U.S. oil production at 54-year low

The writing is on the wall. Does anyone remember how to read?

Oil Production in the United States has dropped below five million barrels a day for the first time since April 1950. Hurricane Ivan played a role in disrupting drilling and pumping operations in the Gulf of Mexico, but the decline has been slowly but surely coming anyway. The hurricane is credited with helping spike oil prices at a record $50-plus per barrel.

Most Americans are unaware that oil imports today include a great deal of refined product (the most expensive way to purchase foreign fuel). Domestic refining capacity has declined precipitously in the last decade. No new refining plants are planned.

We remember the drilling boom that took place in Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and other western states 20 years ago, thanks to high demand and good prices for crude. It was a time of high employment, great tax revenues for the various states (and the feds), and good economies. (Good times, good times!) That boom, as they always do, went bust. We've heard many people today question why a similar drilling boom has not taken place with demand AND prices at an all-time high. The sad truth: even if you can afford to run the regulatory guantlet on a drilling permit (and remember that drilling still isn't a sure thing) you have to have a buyer, and with refining capacity constrained, it just isn't that easy to market domestic crude.

People who do not live in the traditional "oil patch" of America have no idea how environmentally friendly the industry has become. They also do not seem to understand that we are just one interdiction away from a serious fuel emergency in this nation. It would not take much to disrupt our gas supply, our economy and our security.

This is stupid. It is intolerable. It ought to be criminal but we'd have to indict about half the citizens of the U.S. for their passive involvement.

Perhaps an alternative fuel source will be developed someday. Hydrogen cars sound good, but are still years from being practical. In the meantime, we are at risk.

But don't take our word for it. Do some serious research that goes beyond the silly Luddite reactions of groups like the Sierra Club. Assure yourself that the danger is real. Then contact your congressmen and senators and tell them to get the hell on the ball now for a common-sense national energy policy that unleashes our smaller, independent oil producers. Let's quit "out-sourcing" our energy production to other countries that most assuredly do not have our best interests at heart.

Now get moving.