Thursday, March 20, 2008

Let my Resources go!

In a column published by the Miami Herald today, activist Gal Luft outlines the effects of our continued oil dependence. His prescription is to have Congress mandate flex fuel at a manufacturer cost of $100 per car. I am not sure whether I trust his math, or his insistence on new government mandates, because if the solution is that cheap, why not convert current autos to support flex fuel? Of course I'll await an answer. I'd put $1000 into my car to support US independence, and lower my gas cost.


Until that answer comes, I would say:

While our dependency on oil is cramping our economic style, we must also concede that we have brought this upon ourselves by bowing to those who claim to be protectors of "the environment."

These self appointed protectors along with their elected official followers have prevented us from lowering the cost of gas by restricting our supply of gas. This has happened in 3 crippling ways.

First there is an uncalculated supply of oil off of the costs of Florida, Texas and California. There is also the well publicized supply available in the Alaskan Wildlife Reserve. We have been blocked from getting it. The reasons offered are not acceptable when gas is over $3.00 a gallon.

Second, once the oil is harvested it must be refined, and unreasonable regulations have stood as a roadblock to building new refineries for a quarter of a century.

Third, alternative energy has been blocked by similar unreasonable legislation. When other industrialized nations can depend on nuclear power for more than 75% of their needs, we have surely hobbled ourselves by waiting to build new reactors.

These factors have added to the opportunity seen by by competing nations to weaken us in ways which go far beyond the price we pay at the pump. Move these obstacles, and we will still have years to suffer, but we will at least allow ourselves a certain and proven outlet.

What else is there to say.?

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

I want to blog more often

It has 3/4 of a year since I last wrote anything on this blog. I haven't carved out the time to publish my thoughts, and the rest of the world doesn't really seem to care. No, I'm not really surprised, but I do have fun looking back at the things I wrote so many months ago. That was part of the reason I started this thing. The other reason was to offer a wide array of my ideas so that I could direct others to the site when the question came up about what I think. (Yeah, Bee, how often does that happen..? )

I can't say that I disagree with much from last year. I mean now that the guy at the lead of the failed immigration policy is leading the Gopsters to the November election, it is comforting to be able to remind myself exactly what it was that I didn't like about that proposal last year. This means I really have to review my assessment of Sen. McCain. Lately I have been thinking that he would be the best of two evils when paired against Obama or Hillary. In my deepest understanding, that is probably still the case, but if he can make mistakes as dramatic as that immigration bill, do I really want to push him toward the presidency? Again the answer must be to defend against the most pain, and I think he will probably offer us the least pain.