But as concern about America's dependence on imported oil grows, and the price of the petrol (gasoline) derived from it soars ever higher, Congress is beginning to reconsider the restrictions.

The oil price is 1.5 times higher than it was in 2007, the peak of general optimism?; inflation is heading down; employment is up and consumption is robust.

That would involve putting a floor under the price of fossil fuels by imposing a price on carbon emissions and import duties on oil to keep the domestic price above, say, $70 per barrel.