[Old Teufel Hunden]

"The Middle East could become almost strategically irrelevant, if we developed our energy resources enough to become both de facto energy independent and export our excess energy resources."

If we could plunge oil prices back to what they were even 10 years ago, all of the autocracies would fall IMHO. This includes Iran and even Saudi Arabia. Unless we chose to prop up regimes friendly to us. It could be good and bad for America.

[Former Proud Canadian]

Some on FR would argue, but I believe the POTUS could, if he wanted to, cut energy prices in half in a very short time. This could be achieved by announcing a federal policy to immediately begin to increase the supply and availability of petroleum, natural gas, coal, and electricity.

Increasing the supply of petroleum is easy. Green light Keystone and drill, drill, drill. Just the announcement of these steps will decrease the price. Why the repubs aren't using this as a campaign issue is beyond me.