Conservatives - pre-emptive wars, good, pre-emptive energy policy, bad?
July 7th 2008 05:22
Conservative mantra today is very accepting of pre-emptive war. They used it in their thin justifications for attacking Iraq, and they are priming up for a lusted-after attack on Iran using the same "logic." They claim that to not take action is more dangerous to take action, regardless of the consequences of the action they do take.
Then there's energy policy. Conservative dogma preaches the "free market" as the all-powerful answer to every question. Energy markets will correct and move to alternatives when it is more profitable to do so. Never mind that we are depleting a resource that is beyond it's peak while polluting the atmosphere and changing our environment. The idea of the market reacting only works if the market reacts in time to avert disaster. It could be argued that the "free market" got us into this mess in the first place. With energy being relatively inexpensive for years, we used past the point where a smooth transition could be easily accomplished.
The hypocrisy of their argument couldn't be more evident. If we followed their "free market" plan, we could assume that wars would go the same way. If one nation attacked another (something Iraq never did nor had any intention of doing) the market of war would adjust. But why wait for an attack - there is money to be made right now! Fact is, the invasion and occupation of Iraq is directly tied to energy policy. On that front Iraq has succeeded beyond expectations.
While pre-empitve war as practiced by Bush and company is morally repugnant and inexcusable, pre-empitve energy policy would have proved a much better path. It's no coincidence that oil settled down in price after the shortages in the 1970s. It's also no coincidence that the oil producers and the energy companies have undue influence in American politics. President Carter began a program that would have ensured America never imported more oil than it was at that time. Instead, we are now importing about 60 percent of what we use.
Carter's program also directed that 20 percent of American electrical usage come from solar power by the year 2000. Yes, that was eight years ago. How are we doing on that? Carter even had solar panels on the roof of the White House. The most over-rated president of the 20th century (Ronald Reagan) had them removed. He terminated the rest of Carter's energy plan too. So instead of being ahead of the game, we are now in a position where the transition is going to hurt. There is at least a 50-50 chance energy prices coupled with rampant deficit spending over the last seven years will plunge us into a very strong recession or even deep depression.
Yes, conservatives like to deride liberals. Think about this - if liberals had been in power we would have an energy policy that doesn't have us importing any oil at all by now. There are real alternatives that can really work. Just because we didn't begin them when we should doesn't mean we shouldn't enact them now. To do otherwise is folly.
Righties would have you believe that if we could only drill, drill, drill, all would be good. At the very best, even if they drilled everywhere, it would only minimally impact the price and would only put off what is necessary. We need to stop with the delays and get to work. Wind, solar, electric cars, mass transit. The rest of the industrialized world is doing it already. We in America need to get onboard now.
Then there's energy policy. Conservative dogma preaches the "free market" as the all-powerful answer to every question. Energy markets will correct and move to alternatives when it is more profitable to do so. Never mind that we are depleting a resource that is beyond it's peak while polluting the atmosphere and changing our environment. The idea of the market reacting only works if the market reacts in time to avert disaster. It could be argued that the "free market" got us into this mess in the first place. With energy being relatively inexpensive for years, we used past the point where a smooth transition could be easily accomplished.
The hypocrisy of their argument couldn't be more evident. If we followed their "free market" plan, we could assume that wars would go the same way. If one nation attacked another (something Iraq never did nor had any intention of doing) the market of war would adjust. But why wait for an attack - there is money to be made right now! Fact is, the invasion and occupation of Iraq is directly tied to energy policy. On that front Iraq has succeeded beyond expectations.
While pre-empitve war as practiced by Bush and company is morally repugnant and inexcusable, pre-empitve energy policy would have proved a much better path. It's no coincidence that oil settled down in price after the shortages in the 1970s. It's also no coincidence that the oil producers and the energy companies have undue influence in American politics. President Carter began a program that would have ensured America never imported more oil than it was at that time. Instead, we are now importing about 60 percent of what we use.
Carter's program also directed that 20 percent of American electrical usage come from solar power by the year 2000. Yes, that was eight years ago. How are we doing on that? Carter even had solar panels on the roof of the White House. The most over-rated president of the 20th century (Ronald Reagan) had them removed. He terminated the rest of Carter's energy plan too. So instead of being ahead of the game, we are now in a position where the transition is going to hurt. There is at least a 50-50 chance energy prices coupled with rampant deficit spending over the last seven years will plunge us into a very strong recession or even deep depression.
Yes, conservatives like to deride liberals. Think about this - if liberals had been in power we would have an energy policy that doesn't have us importing any oil at all by now. There are real alternatives that can really work. Just because we didn't begin them when we should doesn't mean we shouldn't enact them now. To do otherwise is folly.
Righties would have you believe that if we could only drill, drill, drill, all would be good. At the very best, even if they drilled everywhere, it would only minimally impact the price and would only put off what is necessary. We need to stop with the delays and get to work. Wind, solar, electric cars, mass transit. The rest of the industrialized world is doing it already. We in America need to get onboard now.
| 56 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
And ahead of his time. You know I reckon there are few worse fates in life than to be ahead of your time. Imagine how Darwin and Gallileo must have felt.