What Would Happen If We Refused to Import Oil After The Year 2020?

From this point forward, we shall never again import another drop of oil, from anywhere. If it can't be drilled on our land or in our territories, we don't want it.

It's hard to imagine any president of the United States making this statement, but I can't help but wonder what would happen if he or she had the guts to do so. I would imagine a statement like this would have to be preceded by something like:


Every building in America will be outfitted with either a wind turbine, a solar panel, or a hydroelectric generator. America will no longer depend upon the burning of fossil fuels. Energy independence will be ours within five years. 

I would love to hear honest predictions from foreign policy experts, economists, and terrorist experts regarding the impact this kind of commitment would have upon conflicts in the Middle East, domestic job creation, and relations with Russia.  

News of the Ukranian and Syrian crisis only fuel my curiosity regarding this question. Memorials for what happened on 9/11 are certainly appropriate, but given the mess the planet is in isn't it time we start to rethink how we've been doing things? 

Is oil at the root of Middle Eastern and Eurasian conflicts? Will we eventually have to transition out of our dependence upon oil? If the answer to both of these question is yes, then what are we waiting for? 

Economics: Manufacture renewables to build energy security 

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