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Energy independence should absolutely be of the highest priority in the U.S. and it will be soon whether we like it or not.

Mankind has always sought energy sources to help produce work. An animal tethered to a mill or plow allowed early settlements to increase food production. Wood and coal ushered in the locomotive while solid rocket fuel enabled the exploration of space. The harnessing of external energy (that is, any source other than manpower) is the single most important catalyst of technological evolution and at the very foundation of civilization itself.

As people became more advanced so did their energy needs and today's world is completely dependent upon, and subject to, the world's available energy sources. Most of which do not exist in the U.S. As a result we've become dependent on foreign sources. You don't have to be a radical Jeffersonian isolationist to recognize the problems associated with foreign dependence of any kind, especially something as vital as energy.

Imagine if the U.S. aircraft industry of the 1940's had been dependent on BMW engines. WWII would have turned out a bit different. Now apply that same logic to any U.S. industry. While foreign collaboration has been profitable, dependence on such is not wise and leaves us vulnerable to the will of others.

Today we are faced with some inevitabilities that cannot be ignored. One of which is the now well known fact that we have exhausted over half of the world's known oil reserves. This means that our current sources are finite and will soon expire. Alternative sources must be developed and soon or the world as we know it will come to a screeching halt.

Another concern is that the U.S. is becoming less popular in the eyes of the world and has continued to do so at a steady rate since the second world war. Our grip on the world economy is being threatened by such things as the European Union which has the potential of becoming an even larger super power than the United States from an economic stand point. Although not likely, should Asia unite in a similar manner they could dominate us as well. Keep in mind that the U.S. constitutes only 6% of the world population.

The only logical move is to develop energy sources such as hydrogen fuel cells which are already in production in Europe. With 70% of the world being covered in water there would be an almost unlimited fuel supply available to us while ending foreign dependence. And, at the risk of opening a debate over the causes of war, it might reduce bloodshed as well.

While foreign energy collaboration should still be recognized as beneficial to the world economy, dependence equates to political suicide for any nation so foolish as to allow another country to control its' energy sources and therefore its' economy.

In my view energy independence is not even a subject for debate but rather a vital prerequisite to the future of this country.

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