Of course research and development is a key to any coutry's economic future.
The research that is going into the clean coal industry is a good example. It would not surprise me that in 10 years we have coal plants that are eccentially pollution free. And since we have more coal than the Middle east has oil. that is a big factor in our energy independence.
We have billions of barrels of oil just off of our coast. The major oil companies are constantly developing new methods to go deeper, and to go safer. This all takes tremendous capitol outlay, but in the end that to will aid in our achieving energy independence.
I get to travel out to a few of the big offshore platforms about twice a year. It is astounding the number of jobs that each one creats, not counting all of the support personnel that man the supply vessels, the cre boats, the mudd boats, etc. And these are not burger flipping jobs. The vast majority are high paying occupations that allow the workers to enjoy the finer things in life.
The same can be said for the inland drilling platforms as well.
Our economy is an energy based economy. To stay ahead in production of our resourses, we must constantly keep ahead in the research and development that allows us not only to become energy independent, but do it with the least amount of harm to our inviroment while maintaining a skilled workforce that is the backbone of our consumer buying power.
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