, some basic yoga and T'ai Chi moves . . . and a few other things.

Yeah. That's what I was looking at . . .
Yeah. That's what I was thinking . . .