[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

I disagree that we were ever energy-independent. And even if, for some brief moment in time, it did happen, it doesn't matter Also, energy is a broader field than just oil, but you seem to be using it to define independence.

Oil is a global market if we try to be independent - apart from the global economy - the first step would be for the government to take control of the oil companies and not permit them to sell oil on the global market since they would then sell ALL their oil on the global market where they could charge more and make more money. Having read your posts, I believe you are a capitalist who disagrees with socialism, where the government controls the companies/production.

On a net net basis we have been energy independent. Imports were more than balanced out by exports so in a crisis we would have had enough energy to have normal economic activity.