Friedman says 'Invent, Baby, Invent' to McCainbr Sixth and I Historic Synagogue - Sixth & I Synagoguebr In this talk, New York Time columnist and author Tom Friedman exposes the irrationality of U.S. policies that promote consumption of vast quantities of oil.Friedman stresses that the United States must lead efforts to develop energy alternatives that would 1) free us from our dependence on petro-dictatorships and 2) help preserve the earth, oceans, and biodiversity.