Good Hummers vs. Bad Hummers: Can you carry a tune?
linkBusy with errands and the kids, Louise needed more room in her vehicle.
Louise says, “Thank God for my forklift. In my Suburban, I had to take multiple trips to get the groceries and drive the kids to soccer practice. Now, I just stack the groceries over the base of the fork, and pile the kids on top. Wow, that thing can carry a lot! And it’s so easy to load. But most importantly, the kids love riding on it, and that’s what counts.”
Today, I thought I’d talk about our “addiction to oil“, and what a ridiculous reality check the Bush administration thought they were giving the American people, like it was some new idea. Since President Carter, every US president has commented at some point that we need to rid our dependence on foreign oil. So why is Bush’s take on our situation so publicized? Perhaps it’s because it was one of the only strong points of his speech.
BUSH: Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. And here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world.
BUSH:
The best way to break this addiction is through technology. Since 2001, we have spent nearly $10 billion to develop cleaner, cheaper and more reliable alternative energy sources. And we are on the threshold of incredible advances.
So tonight I announce the Advanced Energy Initiative — a 22 percent increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind technologies; and clean, safe nuclear energy.(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: We must also change how we power our automobiles. We will increase our research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen. We will also fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn but from wood chips and stalks or switch grass. Our goal is to make this new kind of ethanol practical and competitive within six years.
(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. By applying the talent and technology of America, this country can dramatically improve our environment, move beyond a petroleum- based economy and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past.
Ugh, I can actually hear him talking in my head! When Capt. Obvious stated what his plan was to rid our dependence on foreign oil, there was an instant outcry from the Saudis. The Administration has spent the last few days assuring the Royal family that he “didn’t mean it.”
What I’m getting at, is that we can’t sit and wait for our government to introduce new energy-saving strategies and incentives. Oil is just too profitable right now, and the companies are even admitting it. If you want to make a difference, instead of waiting for the tax credit, do it now. As far as fuel goes, Biodiesel isn’t the final answer but it is slowly bringing awareness to the public of their options. Besides lowering particulate emissions, purchasing biodiesel/biofuel is currently helping local economies as it is not yet made on a national scale.
I believe we are the generation of change. It is up to us to make the difference that our world is pleading for right now. I honestly believe that if other countries saw a peaceful revolution kindling among America’s energetic and unbelievably creative youth, any support they expressed would catalyze a positive change in our country.
This brings me to my next topic: Buying Local, Eating Local, but that will have to wait until next week
This increase in spending in such areas is a good thing. Although it has been obvious for some time, it is a good thing. I agree, Bush isn’t the best President ever, but while he’s in there, I think he needs support in the areas in which he does good for mankind and the environment.
Further more, we need to find other sources of energy before Canada gets dug completely up. Have you seen that? Nuts.
Comment by Uncle Boodaddy — February 8, 2006 @ 9:43 pm
I agree that any movement in the direction of sustainablility, or atleast independence from mideast oil should be supported, but you have to understand that Bush is simply talking, as he and his administration have done since they went into office. None of this will actually happen under his watch, because there is nothing in it financially for him. Bush is a business man, like the majority of the GOP, and if he says something and it looks good on paper, then (by his standards) he is doing good. There is a trend right now to use alternative forms of energy consumption, but it is being developed in the private sector, not by the government. I’ll believe it when I wee the change and he puts a hefty tax on energy wasters across the spectrum; from factories to hummers.
Comment by Slingshot — February 9, 2006 @ 4:23 pm