Cross posted from The Left Anchor.  Give us a visit!

Senate Republicans continued to do the work of the American people (read: oil companies) Friday by killing a bill
that would have addressed the speculation in the oil market which many
are crediting for the remarkable rise in oil prices over the last few
years.  In its place, Republicans seek to open more areas off-shore to
drilling.  This followed Thursday's rejection
of a bill that would have compelled oil companies to drill on the 68
million acres of land to which they already have access, but aren't
using.

Opponents said the legislation, which also
called on the Interior Department to accelerate leasing in an area of
Alaska specifically set aside for drilling, could diminish domestic
exploration since it would bar oil companies from obtaining new leases
if they were not actively exploring current holdings. Republicans said
companies might be reluctant to bid on new sites they could then lose
if they were seen as not moving fast enough.

The White House
expressed a similar view in issuing a veto threat against the bill. “By
blocking some firms from competing for new leases, this legislation
would further increase gasoline prices that already exceed $4 per
gallon and result in unintended consequences due to litigation,” the
White House said.

Democrats said they were calling the bluff of
Republicans on their persistent demands for more domestic production.
“Drill on the leases you have or let somebody else do it,” said
Representative Steny H. Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland and the majority
leader.

The GOP even has a slogan for their approach
to America's energy crisis, "Drill more, consume less."  What I find
most disturbing about this is
that it displays a zero comprehension of how free markets work. Here we
have a party who believe that free markets are the panacea to all the
world’s ills, and yet, they are pursuing a policy whose very tagline is
total non-sense.

Even if we take the GOP at their word that more drilling would drive
down prices — which btw, it won’t
— that would only encourage consumers to
consume more oil, not less. This is basic Econ 101. If the Republican
plan succeeded and their fantasies of lower oil prices were realized
due to increased off-shore drilling, the basic result would be an
increase in oil
consumption and a reduced concern for alternative energies. That’s what
happens when the price of a good goes down, people consume more of it. 
That's one of the most basic tenants of the free-market philosophy. 
The fact that the GOP can't understand this demonstrates the
shallowness of their economic policies in general.  They don't
understand economics, they're just regurgitating Milton Friedman and the Chicago School's
view of the world.  They're basically like parrots; sure, they can say
the right things, but they have no comprehension of what they're
actually talking about.  Moreover, just as was the case with FISA earlier this year,
the Republican response to issues that they themselves identify as
vitally important is often to block all attempts to address the issues
unless they get their way.  Either the Republicans don't believe that
these issues really are as important as they claim, or they are willing
to put their own political ideology ahead of the needs of the American
people.

The fact of the matter is that at this point a real energy policy needs to focus on two things: getting alternative fuels to a point where they can compete with the ever dwindling supply of oil, and creating a transportation infrastructure that can function without the need for oil. These are, of course, monumental challenges which is why Al Gore’s proposal for an Apollo-style program meant to change America’s energy consumption is the only view that really makes sense.  The energy crisis is perhaps the most serious challenge we have faced since the end of the Cold War.  Unlike the Cold War, though, there are no human actors controlling global warming whose rationality prevents them from destroying the world. There’s no button to push, only a point of no return to which we draw closer with each passing day.

If the Republicans wish to provide relief to the average American, they needn’t do it at the pump. Gas is not the only pressure point afflicting the wallets of Mr. and Mrs. John Q. American. Where are the proposals to ease the burden of college tuition? Where are the proposals to ease the cost of health care? There’s an enormous amount of room for savings in each of those areas, which would be every bit as beneficial to Americans as lower prices at the pump would, and yet, the Republicans focus their attention on energy, and moreover, on policies designed to benefit the oil companies at the expense of developing a true alternative energy infrastructure.

Yes, perhaps some people would say, “Gee, I’m saving so much on college tuition, I think I’ll spend it on this costly gas,” but I doubt they would be very numerous. More than likely such savings would go to purchasing more consumer goods. This would have the added benefit of improving our currently weak economy.  But if the Republicans are seeking to lower the cost of gas without producing any savings elsewhere, then the public response will be to fall deeper into our addiction to oil.

Perhaps the biggest problem with Republican energy policy is the simple fact that these oil companies -- rich as they may be — have finite budgets to work with. If we open up more land to drilling, then they are going to invest in drilling that land, which means they’ll have less money to use to research alternative energy. The Democrats plans aren’t perfect either, but at least they don’t contribute to the problem the way the GOP is attempting to do.

The man to look to for answers is none other than Al Gore.  Here's what he has to say about America's energy problems:

“If you look at the seriousness of the climate crisis, you see how it ties to the economic crisis and the national security threat that we face,” he said. “200 billion dollars are being sent overseas just from oil.”

“The idea that we can drill our way out of this is just so absurd,” he said, comparing the push for offshore oil drilling — which has gained popularity and put environmentalists on the defense — to dealing with a hangover by having another drink.

Amen, Al, amen.