A Dangerous Dependence

While the US has been becoming increasing dependent on domestic supplies for energy, we still import a huge amount of oil. And this dependence on foreign oil is nothing less than a dangerous dependence.

In 2009 it was recorded by the Department of Energy that the US spends almost a billion dollars on foreign oil a day. Much of that cost comes from the transportation. A billion dollars a day is quite a large sum of money to be paying for energy, when instead it could be used for domestic improvement of energy services. While this foreign oil has a huge cost, it is relatively cheap to other options of foreign oil. With the large cost plus the environmental effects and the serious threats of security, many wonder is this foreign oil is worth it.

Our dangerous dependence is in large part dangerous because of the threats to our national or global security. So many violent conflicts have occurred in part because of the oil issues throughout the world. Americans would be surprised that most of our largest suppliers of foreign oil are characterized by the State Departments Warning List as unstable or dangerous countries. Using these countries as major suppliers could have serious implications on our national security.

When the US uses these suppliers they support unfriendly or sometimes dictatorial regimes. It seems kind of backwards to me that the US is internally so against anything of the sort yet they are at the same time exploiting these other countries for America's own gains.

Do you think this is fair for the US to do? Do you find it hypocritical? Do you know of any other times the US has been hypocritical about foreign policy vs national policy?