Remember NAFTA - the North American Free Trade Agreement? Almost 15 years ago Canada and the United States signed an agreement that compels Canada to supply the US with oil and gas - lots of oil and gas - for 30 years. Some groups are calling for a renegotiation of that agreement.

Halliburton showed up last night to address La Plata County Commissioners in Durango, Colorado. The Commissioners are considering approving updates to their oil and gas regulations including a provision requiring companies to disclose what chemicals they are using in drilling and fracturing operations.

Tonight, my county commissioners will decide whether to adopt the proposed La Plata County Oil and Gas Regulations. We urge a unanimous vote on these critical updates to our county land use code.

If the news about Wall Street and our economy isn't enough to make you cry, the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) sure knows how to stick in the knife and start twisting. The RRC voted unanimously yesterday to use its oil and gas clean-up funds to speed up processing of drilling permits. 

Wow. After the recent political party conventions, the attention of the country seems to be focused on drilling. Drill, baby drill! Drill offshore! Drill the Arctic Refuge! Drill our backyards! Drill our vast natural gas reserves! If we could drill our way to energy independence, it would be one thing.