The costs and environmental damage caused by offshore drilling of an already finite resource as a solution to rising oil and gas costs makes no sense whatsoever.

There are other alternatives that could and would create new jobs stimulus at all ends of the educational/economic spectrum, economic growth at both the national and international level (as presumably and hopefully America would use its newfound focus and technological ability to become strong in alternative energy material and technology), and provide Americans with alternatives that not only would provide the country with a much cleaner source of power, but a safer one, reducing their dependence on oil, and at the same time preventing the inevitable crisis point when it runs out anyway.

I would love to include comments about animal habitats, precious ocean seabeds, and pristine wilderness areas being irreparably destroyed, but since people so often seem oblivious to the importance behind protecting those, how about facing the fact that if we continue to rely on oil, it will continue to climb higher and higher, until its gone anyway? The amount of oil America could actually extract for itself is simply not an issue; its like staring at the last steer on earth and saying "there's plenty of hamburger left" and killing it instead of just eating something else.

That society has been shown only the tip of the energy crisis iceberg and still sticks its head in the crude as if that will make it all go away somehow baffles me. It also scares me.

The less dependent on oil we are now, the better things will be for everyone..economically, environmentally, ethically, and certainly in terms of the health and well being of future generations.

Offshore drilling is not the answer.. but most Americans are desperate for some relief and they believe the speeches of an idiot President. Even though in his speeches he forgets to mention that we would not see any impact or lowering of gas prices for all that offshore drilling for at least 30 years. That there is not enough viable oil there to actually sustain our current usage for more than a few years. That we do not have the current capability to refine it and may have to harvest that part of it out to other countries (meaning no new jobs) and the potential for the destruction of the environment and tourism in those areas is much more immediate and will have a higher impact on our economy then higher gas prices. But it sure sound good in the sound clip played on the news to the uninformed by someone who is trying to cause one last man made disaster before he leaves office.. doesn't it?

The answer is definitely in clean energy and clean energy measures. Better for the environment, less dependent on foreign oil, and lots of new jobs that would be created across the entire country.

i got to wonder..."who killed the electric car?"...great documentary.