There's an ad running on this site that says something to the effect, "What could be more conservative than conservation?"

I didn't click on it or read any more of it, but it did get me to thinking.

There is plenty that a conservative can like about getting off of foreign oil, even if most of ours comes from nations we're friends with. Given the nature of the Middle East, and the fact that so much oil is shipped around the world from there, it has become such the foreign policy issue that even Republicans have been talking about energy policies which include nuclear power, biodiesel and other green technologies.

When they talk about it in the context of global warning, most of us who are conservative start cringing and get very wary. But when they talk about it in terms of preventing our gas money from getting into the hands of terrorists, of creating cheaper and more efficient energy sources, I can't think of anything I would enjoy more.

As long as it doesn't derail the US economy in the process.

Petroleum products are in everything we do. It's not just about the energy. Plastics and all of their derivatives are involved, too. You can't go far without finding something that once came from petroleum. And just reducing pollution from cars is not going to do enough.

I have seen enough scientific evidence regarding climate change or global warming to question the level of man's role in any increases in temperature. Especially anything over the polar ice caps. There's just as much evidence to point towards an increase in solar activity being responsible than there is from relatively negligible carbon dioxide emissions.

That's not to say we should not push for more efficiency in our vehicles. A new German made car called the Loremo sports 150 miles to the gallon, and it looks straight out of I, Robot or Minority Report, even if it is minimalist on the inside and in power. I've always wondered, outside of any speed demon desire I might harbor as a male, why a street vehicle needs to propel itself from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. This one might take four times as long to accelerate, but it still will go the speed limit on the highway.

Last week there were youtube postings of a man who was able to ignite salt water using radio waves. We're talking a high burning flame capable of theoretically powering all kinds of things. Salt water is everywhere and renewable. It would be a great power source.

I don't think we need to spend exorbitant amounts on energy. I don't think we need to consume excessive amounts either. We should be good stewards of this earth.

You don't need to be a card carrying member of PETA, or hug trees or worship the earth rather than God to want clean, renewable energy. It does have to be done right. If car companies or some other energy driven industry starts developing and mass producing products that run off more efficient and cheap energy sources, they will sell. The government doesn't need to subsidize or fund it. And liberals will not be the only ones who get all over it.