Energy Independence: A Bi-Partisan Pander

"Indeed, true [energy] independence will only be achieved when we can harness the voluminous quantities of hot air being generated by our political leaders. That, at least, appears to be an infinitely renewable resource."

Indeed. The rest is actually a good article. Consider this:

1. Inflating tire to their proper pressure is estimated to affect a 2%-3% increase in efficiency.
2. The Gas-Holiday could lift 18¢ of a gallon a gas. At $4.00/g that's 4.5%.
3. Since the oil market is fungible (thanks Savage), no matter how much oil the U.S. produces domestic production will still be more expensive than the Middle East. Unless you want to mandate where we buy our oil from and in doing so pay even higher prices for gas, Saudi Arabia is here to stay.
4. If we cannot drill our way out of this problem, we clearly cannot grow our way out either. The US cannot produce enough ethanol to make a serious dent in the oil demand without converting every farm between the coasts to ethanol production. Even if that happened, and food prices went through the roof globally, the production and transportation of the ethanol will only increase oil usage. Ethanol cannot be transported in pipes due to condensation. Those 18 wheelers and combines used to produce it are not hybrids. Add to that the fact that ethanol is roughly 1/4 less efficient in terms of energy output. So, you need 1.25 1.33* gallons to get you as far as 1 gallon of gas.
5. As alternative energy sources come online in the next decade or so, their usage will reduce the demand for gas. Thus driving the cost of gas down. Add to that the fact that the internal combustion engine is really cheap to make, and a sure thing when compared to other new technologies, and gas is not leaving the scene until the wells become too expensive to drill.

*1gal. gas = 40 miles; 1gal. ethanol = 30 miles; 1/3 gal. ethanol gives you the extra 10 miles to catch up to gas. The actual drop in efficiency is about 27% not 25%, but the math still holds.