Despite China's emergence as an economic power and all the talk about how America has become a service economy, U.S. manufacturing is alive and well.

Despite China's emergence as an economic power and all the talk about how America has become a service economy, U.S. manufacturing is alive and well. But there is a fly in the ointment -- the U.S. has become dangerously dependent on imports of raw materials needed to keep the economy moving.

The average American would believe that the nation's need for substantial nuclear fuel, oil, natural gas, and coal will soon be a distant memory, based on the Obama administration's strident emphasis on developing "alternative" energy sources. The reality, however, is quite different.

If the nation truly wants to address the wild roller coaster of price swings, it's important to understand the factors that affect prices.

Congress is currently considering unprecedented sanctions targeting Iran's refined petroleum sector. Such legislation must take into account Iran's likely response; decreasing domestic consumption, seeking alternative international suppliers, and increasing domestic refining capacity.

Quick: How many kinds of gasoline do we use in America? Most people would say three or six: regular unleaded, mid-grade, and premium, along with the ethanol blends of the same that have become nearly universal. The actual number is somewhere above 45, though hard to pin down exactly, according...

Once again, high gasoline prices are in the news. As of this writing, the national average gasoline price per gallon price is hovering around $3.79.

Join us for a discussion of the rare earth elements and the policy ramifications of their scarcity, geographic distribution, environmental impacts, and near-monopolistic market.