What Oil Problem?
It's hard to blame Bush for his tepid State of the Union speech. His major initiatives this past year failed. He's getting skewered for the Iraq War and for the lack of domestic forces, money and leadership to handle disaster recovery ("Great job, Brownie!"). If he could have cancelled the appearance he would have done it.
I don't know why anyone is surprised that he would choose this moment in time to give lip service to the national need to wean itself from use of fossil fuels. He did not have much else to talk about. Besides, it was one way to keep Exxon's report of huge quarterly earnings off the front page.
Anyone who lived through the oil embargos of the 1970's knows that the day of reckoning was at hand. The nation's foreign policy has been a long, costly and tragic instance of the tail wagging its dog. Our government has supported Shiites against Sunnis or vice versa, depending upon whose hand is on the faucet at any given time. The US supplied Saddam to keep Iran at bay. Then Saddam turned, and we drummed up Shiite support against him. Which brings things back to those pesky Iranians. They now have nuclear capabilities Makes hostage taking seem quaint.
Paul Krugman argues that there will be no real change until there is a steep gasoline tax. That's a start. I think that there also needs to be an incentive for people using renewable energy sources and driving hybrid, or flex-fuel, cars, as they are now called. In places like Gotham here, we have to get cars off the highways, and create a viable light rail system for commuters and a more effective method of limiting midtown traffic.
But let's not fool ourselves into thinking that the Bush administration will take any steps, let alone the bold measures, required to kick our petroleum jones. What would his friends think? The words were right but there will be nothing initiated to support them. Thus the paradox of cutbacks on the renewable energy task force at the same time of this policy statement.
A few basic ideas to get started:
1. No corporate tax break for leasing heavy passenger vehicles. The fact that the government subsidizes the purchase of a Porsche Cayenne is a thoughtless obscentiy.
2. Serious financial commitment to development of renewable energy.
3. Federal and state incentives for the use of flex-fuel vehicles and public transportation.
4. Downtown areas closed to auto traffic.
5. A limit on cabs and a policy that encourages or makes mandatory multi-passenger trips.
This seemed to work out just fine during the latest transit strike. No problem getting cabs to Brooklyn at those rates!
I am in the market for a car. While I would like to get that nice sedan with all the power and trimmings, it's clear that a Prius or other hybrid is the right choice, if purchasing a car is the right choice at all. It may not be as powerful or as sexy as that Lexus but when I drive past you waiting in line for a refill, I will make sure to wave.
I don't know why anyone is surprised that he would choose this moment in time to give lip service to the national need to wean itself from use of fossil fuels. He did not have much else to talk about. Besides, it was one way to keep Exxon's report of huge quarterly earnings off the front page.
Anyone who lived through the oil embargos of the 1970's knows that the day of reckoning was at hand. The nation's foreign policy has been a long, costly and tragic instance of the tail wagging its dog. Our government has supported Shiites against Sunnis or vice versa, depending upon whose hand is on the faucet at any given time. The US supplied Saddam to keep Iran at bay. Then Saddam turned, and we drummed up Shiite support against him. Which brings things back to those pesky Iranians. They now have nuclear capabilities Makes hostage taking seem quaint.
Paul Krugman argues that there will be no real change until there is a steep gasoline tax. That's a start. I think that there also needs to be an incentive for people using renewable energy sources and driving hybrid, or flex-fuel, cars, as they are now called. In places like Gotham here, we have to get cars off the highways, and create a viable light rail system for commuters and a more effective method of limiting midtown traffic.
But let's not fool ourselves into thinking that the Bush administration will take any steps, let alone the bold measures, required to kick our petroleum jones. What would his friends think? The words were right but there will be nothing initiated to support them. Thus the paradox of cutbacks on the renewable energy task force at the same time of this policy statement.
A few basic ideas to get started:
1. No corporate tax break for leasing heavy passenger vehicles. The fact that the government subsidizes the purchase of a Porsche Cayenne is a thoughtless obscentiy.
2. Serious financial commitment to development of renewable energy.
3. Federal and state incentives for the use of flex-fuel vehicles and public transportation.
4. Downtown areas closed to auto traffic.
5. A limit on cabs and a policy that encourages or makes mandatory multi-passenger trips.
This seemed to work out just fine during the latest transit strike. No problem getting cabs to Brooklyn at those rates!
I am in the market for a car. While I would like to get that nice sedan with all the power and trimmings, it's clear that a Prius or other hybrid is the right choice, if purchasing a car is the right choice at all. It may not be as powerful or as sexy as that Lexus but when I drive past you waiting in line for a refill, I will make sure to wave.
posted by Evan Sarzin at 7:50 AM
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