Democrats solidified their control of Congress in early 2007 and the newly empowered leadership pledged to "truly declare our energy independence" by July 4, 2007.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she would create a panel on energy independence, "accelerate the implementation of existing clean, energy-efficient technologies," invest in domestic alternatives and "send our energy dollars to the Midwest not the Middle East."

But one year later, gas is more expensive than ever - up 85 percent, from $2.21 the day Pelosi promised "Energy Independence Day" to $4.09 on July 2, 2008. Ethanol has been revealed as a grand mistake contributing to rising food prices in the U.S. and shortages in poorer parts of the world. And politicians continue to block expansion of domestic drilling that would ease supply strains and bring jobs to the United States.

In May 2007, Pelosi reiterated the pledge to declare July 4 "Energy Independence Day," promising a legislative package that would "develop and use clean alternative fuels," invest in ethanol and "encourage an energy innovation economy that will create new jobs and help small business."

Politicians also set their targets on big, bad "Big Oil" as the new leaders in Congress pledged to go after the "windfall" profits enjoyed by oil companies in recent years.

There have been many investigations into price gouging over several decades and none has found any evidence of price manipulation. Yet politicians continue to imply and waste more tax money on investigations while the price continues to rise.

Left-wing politicians are pushing "energy independence" - which means more government regulation of efficient sources of energy, preventing expansion of those sources and increased spending on inefficient alternatives - such as ethanol, which burns our food to make a product that is causing more hunger in the world.

No wonder the approval rating for Congress is much lower than that of President Bush. America burns while our Congress fiddles.

Bob Buck
Cumberland