With gasoline prices rising every day, Americans are reeling at the pump as their hard-earned dollars are reeled out of their pockets by the newest one-armed bandit: the gas pump.

Yes, many feel the ever-increasing gas prices are a crime of sorts, but more important is the realization that what is happening is not a victimless crime. And, however reluctantly, almost everyone returns to the scene of the crime again and again.

Let’s review the history behind what has been happening through the lens of a “CSI” team.

Remember the two oil shortages of the 1970s?

Back then, Americans were promised by those controlling the U.S. Congress and a succession of presidents (Nixon, Ford and Carter) that we would never again leave ourselves open to oil shortages by foreign suppliers, and, that the U.S. would become energy independent.

Well, it didn’t happen. And, for decades, we didn’t have a definitive energy policy, a written game plan if you will, of what we would do to achieve the stated national goal.

Within days of his 2001 inauguration as 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush established the National Energy Policy Development Group.

The NEPDG would be chaired by the new vice president, Dick Cheney, and include, appropriately, the new secretaries of state, treasury, interior, agriculture, commerce, transportation, and energy; the heads of the EPA, FEMA and OMB, as well as other key players in the new administration.

Bush directed the NEPDG to “develop a national energy policy designed to help the private sector and, as necessary and appropriate, state and local governments, promote dependable, affordable, and environmentally sound production and distribution of energy for the future.”

On May 16, 2001, the National Energy Policy Development Group, submitted their report to the new president noting that the plan “envisions a comprehensive long-term strategy that uses leading-edge technology to produce an integrated energy, environmental and economic policy. To achieve a 21st century quality of life, enhanced by reliable energy and a clean environment, we must … “among other noted objectives, increase our energy supplies … and increase our energy security.”

Unfortunately, yet again, nothing was accomplished. Let’s see what was right in the plan; and, perhaps, what may have been wrong, or went wrong and why.

Here are some excerpts that are prescient in their accuracy:

The “… challenge is to repair and expand our energy infrastructure. Our current, outdated network of electric generators, transmission lines, pipelines, and refineries that convert raw materials into usable fuel has been allowed to deteriorate.

“Oil pipelines and refining capacity are in need of repair and expansion. Not a single major oil refinery has been built in the United States in nearly a generation causing the kind of bottlenecks that lead to sudden spikes in the price of gasoline.

“Natural gas distribution, likewise, is hindered by an aging and inadequate network of pipelines. To match supply and demand will require some 38,000 miles of new gas pipelines, along with 255,000 miles of distribution lines.

“Similarly, an antiquated and inadequate transmission grid prevents us from routing electricity over long distances and thereby avoiding regional blackouts… .

“Estimates indicate that over the next 20 years, U.S. oil consumption will increase 33 percent, natural gas consumption by well over 50 percent, and demand for electricity will rise by 45 percent.

“If America’s energy production grows at the same rate as it did during the 1990s, we will face an ever-increasing gap… . Yet America has not been bringing on line the necessary supplies and infrastructure.”

Despite “extraordinary advances in technology … we produce 39 percent less oil today than we did in 1970, leaving us ever more reliant on foreign suppliers. On our present course, America 20 years from now will import nearly two of every three barrels of oil — a condition of increased dependency on foreign powers that does not always have America’s interests at heart.”

There you have it. We are still in the same predicament we were in the 1970s because, special interest groups of all stripes have blocked, manipulated, delayed, obfuscated and mislead Americans for years. While their brokers and elected representatives have done their bidding at all levels of government, their installed bureaucrats work the system to wear down the citizenry who are not their philosophical comrades. Today, they continue to toil on in opposition to U.S. energy independence,

The words Vice President Dick Cheney used seven years ago in closing his letter to the new president were accurate then and remain valid today:

“Within our country are abundant natural resources, unrivaled technology and unlimited human creativity.

“The tasks ahead are great but achievable. To meet our energy challenge, we must put to good use the resources around us and the talents within us.”

No longer can committed citizens let politics get in the way or politicians and the soothsayers distract and manipulate.

Americans, let’s get to work!

Richard Olivastro is president of People Dynamics, an executive leadership development company, is a professional member of the National Speakers Association and founder of Citizens For Change. He can be reached at Rich@Olivastro.net.