Democrats need to call for energy independance by 2025

[smoogatz]

The next twenty years should be to energy what the 60s and 70s were to the space program. New energy technologies are the key to America's future security and prosperity--we've got to bet the farm on this issue. Ultimately, what choice does the country have?

[smoogatz]

1. Self kick.

I'm serious, dammit.

[Extend a Hand]

2. I'm not so sure

we've got until 2025. Most of the peak oil experts are predicting a peak and declining production world wide by 2012 or sooner.

[smoogatz]

4. Peak oil doesn't equal dry holes.

It just means that without concurrent decreases in consumption, prices go way up. Where you get big trouble is if production falls off sharply while demand increases sharply--could happen, but probably not by 2025.

[Strelnikov_]

12. Per ASPO Estimate, 2025 Production At 75% Of 2008 Peak

This rate of depletion could be catastrophic.

http://www.peakoil.net/uhdsg/Default.htm

Otherwise, I fully agree with your proposition. Energy dwarfs all other issues as far as I am concerned. If we do stabilize the energy situation, and lessen imports, we face collapse.

Considering the petroleum and natural gas depletion rates we are facing, if we have not made significant gains by 2025, we will be relegated to third world status.

I particularly like the GOP answer to North American natural gas depletion, imported LNG. I wonder what we are going to export to balance the energy import trade. Real estate brokers? Lawn care services? A $1T/yr current accounts deficits cannot go on very long.

[smoogatz]

3. And again.

I'm not shy, anyway.

[welshTerrier2]

5. critical issue ...

i, too, am not sure we really have that long ... but, regardless, we need to push for massive changes in the country's energy policy ASAP ...

and it's of course a much greater problem than just dwindling supplies of oil ... we're also looking at the industrialization of China and India and perhaps other emerging economies ... competition for the remaining oil is already fierce and might soon lead to an unimaginable global war ...

and if that doesn't do it for you, global warming is also upon us ... it's time we started paying just a little more attention to what we're pumping into the air we breath ...

of course, all of this change we are fighting for has to occur with the support of a government that is paid for and controlled by big oil ... the least we can expect from the opposition party is to make this a major issue and start educating (you know, like leading) Americans about the incredible dangers we face if we continue on the same path ...

[maxsolomon]

6. this was THE issue in 2004

and was ignored in favor of trivialities.

it could play into the isolationist sentiment that wants the president to tell the sauds to suck it, rather than playing kissy face with them.

can you tell i'm one of them?

[Telly Savalas]

7. They should also be stronger advocates of public transportation

and urban development on a human scale (in contrast to sprawl which requires people to drive everywhere they go).

It's time they start making bold proposals.

[European Socialist]

8. Jimmy Carter was serious about energy-look at how he was rewarded.

But you are right-we can't just leave it up to the oil companies this time.

[Booster]

9. I couldn't agree with you more, but the Dems need to be very

careful and come up with some half-baked energy source. I still don't understand why solar failed so miserably. My best friend had a solar water heater that worked really well, but everytime I buy one of those solar path lights, the damn thing just glows like a lightening bug and puts out zilch light. Really whether it's the Dems or Repugs, somebody has got to start pushing alternative energy. They did talk about it during the last election, they had nothing to put out there that might take the place of oil. Somebody like Warren Buffet or Bill Gates needs to put 500 million in a fund and challenge somebody to come up with something THAT WORKS and they can claim the money. As I always say, if you pay somebody to look for something, they ain't never gonna find it, but you put the money up for grabs and they get really busy looking faster.

[autorank]

10. The Mayan Long Count Calandar Runs Out in 2012

We'll need someting by then.

Seriously, there should be a Manhattan Project for clean car fuel, in a damn hurry, no holds barred. This could happen right after the oil companies are nationalized around the world. That would take care of any dragging anchor effect.

We can do it. It's not that hard. Stem cell research, which is in full gallop, is much harder.

Let's do it!

[mahina]

11. #1- campaign finance reform. THEN we can have real progress.

Having worked my butt off on bill after bill here that everyone said they supported, then watched each time it evaporated to almost nothing behind closed doors- literally, net metering made it through our legislature but was capped at .01% of households. .01 percent, not .01.
Guess who is the biggest campaign donor in the state of Hawaii? your guessed it!
They have staffers on HECO's payroll working in legislators offices all session. THey look like you work for you and me, but they are there for the electric utility.
Just seen it happen for too long. First we get real campaign finance reform. Then we get smart energy policy. Who knows, maybe we can even own the utilities publicly. But not the way thing$ work the$e day$ honey.
Not giving up on any of it, just telling you.


for two extra jellybeans, guess which state is most dependant on burning fossil fuels for electricity? At a guaranteed profit per unit of fuel, no matter how high it goes. And our people don't pay any attention at all. Like frogs boiling in water, I tell you, I have never known any people as passive as us.
sigh.