Betwixt and Between, I find myself. I observe the validity of D00m.P0rn shrill warnings about the future ... when seen as possible outcomes rather than when seen as certainties. Yet I also see the potential for better outcomes.
And with respect to the strategy of sitting on the sidelines, weighing the likelihood of one versus the other ... I'm against it. Simply the decision to sit on the sidelines makes the calamity more likely as a result. So I am for getting into the fray and trying to make the calamity less likely and the hopeful outcome more likely.
Over the fold:
The Calamity Cavalcade
The Structural Import Dependency
That's Brazil ... what does that have to do with the US
Over the course of long Presidential campaign I was struck with how intertwined the major problems facing the U.S. and the world really are. And, while the debate moderators considered it obvious that the economic collapse would prevent the incoming administration from working on anything else, I was seeing it as another piece of the puzzle. Here are some of the major issues government should be addressing:
1. Global warming/death of life on earth
2. Economy/jobs
2a. Auto industry failing
3. Dependence on foreign oil and resultant cultural/security issues
4. Obesity and resultant health costs
Barack Obama wants to invest in infrastructure. Yesterday, many of the nation's governors pushed infrastructure spending as a job creation tool for America. I hope this involves more than building new roads and bridges because it's an opportunity to reinvent the country in ways that can begin to address all of the problems listed above.
How about a nation connected by high speed electric rail? Joe Biden is for it. How about downtowns accessible by rail, by bike, by foot but not accessible by car (helps with fitness too)? How about an auto industry that begins to phase out gas-powered cars and is required to immediately increase production of electric cars? We're paying for that industry's survival anyway.
What else? Please put some bones on this "green new deal" in comments.
"Use It or Lose It" legislation fails to reach two-thirds majority.
On June 26th in response to ongoing calls to allow oil drilling off the coast of the United States and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Democratic members of Congress offered "Use It or Lose It" legislation to mandate that oil companies either drill on federal land they have leased or relinquish the right to do so. Currently, oil companies have dormant leases to over 68 million acres in the western United States and Alaska that are available for immediate drilling and exploration that, according to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md) "contains over 100 billion barrels of oil".
While the vote was 223 for and 195 against, it failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed for passage under shortcut parliamentary rules. For the record, all Democratic members of the Pennsylvania delegation voted for "Use It or Lose It" while all Pennsylvania Republicans voted against with the exception of Rep. John Peterson who did not vote.
As We Celebrate Our Independence, It Is Time for Energy Independence.
On Friday July 4th we will celebrate Independence Day marking 232 years since our founding fathers declared that the United States of America would be an independent nation. Back in 1776, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and others showed courage, leadership and vision by drafting the Declaration of Independence creating a democratic government based on freedom and rights for the common people.
Now, 232 years later, we need to see the same courage, leadership and vision from our elected leaders to declare independence again. In 2008, the independence we need to declare is not from tyrannical leaders and an oppressive government but energy independence from foreign sources that have too much control over a product that is so vital to our nation.
Betwixt and Between, I find myself. I observe the validity of D00m.P0rn shrill warnings about the future ... when seen as possible outcomes rather than when seen as certainties. Yet I also see the potential for better outcomes.
