A New Energy Policy

July 18, 2008
America's current energy policies are an utter failure and it is long past time for us to adopt new ones.  We need an energy policy that puts America back in control of her own destiny and makes the world a cleaner and safer place for our children, their children, and us.  This isn't just about reducing our dependence on imported oil by drilling for more here at home; this is about a new and comprehensive policy of complete energy independence with less overall environmental impact.

A number of polls show that the vast majority of Americans want increased domestic production and energy independence.  We understand that our inability to provide for our own energy needs and our continued reliance on imported oil have led to high gasoline prices, rising inflation, slowing economic growth, record trade deficits, the value of the dollar plunging, and numerous other maladies affecting our financial well being.  We also realize that we have the all of the natural resources required and that, were it not for capricious objections to developing those resources, we could be energy self-sufficient.

A recent poll also shows that, while most Americans are concerned about the environment in general and at least somewhat concerned about the potential effects of the consumption of fossil fuels, economic and national security considerations trump the environment.  Contrary to what some politicians may think, Americans are smart enough to realize that just switching from imported oil to domestic oil would not change our environmental footprint, other than the impact of drilling itself, and reject their specious objections to increasing domestic production.  Still, we do know that there must be some kind of reasonable balance between the environment, the economy, and national security.

Technically, we really could just drill our way to complete energy independence in a decade, no matter what some disingenuous politician may say in front of a TV camera.  We actually do have all of the natural resources available right here in America to supply every bit of our fossil fuel needs for centuries and we could access them very quickly if there were no impediments.  However, just increasing domestic production to the levels required for energy independence is not a politically viable option at this time.  Nor is it in our best interests to ignore the role that conservation, renewables, alternative sources, and other efforts to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels play in a balanced strategy to achieve energy independence and minimize the environmental consequences of their use.

We need a grand compromise, a plan with something for everyone, a plan that everyone can get behind and support even if they don't necessarily agree with every part of it; a plan that addresses the issues in a balanced and non-partisan manner.  Everyone must accept from the start that no one is going to get everything they want or prevent the other side from getting some of what they want; there will have to be compromises made.  Since there is practically no chance that our illustrious members of Congress can come up with such a plan on their own, we will just have to get the ball rolling for them.  Here is a place to start, the "Do It All, Do It Now!" American Energy Independence Plan.  It may not be perfect, but it is comprehensive and it at least represents a place to begin discussions.

American energy independence would have such profoundly beneficial effects on every aspect of the economy, national security, and foreign policy that it transcends partisan politics and gamesmanship.  The American people expect serious action on energy policy by our elected representatives before the November election.  Barring that, there better at least be some votes in Congress so that we can see where each Representative and Senator stands on the issues and hold them accountable on Election Day.