Quote from gnome:
We've need an energy policy for more than 30 years, but our spineless and greedy politicians can't do anything until it's a crisis... never wanting to step on anyone's toes (except taxing the rich, of course) in fear it might hurt their chance at reelection.
Our Federal Gummint really is nothing short of PUKE!
WHo elects them? It is the public that is spineless and greedy - they want cheap oil for their gas guzzling SUVs, then whine when the consequences of 2 decades of cheap prices and absurdly polluting unnecessary demand come back to bite them in the ass. Politicians are simply responding to voter imperatives, don't blame them. If they try reform they get ignored (voter apathy) or voted out (voters love their special interests).
Ron Paul's run showed that most people WANT more of the same mainstream socialist politicians.