Industrial hemp. The southern states could produce 2 crops a year. It grows from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic(read:just about everywhere). Since it is a weed it requires minimal pesticides and irrigation and will tolerate soil conditions other plants can not. Google Hemp For Victory so you can see for yourself:industrial hemp used to be a major part of American industry. The vast open acres of this nation could be put to good use growing soil-restoring and air-cleaning industrial hemp. Industrial hemp fiber could single-handedly replace the paper(wood pulp paper is BAD for the environment and inefficient to boot, 1 acre of hemp produces 4 times the amount of paper as an acre of trees with less pollution,and hemp paper can be recycled 3x more than wood paper) and cotton industries(USA cotton production accounts for over 30% of the world's consumption of herbicides and pesticides, besides the fact that cotton is bad for the soil;hemp fiber is 2x as strong as cotton and naturally UV and mold/mildew resistant). Not only that but make it possible for the family farm to exist without government intervention, AND make cheap environmentally friendly energy. What a concept.
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/...ar/P115218.asp

For those that care about being healthy: Hemp seed happens to be one of the most nutritional foods you can eat. Here are some links to check out if you like to be healthy. I was surprised to say the least.
http://www.jeffotto.com/health/hemp_ref.htm
http://www.ratical.org/renewables/hempseed2.html
http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0796/et0796s7.html
http://www.jackherer.com/chapter08.html
http://www.jackherer.com/popmech.html
And for the record,I am not a liberal tree hugging vegan wacko peace mongering hippy whatever you want to call me. I love hunting, fishing, camping, dry aged ribeye steaks, beer, brats, the Cubs, guns, the fighting arts(participating not just watching), and tire shredding screaming mad turbo-diesel trucks. I also enjoy exercising and being healthy, which petroleum does nothing to help reach that end(ever try running next to a busy street?). But I am more interested in seeing an America where people can be self sufficient and healthy instead of being slaves to big oil,multi-national corporations,and the pharmaceutical industry. Don't take my word for it though. Find out for yourself and please correct me if I'm wrong.

[ 04-24-2005, 12:37 AM: Message edited by: Nix ]