OPINION/COMMENTARY

Energy Independence? Kerry's Dreaming A curious thing is happening out there in the heartland as Senator Kerry crisscrosses swing-state after swing-state in his race for the presidency. While the crowds have been politely enthusiastic over his health care plan, his pledge to close the deficit, his ideas to staunch the flow (actually, the trickle) of jobs going overseas, and over his murky riffs on Iraq or the war on terror, roars of approval are routinely going up whenever Kerry thunders about the need for energy independence so that "we're never again beholden to the House of Saud for our economic well-being." Democratic pollsters are giddy and think they've struck pay dirt. Economists are appalled and think they've struck fools gold. While energy independence is not a new idea - it's been embraced to varying degrees by every single national politician (including President Bush!) over the last 30 years - it's the sort of thing that sounds good at first blush but looks ridiculous the more you think about it....