Phil D.: Bullship; there are 1.5 oil leaks everyday in the state, sometimes on THE pipeline. Independence? Why not worry about the fact that Japan, U.K., and China own more U.S. real estate that Americans do, and that China "owns" much of the U.S. debt in the billions +  Drilling in a wildlife refuge is a drop in the bucket and risky. Independence? ... invest in solar and other viable, proven alternative engergy sources. Your views, in my view are senile.