At our "Don't Be Crude" Policy on the Rocks party on February 28, 2008, Vijay Vaitheeswaran joined a bar-full of New Yorkers at the Gaslight Lounge for a frank - if optimistic - talk on Energy Independence.

An Economist writer and author of Power to the People and ZOOM, Vijay has spent over a decade thinking and writing about global energy markets the future of energy technology.

He's a believer in getting the US unhooked from oil himself, although Vijay cautions against those who promote "energy independence," since they're often promoting their own particular energy subsidy or right to drill. More importantly, Vijay knows that you can't be independent of foreign oil until you're not using a drop of the stuff. Getting there is the tricky part, but Vijay thinks with a little government intervention and a lot of ingenuity, the US will - in the not too distant future - be petrol-free.

If you couldn't make it to Don't Be Crude, definitely check out Vijay's Power to the People (his introduction is available as a pdf on line). Whether you were there or not, add your thoughts below on energy independence, carbon footprints, your favorite car make - or what you will. Also take in some of the other cool articles we've found on energy independence.