alternative energy funds
Why hasn’t the govt. made a real effort to fund alternative energies and get us off foreign energy sources?
We have an enormous trade defecit, primarily fueled by our automobiles.
We are fighting terrorists funded with oil money.
We cannot locally drill our way to energy independence.
Our military is fighting in a nation no one would care about if not for the oil underneath it.
We know independence is possible (just look at the transformation in Brazil over the last decade)
So, why aren’t we making any true national effort to become energy independent?
Steve,
You ask a superb question; and you’re probably going to get a lot of conspiracy answers. The truth is, there’s a simpler, but altogether unsatisfying answer: The electoral cycle.
If you want to be energy self-sufficient you can be (first off — I’m sorry, but you’re wrong about Brazil — they’re hugely dependent on imported oil — and their gasohol program actually consumes more oil than it replaces. The program is a politically correct joke).
There are possible alternatives, the most promising of which is hydrogen. But there are monumental problems with it; and to work out these problems is both costly and time consuming. Here’s where the electoral cycle comes in to play.
Politicians are elected to office, and they are given a very, very short window of opportunity to produce results. People want to see progress, and they want it now. This is why politicians tend to vote for dramtic programs that have immediate payoffs. They need to show something to the voter/taxpayers who ask, “What did you do for me lately?”
So long term, costly things like social security, education reform, infrastructure, and (yes) alternative energies, get pushed aside in favor of immediate problems with immediate solutions and immediate political benefits.
I return to my original statement — do you want to be energy self-sufficient? You can be, if you’re willing to spend hundreds of billions of dollars, and wait for maybe 15-20 years (or more) for workable solutions to be found. You and I both might argue that that’s money and time well spent. But you and I aren’t running for re-election in two year’s time — members of Congress are.
And that’s your answer. It’s not a conspiracy. It’s not that Bush is in the hands of the oil companies. It’s that politicians of both parties would rather spend tax dollars on other things that have immediate political payoff. We can change that, if WE THE PEOPLE get serious and demand action, and let politicians know that unless they make this a priority the WE will make finding a replacement for them OUR priority. But until the general public takes this more seriously than they’re currently willing to do. I’m afraid it’s business as usual.
Hope this answer helps. Cheers, mate.
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