America Energy Independence

[Ciro Rodriguez-SAC]

For almost thirty years the United States has been put in many situations that have made everyone become very aware that we need to do something, anything, that can help us become more energy independent. According to the founder of American energy independence, Ron Bengston, about 35 years ago, in 1973 the Arab oil embargo took place .This restricted the trade of oil with any country that helped Israel in the war against Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. The reason that those countries had the power on restricting the oil was because they are all in an organization called the OAPEC (Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries).The name of the organization says it all, they export a high percentage of our oil, and this is why the embargo affected us a lot. A few years later there was another oil crisis in 1979, this was caused by the Iranian Revolution, this was a time in which the Iranians were trying to overthrow the monarch, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and attempting to become an Islamic country. Well when they had achieved their goal Ayatollah Khomeini became the religious leader and at that time the exporting of oil was unreliable, there was good days and bad ones, this forced the price per barrel to rise up; this meant we had to charge more also. In present time once again we are reminded that we need to find alternatives to become more energy independent .This all began with the terrorist attacks of September 11; we are a country that depends greatly on the oil imported from Middle Eastern countries. According to the CIA, the World book. “Oil Consumption Ranking” October 2008: The United States uses 20,800,000 millions of barrels of oil per day.




Ciro Rodriguez is one of three candidates running for the position of Representative for District 23.Ciro Rodriguez is racing for this position against the republican Lyle Larson and the libertarian, Lani Connolly. All of these candidates address the “Energy independent America” issue all have a different view, yet they agree in that we do need to find alternative resources.


“I believe that the U.S. needs to achieve Energy independence and that every potential solution must be pursued. I believe that America can achieve energy independence through a national strategy that emphasizes diversification, innovation, and conservation.”(Lani Connolly)


“In order to encourage America's oil independence, Congress must lift the ban on offshore drilling. It is necessary that we pursue exploration of resources off the coast of Florida, California, the gulf coast, and in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). While we remain idle, other countries are benefiting from their own offshore exploration.”(Lyle Larson)

“....make our country safer, more secure and less dependent on foreign sources of oil."(Ciro Rodriguez)

Ciro Rodriguez has stood by this thought and has actually voted yes on such acts as, the Gas Price relief Act of 2008.This act is a way for the United States to stay protected from foreign countries stopping their trade with United States for oil/petroleum. Ciro Rodriguez has previously voted no on drilling in different areas of our country. [Ciro Rodriguez]Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR [this] amendment to maintain the current prohibition on oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by striking language opening the reserve up to development.(On the issues, Ciro Rodriguez on energy & oil)
Although ,those areas might have the oil we need to help us become independent from other countries it would be harmful too our planet but especially to the animals that live in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.




Works Cited

“An Energy Policy for the 21st century” June 20,2008
“Energy Policy - Real Ideas and Real Solutions...” october24 2008

Bengston, Ron “Journey to energy independence” October 24 2008
< http://www.americanenergyindependence.com/>
“Ciro Rodriguez on Energy & Oil” October 24 2008
< http://www.ontheissues.org/TX/Ciro_Rodriguez_Energy_+_Oil.htm>
Connolly, Lani “Energy Independence” October 24 2008
< http://www.laniconnolly.com/lp.html>
CIA, “The World Factbook” Rank Order - Oil – consumption 2005
October24 2008
< https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2174rank.html>


Written by:Laura Santiago

[Danielle Berrones]

I agree with Rodruguez trying to save energy and help us with our oil. With war going on and stuff the gas goes up and down a lot, buy iy was up for a long time. LIke he says we also have to stop littering and keeping our community clean because that does help. Then the terrorist attack made things worse with our oil gas and stuff. Iraq was being i guess hard with giving us oil. So it made us harder for us to afford. Maybe that is why all the gas prices went up and now people work hard to afford it.

[Anna]

I think Ciro Rodriguez has a realistic belief about trying to make us an independent country so that we don’t have to rely on other for oil or petroleum. I think he has a good point if others can go and find their own oils I think we can also do the same if we try. I also feel its best to see who you really want to vote for, but we would need to make sure that they are going for it and not just saying they are going to do it and not do it. But then there may be difficult out comes because if we do go offshore to get our oil you had said it will harm the animals which is true so we have to look at it very closely and see if we want to go that far and harm our animals. I also feel if we so get our own oils from off shore it can keep us from worrying about it why we are at war.

[Laura]

I think that Ciro Rodriguez is a realistic candidate, by that I mean he is very aware of the issues the average person has ;he represents them the best he can and fights so that we can have solutions to those problems. I also like the aspect that he is not only protecting the people but also the animals and planet. I think that people should look at the importance of all of these changes. People should try and inform themselves about the issues and research the candidate the candidates and the way they have voted on different bills and things of that sort. Many candidates tell people what they want to hear in order to get the votes so don’t vote blindly!