Well isn't that special.
My first question is how this meaningfully differs from the approach of offering a "gas tax holiday"? My second is how either of these approaches provides a meaningful solution to managing the cost of energy?
So far both the Democrats and Republicans have completely failed to do ANYTHING. What we need from the President and the 435 members of congress -- and particularly McCain and Obama -- is leadership. Instead of looking for problems, look for solutions. Instead of spending money with pandering programs like Energy Rebates and Gas Tax Holidays, invest in solutions that will provide long term value and benefits to our nation.
The focus on short term problems is great for the news cycle but will never result in addressing the world-wide need for energy. The idea that a country founded on the principles of capitalism and a market economy would subject company CEO's to public scorn because they had the gall to earn a profit margin of 8.5% is unbelievable. Congress should be called to account for their actions (and lack there of) rather than trying to shift the blame to someone else.
If we focus on the solutions to the cost of energy, then finding reasonable alternatives to our current course becomes much simpler. The core problem we have is that demand is out pacing supply ... so here are some rocketsciencesque approaches to addressing the issue:
- Find more supply of the fuels we currently use the most of. Here are a couple places you might want to look: ANWR and of the coast of Florida. It isn't like we don't have any more oil or gas reserves available. While not perfect, the oil companies have proven that they can develop oil fields without destroying the environment.
- Expand the types of energy creation we have available. Solar, wind, hydro-electric, and nuclear are all viable sources of energy. Solar, wind and hydro-electric are all renewable / clean sources of energy. Folks like T. Boone Pickens have ideas and vision for addressing some of America's energy needs. Rather the spending money pandering, invest some of those dollars in people like T. Boone Pickens.
- Stop standing in our own way. The fact that we haven't built a new refinery in over 30 years is contributing to the lack of supply for processed crude. Refinery's are great except for the smell of sulphur down wind. Wind mills are great except they kill birds. Hydro-electric dams are great except they kill fish. Nuclear is great except for the spent fuel rods. Rather that bending entirely to the pure environmentalist point of view (which is what we have been doing), we need to use some common sense and balance environmentalism with economic considerations.
It really isn't asking to much to expect our candidates for president to do more than perform vote buying exercises. Both candidates tell us that they are agents for change. How about showing us some leadership for a change.
3 comments:
While McCain's short term policy of a gas-tax-holiday is bogus, I think he has done some good work towards both short and long term stability. By calling for an end to off-shore drilling ban Oil prices dropped 9% (once Bush followed suit. I agree this isn't much, but its something, and I think that if a few states (particularly if Florida or California or NJ did so) began allowing it we would see prices drop further.
As far as long-term plans, again, the off-shore drilling will increase future supplies. Furthermore, McCain's urge to increase nuclear power and his innovation prize are a good start in diversifying our energy sources and using modern technology to reduce oil-demands. Its only a start, but I think its a profound one.
I was trying to find a cartoon that showed John McCain and the Repulican Elephant sitting on the couch -- McCain announces his support for global warming and the elephant has a gun to his head ready to commit suicide.
McCain's energy policy statements -- see his web page http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/ for up to the minute details -- is closer to where it needs to be than Obama but still not there.
If John McCain wants to fashion himself after TR, he needs to start carrying some bigger sticks.
M-dos, don't forget that Teddy Roosevelt was a pretty avid outdoorsman and conservationist. It used to be that we conservatives believed in conserving. I think most of us still think its a decent idea to protect the environment, but we recognize (unlike many liberals) that we can't do so at the expense of our economy, security, and welfare of our people.
Post a Comment