With gas prices flying past $4.00 a gallon, we shouldn't be surprised to find the Bush administration practically demanding that Congress lift the ban on offshore drilling.
Saying that the U.S. needs to increase its energy production, the President declared that there was no excuse for delay.
We agree with part of that statement.
There is no excuse!
There's no excuse for delaying the large-scale integration of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) that could ultimately reduce our oil imports by as much as 80 percent.
There's no excuse for allowing the auto industry to dictate a pathetic CAFE standard of just 35 miles per gallon by 2020, while the fleet fuel economy averages in other countries are already much higher.
In Japan alone, the fleet fuel economy averages for new vehicles is 46.3 miles per gallon. And that standard was initiated in 2002! By 2010, the standard will be 48 miles per gallon.
There's no excuse for not bolstering our mass transit infrastructure, thereby enabling millions of U.S. workers to leave their cars at home.
If Washington really wants to get serious about helping the country "ease the pain at the pump," they'd bend over backwards to make this happen.
After all, our current public transportation system already saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline per year. Imagine if we could just double that to 2.8 billion gallons per year by adding and upgrading new systems.
Based on $4 a gallon, U.S. commuters would save $11.2 billion per year on gasoline costs!
It would also amount to...
· 68 fewer supertankers leaving the Middle East - one every 11 days
· Over 280,000 fewer tanker truck deliveries to service stations per year
· 216 million fewer cars filling up every year.
But no, Bush and company continue to spew the oil-sponsored rhetoric of more drilling.
This is no longer about finding more oil.
This is about a very necessary energy transition from finite resources to renewable resources.
After all, no matter how much you drill, it's only going to last so long.
Sure, in about 8 years that offshore oil would come online. And Bush claims we'll be able to get up to 18 billion barrels "over time." Whatever the hell "over time" means.
Either way, even if we did get 18 billion barrels, how long do you think that's going to last?
At our current rate of consumption we'll go through that in less than 3 years.
Why do we continue to entertain this ridiculous idea that drilling for more oil is a good idea, when the only real long-term solution to our oil/energy crisis is clearly alternatives?
Other than fat donations for our elected officials, I can't think of one.
Jeff
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Don't you mean forcing U.S. workers to use "mass" transit ... as in 'the masses'?
The president finally, at last, spoke words our dim-witted robotic congress must hear. Drill, drill, drill! Anywhere; without delay. Drill with full enthusiastic support of the American congress! No rhetoric could serve the green revolution further. This is an emergency. (Emergency might be the word soon used.)
We must exercise all of our energy options.
We absolutely cannot underestimate the destablizing influence of high energy costs on our economy. The inflationary threat is not fully understood by most Americans. You do get it don't you Jeff?
We are in very big trouble with current energy costs increases too high, too fast. There is no choice for us now, except to act with all haste. To not act with diligent haste is at least a potential tragedy.
We need to exploit the full energy spectrum with wealth incentives to all. Alternative energy sources to dirty coal. We must brace ourselves up to polute if necessary and pare back on pollution as soon as possible. We must prepare to keep this economic body alive at all costs. More than a few independent economists agree.
A tragic non-accident will likely occur and will be more bloody than most would care to imagine.
Given all the economic problems Americans now face, high energy costs has lit the fuse to combust inflation. It is inflation that will wrench our necks. Right now, this is the greatest threat to our economy in over 75 years. Hellicopter Ben is probably taking pills to steady his hands. Unlike the Depression of '29, a huge majority of Americans live in urban areas. They're going to get creamed Jeff. What be be the consequence of that. Most people in '29 had a strong Christian faith and a work ethic. Unfortunately, our democratically controlled congress will focus on political tactics rather than grasp the threat.
They still don't perceive the danger.
Like lawyers assuming they can do as they please, beleiving the fundamental nature of our culture will not change as a result of their actions. Unfortunately the consequences of their inaction will cripple our culture. The media follows the same belief system.
One has to go beyond TV news to see the danger. Strangely, most people readily agree with that idea, yet people don't talk outside the lines of common agreement. As if that might upset their digestion.
To me, this is a disaster unfolding in slow motion.
History will show that this is the same mind set that occured before the Great Depression.
What is it about vision that people cannot see?
Jeff, we are close to very difficult times. (You can't say you weren't warned.) With loud intent we might avoid the worse of it.
Praise Bush on this one. I guess he's a real leader after all. I am ashamed and embarrassed that many democratic leaders are saying "See, it's just Bush saying and doing more of the same."
We have just a short time before a rising tide of insolvency floods this former great nation. Do we even remember the virtues of a great nation?
I honestly don't think so.
Without more oil now, alternative energy advancement will also ironically suffer.