In my opinion getting off imported oil completely may not be possible, but if we can STOP using OIL to get from point A to point B we can,,,,

steadily,,,, reduce our consumption and that would in the long answer ,,,solve,,, this problem, flying around in airplanes uses a lot also, THE biggest problem that I see is the amount of oil we use in trucking a critical component of our economy.

There is not going to be ,,,ANY,,, battery powered truck any time soon if ever, trolley type maybe or hydrogen maybe or some other energy source. THIS question needs to go into a think tank NOW if you perhaps know where there is one. TRUCKS are a critical component of our society,, No fuel = disaster.

World oil production is declining so this whole problem is not going to get any better,,,we can run to make changes or we can let the changes make us run. Reducing demand by driving less or inflating tires or slowing down WILL NOT change the outcome our only choice is CHANGE, CHANGE,, CHANGE,,

We do need to drill for more oil because not to would be,, energy suicide,, without a continuing supply nothing is going to get done,

As soon as the auto makers figure out that people that can't afford to buy gas are not going to buy gas fueled cars, I think they just,,, might,,, start manufacturing electric cars. there are not,,ANY,,update >>some<< on the market now in the U.S.A. that I know about,

I will be among those to buy one depending on how long before any are available, at a price I can afford.

HERE ,, There needs to be a mandate that cars can use any fuel except OIL,,NG,, as an energy source.

This is the major reason why I'm an advocate of atom power,,, the difference between walking and riding far out weighs the dangers of atom power.

as for the sugestion of bicycles in certian places they are an option but I warn you people untill you know how to carry a weeks worth of food on,,, this,,, vehical, DO NOT assume that a woman can do it.

Don't get me wrong I like pushing shopping carts,,,but not from the store to home.

We are going to need to stop making plastic things and other oil based products,,, that means we must start using more metal steel tin wood glass etc,,,in the things that we manufacture and use in every day life, yet another reason we need atom power or some other, oil is something that needs to be used wisely.

tom.