Lefties have often complained that we “don’t pay the full price of oil”, but they are never honest. Their complaint is only a means to an end.
But if we levied an import tariff on oil and refined products, and at the same time allowed development of domestic resources including coal-to-liquids and gas-to-liquids conversion facilities, we would greatly reduce the amount of money we are sending to our Muslim enemies and it would result in more domestic jobs. If this was done in an orderly manner, the price of fuels would not rise by very much if any. I make that statement because the world price of oil is already above the break-even price for coal-to-liquids conversion.
These steps would IMMEDIATELY lower energy prices, create jobs and put America on the road to energy independence, at least from "conflict oil".
1. Green light the Keystone pipeline.
2. End "boutique blending" gasoline.
3. End ethanol subsides and import duties on imported ethanol. If the Brazilians want to burn their food, let them.
4. Develop a program to build at least 6 "coal to oil" plants. Build them on federal lands if need be.
5. Drill everywhere. Offshore, Alaska, the Gulf, everywhere.
6. End the war on coal mining, and electrical plants running on coal.
7. Start building nuclear plants.
8. Develop thorium generation technology with the aim of building hundreds of mini generating stations to create cheap local power that is not dependent on long range transmission.