Within two days I had two people meet me on bicycles for appointments. It was surprising at first to think that someone would be out in this heat, riding miles on a bike to meet someone for business. After a quick trip to the restroom, they emerged fresh and ready for work. It reminded me of days before cars when it was not unusual to walk miles or ride horses to reach a destination. There was a time before gas stations and SUVs when books were read by lamplight or candles and heat was provided by hours of hard work, chopping and splitting wood.

So, America has survived without oil, foreign or domestic, before. And now as prices are rising, it is forcing everyone to make even small adjustments in their lifestyles. Some not as drastic as dragging the 10-speed out of the garage, but many are combining trips, foregoing the extra distance to their favorite restaurant, or opting to take the bus and subway to work. The rising cost of fuel is having an impact on everything from delivering mail to planning the dinner menu. This cause and effect is lost on liberals who cling to their trees as though they were guns and Bibles. They, of course will still run their air conditioners, drive their cars, fly to their national Save the Environment meetings while refusing to allow us to plunk our drills along side eleven other countries off our own shore who are sucking it right out from under us.

Politicians, unfortunately, have driven this bus, and it is heading off a cliff. They don’t seem to realize that the three major issues that are of most concern to Americans are intricately intertwined. The issues are the economy, the war on terror, and energy independence. We import 70% of our oil and have allowed ourselves to become energy dependent upon countries that have exported terrorists that have attacked and killed our citizens. Because we refuse to consider the lives of humans as being of greater value than a moose or a caribou, we are not allowed to drill in areas that could ease the pain at the pump and keep hundreds of billions of dollars in the US every year that is currently being pumped out. And all this is happening as the dollar is slipping in value, the pri ce of gas and all commodities related to it, are rising, and the people who breed contemptible adversaries are virtually terrorizing the nation into the reality that gas might continue to climb to $10 a gallon. And why shouldn’t it? If they control over 70% of what we purchase and use, why do they have to put a limit on anything they sell us? They literally, could destroy our economy as we sit back marveling at the pristine beauty of tundra moss.

The person who steps forward with a working solution to this energy crisis is the person who is best equipped to lead the country. Sadly though, that person isn’t a candidate for President, and the ones who are the selected nominees of the two major parties have not grasped the urgency in this issue.

The only person who truly is out there, putting his money where is heart is, is T. Boone Pickens who has picked up the mantel, thrown down the gauntlet and is leading a battalion of willing warriors to solve this crisis together. (Go to his website and see his plan at www.pickensplan.com/theplan.)

It is refreshing to see someone who cares about something greater than himself, is not consumed by the idea of power, and is willing to put his talents and resources behind something that will help the entire nation. It is exciting to see momentum in the stagnant political waters that are choking us with apathy and despair at the realization that we have no clear choice for leader this election. The contrast to political maneuvering and posturing is exciting as we see Picken’s true bipartisan plan to basically give us all a reprieve from partisan entrenchment, and a do-over of common sense problem solving. The solution in Washington is not how they can do the right thing, but how they can get credit for doing something that they can convince the American people is right, but it is really in their own best political interest.

They blame the oil companies for making a ten cent profit on a gallon of gas while they make almost three times that in taxes for doing what? They are the silent partner of every successful endeavor in the country but are nowhere to be seen if a venture fails. You take on that entire burden yourself, while you continue to pay them just for the right to own property and live in your own country.

I have always thought it was a big mistake for the national presumption of office holders to be that only politicians can ascend to the level of Commander in Chief. The title itself suggests that someone has commanded something pretty large. Aside from John McCain’s honorable leadership in the Navy, neither he nor Obama have any management experience. The role of Senator is basically one of a glorified bureaucrat who passes laws that determine how the rest of us lead our lives . . . sort of a duly elected emperor’s club.

With two of the three major issues facing our nation, being the economy and energy, it seems logical to have, as a leader, someone who has proven himself in those fields. The US government should be run more like a business and less like the mafia where it is the silent partner in every aspect of your life, and if you don’t willingly comply, there will be dire consequences. If it was run like a business, we would not have spending outpacing income, systems would be streamlined, the lumbering bureaucratic nightmare would come to an end, production would be rewarded, and children could be educated instead of indoctrinated into believing that a failed and bloated government is a success. Decisions could be made that are truly in the best interest of the entire nation, not just one political party, and the people would be considered partners in the affairs of state, not slaves to it.

For the millions of people who are totally dissatisfied with the choices this election cycle, and feel their voices are totally drowned out by the demands of those who want to tighten the harness to try and squeeze out more hard earned money to pay for their political vanities, they might have an option. Why not write in a proven leader, who does not want the position, but would be great at it? If T Boone Pickens can run the country like he has successfully run his businesses . . . the concerns we have today could be a distant memory tomorrow. But it takes courage to do the right thing . . . like riding a bicycle when everyone else is still sitting comfortably in their cars.