At best, by pulling out ever stop and exploiting every last drop of domestic crude, we could maybe alter the price of oil by about $5-10 per barrel, and only 10-20 years from now. I serously doubt we could, at maximum levels of exploitation, even alter the percentage of oil we import vs what we produce domestically. Why Not? Because in the 10-20 years it takes to exploit known reserves and discover more, our need for oil will likely outpace even the new, higher, levels of production.

This is a limited resource, and the amount we have access to within our own borders has been pre-determined since day one. I doubt there are nay significant reserves out there to find under US soil. The idea that you can exploit ones way out of dependence on a distriobuted and limited resource is stupid.

So is any idea that even a 'Manhatten Project' of domestic oil exploration and exploitation will alter what we pay for a barrel of oil today, next week or even next year.

If, instead, we double our nuclear capacity over the next 20 years (to 40% of consumption) and maybe get just 10% of our energy from natural renewables... I suspect that would alter both the price of Oil and obviously, the level of dependence on foreign crude that we have.

Beating the 'hooked on Oil' metaphor into the ground: Drilling for oil is like a junkie 'stocking up' on heroine after realizing they are hooked and in real trouble because of it.

Looking at other sources of energy is like starting rehab.