29 years wasted

[n2doc]

Jonathan Schwarz:
29 Years Successfully Wasted
Jimmy Carter delivered his so-called “malaise” speech 29 years ago today. What we wouldn’t give today to have done what he advocated (except perhaps the expanded use of coal):

CARTER: Point one: I am tonight setting a clear goal for the energy policy of the United States. Beginning this moment, this nation will never use more foreign oil than we did in 1977 — never…

Point two: To ensure that we meet these targets, I will use my presidential authority to set import quotas…

Point three: To give us energy security, I am asking for the most massive peacetime commitment of funds and resources in our nation’s history to develop America’s own alternative sources of fuel…

I will soon submit legislation to Congress calling for the creation of this nation’s first solar bank, which will help us achieve the crucial goal of 20 percent of our energy coming from solar power by the year 2000.

more:
http://thismodernworld.com/4401

[eppur_se_muova]

1. "Successfully wasted" ... bang on target. nt

[glitch]

2. That's a whole generation, lost to the banality that passes for conservatism.

I hope we can recover from our idiocy but I don't think we will with baby steps.

[cobalt1999]

3. Think where we'd be today if we had followed his plan.

Think if we had funneled the money from Reagan's military budget into alternative energy sources.

<sigh>

[DCKit]

4. Too funny. I've been dwelling on that today.

I've been pissed since 1982 that Detroit never followed through, and now the Asian car companies are kicking their collective asses - because they make the cars that get the mileage that many of us demand. And many Americans would kill to have the choices of configurations, fuels and engines that Europeans have. VW Polo TDI - 60-75mpg.

The most recent excuse the talking head apologists and stenographers have been reporting is the time it takes to re-tool for new models. What, 29 f*ing years wasn't long enough????

At least Honda and Toyota are making most of the cars they sell in the U.S., in the U.S..

[KansDem]

5. Detroit went from making Buicks to tanks virtually overnight following Pearl Harbor...

What, 29 f*ing years wasn't long enough????

I, too, find their "retool argument" shallow...