Jane Dyer for Congress

The Fourth of July is a celebration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Even today, when you stand in the somber rooms of Independence Hall in Philadelphia you can sense the courage, tenacity and faith of our forefathers. It was the birth of the greatest nation on Earth, the United States of America.

We need the same courage, tenacity and faith to confront today’s energy crisis.

The root of our problems lies in our energy policy, or lack of one. Four dollars a gallon for gas is drastically changing our way of life. Many are wondering if having a job is paying off. A working mother told me that after paying for gas and child care, there was very little left in her paycheck. The high cost of food is sending many over the top. The snowball escalates as people use credit cards to make ends meet.

Businesses are suffering from lack of consumers and people are watching their hard-earned dollars disappear out their exhausts. Can we turn our energy locomotive around on a dime? No. Obviously, the pain is here to stay for the near term.

This is why we must join together as Americans. The future of our country depends on the courage, tenacity and faith of you and me.

We must have the courage to accept the shared sacrifice of conservation, the tenacity to do what’s best for our country despite the powerful lobbying efforts of the oil interests, and the faith that America’s can-do spirit and genius will create a sustainable future.

We have two clear choices for our energy future. We can invest in offshore drilling or we can decide to commit to clean, renewable alternative energies. We can stay the “fossil fuel” course or we can embrace efficiency and conservation. Personally, I don’t think the oil companies have our best interest at heart. I support investment in non-fossil energy options.

This is where our faith comes in. Do we believe that America has the ability to become completely energy-independent by the year 2020? What would it take?

We must continue tax incentives for readily available energy alternatives like hybrid cars, solar energy and non-edible biofuels.

We must increase research and incentives to tap into the innovation and ingenuity that is uniquely American. This leads to improved education at universities and technical colleges.

Better education leads to a more productive work force. This new work force attracts future producers of new energy technologies to invest across America, including our corner of South Carolina. Our American energy inventions will lead the world as countries such as China and India demand more and more energy.

The path to breaking our dependence on oil will result in a much-improved economy with numerous benefits. We will have the ability to provide affordable, accessible health care, improve education and create new and better jobs. Our national security will not be tied to oil-rich nations.

We can continue to invest in the big oil companies, or we can embrace the courage, tenacity and faith of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

I am running for U.S. Congress because I believe that our futures, our children’s futures and our grandchildren’s futures depend on it. I also believe that we have the courage and tenacity to restore America’s faith in government.

The direction of our country depends on your vote this fall. What will it be? Will you vote for an economy relying on Big Oil or one that produces new technologies and jobs from clean, renewable alternative energies? The choice is yours.