It's funny how much "Big Oil" is vilified in the media when you look at where the industry actually ranks in terms of net profit margin.

Evil Big Oil comes in ranked in 56th place with a 9.5% margin. That puts them behind such industries as Evil Mutual Funds, Evil Publishers, Evil Long-Distance Carriers, Evil Software, Evil Shipping, Evil Silver, Evil Copper, Evil Gold, Evil Drug Manufacturers, Evil Regional Banks, Evil Rail-roads, Evil Medical Supplies, Evil General Entertainment, Evil Footwear, Evil Resorts and Casinos, and Evil Education Services.

Yes, we need to come up with alternative energy sources, but realistically, that day is a long way off. How about we look at supplementing oil while working on alternatives? If we can gradually increase our reliance on clean sources of energy that are both economical and efficient, then the free markets will do the rest. Our reliance on oil will fall on its own, with absolutely no need for government subsidies, taxes or policies that attempt to "influence" the right decision but inevitably usher in the wrong one. Corn ethanol, anyone?