The events of these past few years - including the destruction in the Gulf - have punctuated the need for us to rethink our fuel options. We've got the best geography for alternative sources; wind, solar, ethanol from corn...as well as well as with travel - such as high speed trains.
If we could remove the hold the Middle East has on us, and increase job opportunities, it would be doubly beneficial. Oversimplification, I'm sure, but there have got to be better options than what we're dealing with now.