Why does the United Stated still import oil?

I do not understand why the United Stated still imports oil. OK, I understand why we import oil but I don't understand why we aren't doing more about it.

If I was president, I would set a national goal to eliminate the need for importing oil in ten years.

If we can get to the moon in ten years, we can eliminate foreign dependence on oil. When Hugo Chavez can dictate US foreign policy by threating to cut US access to Venezuelan oil something is broken Link to CNN Story

A common saying "You don't have to be a rocket scientist to...." became popular because of the perception that rocket scientists were the best of the best. If you wanted to pick up a girl you would tell her that you are a rocket scientist.

The saying should change to "You don't have to be an alternative fuels engineer to...." people should aspire to solve this problem. An alternative fuel engineer should be put on a pedestal above Tom Brady and Nickelback.

If the US government spent $5,000,000,000,000 (that is 5 trillion) in the next 10 years on alternative fuels research it would be much better than having to fight to keep our oil pipeline from outside countries available.

I don't know if we need to make flux capacitors, battery research, solar improvements, geo-thermal, change American ideas about what kind of cars they need to drive, etc.

The money should not go to "Haliburton" but to small businesses and Universities. Solve this problem Thomas Edison/Wright Brothers style, a bunch of guys working their ass off doing the impossible. The money should also go to universities, graduate students should be fighting to get into the Alternative Fuels program because:
1. Alternative Fuels engineers get all the hot guys/chicks
2. You get your own personal mainframe computer
3. You get an assistant
4. Did I mention the hot guys/chicks?

If the Exxon's & the Shell's of the world try to hold us back, they need to be dealt with. The oil business needs to be seen in the same light as tobacco companies & drug dealers, they feed an addiction.

-Matt