Take Action On Energy
Letters To The Editor
Advertisement
Text size: small | medium | large
By Letters To The Editor
Published: June 26, 2008
In 1961, in response to Russia’s launch of “Sputnik” and the subsequent “Space Race,” President Kennedy challenged the United States to “put a man on the moon” by the end of that decade. This was a huge challenge, and the country rallied around the proposal. On July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, and the United States had won the Space Race. Subsequently, Russia also lost the Cold War.
Almost 50 years later, the most urgent challenge to the well-being and security of our country is our dependence on others for energy to run our economy. Like Russia in the ’60s, the oil-rich countries of the Middle East are doing their best to end our world leadership by destroying our economy. Unfortunately, neither party in Congress, nor either of our most recent presidents (Clinton or Bush), has done anything significant to thwart this attack on our way of life.
What we need in 2008 is a re-dedication to do anything and everything possible to become energy independent by 2015. This will require a massive effort on the part of every citizen. We should develop all sources of oil in our own country and offshore, we should build more refineries (for both ethanol and petroleum), we should require all new automobiles to be able to run on alternative fuels (ethanol), we should continue to develop hydrogen power, we should develop nuclear power plants, and we should quit wasting energy (perhaps ration gas if necessary, as we did during World War II).
Many of these solutions have been proposed by one or another politician, but no one has proposed a comprehensive plan with the goal to become energy independent by a date certain. The excuse most often given is that to do this or that will do nothing to affect the current crisis but will take several years to have any effect (e.g. increased drilling), but if we had started in the ’90s, we wouldn’t be in this situation now. If we don’t start now, we may not have another chance.
The politicians who place this kind of priority on energy independence and are willing to do all of these things and more, including possibly making some caribou uncomfortable or making coastal residents nervous in order to make it happen, will certainly get my vote in November. It is time to act!
Bob Powell
Bristol, Va.
Page 1 of 1
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
Reader Reactions
Posted by ( dadw5boys ) on June 27, 2008 at 10:18 am
They finally did act and closed the Enron Loophole but too late. The operaters of the DARK POOL where millions of oil Furtures are hudden have moved their operating offshore to unregulated markets.
It would no matter anyway Bush has stripped the SEC of over 35% of thier operations budget in the last 2 budgets. It is seems like the President is working for those who are trading the Oil Furtures and acts before congress can get reports. Even Exxon said a barrel of oil should only cost $55.00 with the current demand. So that means at least $50.00 is added to a barrel of oil just from Furtures Trading. The SEC don’t have the funds to regulate anything just paying their salarys and office bills. Just like the Army CORP of Engineers he has stripped 35% of thier budgets since he was elected to pay for this war. While a fewe funds were added back all those fund were dedicated for certain projects.
How would the SEC go to anther Country even if it is only a small island off the U.S. coast and shut down their Furtures trading operation. The names of the Operators are hidden. Swiss Banking Computer Programs allow the Dark Pools to remain hidden while transferring oil furtures around to fill orders.
I worry that soon the will turn those Billions they control to Food Commodity Furtures too.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Tali ) on June 26, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Fine words Bob, If only Congress would listen to them. They(House and Senate) deserve most of the blame as most of them have been in office for many years and are paid quite well by us to administer our needs and forsee tragedies in our economy(and prevent them).
From where the majority of them sit, this issue is nothing to them. They care about the voter only during re-election time, pandering hard for our support. High gas and food prices do not bother them, after all and again, we pay them well. Our nation has effectively became an oligarchy where the elite rule and we are servants of the government.
Gas/oil prices could be reigned in tomorrow if only Congress would act by legislating regulation in commodity trading. Hedge and retirement funds are pouring all their money into oil, driving up the price. As important a commodity as oil is, whoever invests in it should be required to pay full price and actually take delivery. That would eliminate all the greed in this market.
If anyone noticed today, the OPEC oil minister “suggested “ that oil “could go up to $170 a barrel(someday) and Libya said it needs to “study” a cut in production soon(thanks to Democrats in Congress for making them mad) and greedy speculators drove the price of a barrel of oil to $140.
If Congress still refuses to act, it only proves my point.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( clyde123 ) on June 26, 2008 at 9:59 am
Rite on Bob Powell, my thoughts also.
Report Inappropriate Comment