Change I can Believe In

What a silly people we are.

And what a silly debate we are having about energy as the presidential horserace enters the far turn.

And what a fatuous group of lazy minded lard ass reporters and talking heads we have to bring us the detail and dirt of this so called exercise of the body politic.

The energy debate as it is shaped for the inquiring minds of our (hiber) nation is now down to drilling vs. tire pressures. Much of this because when asked the following question by Rasmussen Reports, "In order to reduce the price of gas, should drilling be allowed in offshore oil wells off the coasts of California, Florida, and other states?

67% said Yes, and 18% said No, and 15% weren't sure.

I wonder what the results would be if the question was, "Presuming it will not reduce prices, should drilling be allowed in offshore areas off the coasts of California, Florida, and other states?"

If you look at the full questionaire you'll see that this was more like a push poll than a responsible opinion poll. And small surprise, Rasmussen is often characterized as an "R" friendly poll.

I wonder how this question would poll:

"In order to fight climate change, cut the cost of transportion fuel by half, and reduce foreign imports, would you buy a plug in hybrid car that was powered by windpower and other renewables?"

I suspect we would get get something in the high 70s saying yes.

Of course Obama's energy policy is a great deal more that tire pressures. And in fairness, McCain's policies were pretty reasonable until he became the oil zombie from hell. If he continues his descent, and falls away from his climate change policy positions, then we know for sure that he has become the Knight of the living dead.

But as good as Obama's position is, it's not nearly enough. We need totally outrageous statements and goals like the ones we heard from Pickens and Gore. Every "R" needs to understand that we really can't drill our way out of this, and even if we could, we can't, because if do, we're dead meat anyway.

I believe that we need to understand that our world must change as much in the next decade as the world changed in the second decade of the last century. Look at the historic pictures. Towns were full of horses and carriages, and then boom. Ten years later they were full of cars.

We can no longer afford a transportation system that runs on oil and a stationary electric system that runs on everything else. The system must be unified. And the best way to do that right now is with the plug in hybrid car. And Obama makes that part of his campaign by calling for a million of them in 10 years. Truth is, we need 50 million of them.

Then, we can build out the wind supplies in the middle of the country like T Boone suggests; but now, we will have someplace to put that energy. And every Mwh of wind power produced will offset 4 barrels of oil.

Fortunately, almost every major manufacturer is on the way to coming out with their own version of a plug in hybrid or extended range electric vehicle.

I would like to think that this election will represent more than another example of the "R"s relentless and uncanny ability to manipulate the worst of ourselves.

And instead, become a testament to the potential of a free people, thinking wisely, and compassionately about their present, their place, and their legacy to their neighbors, their countrymen, and all the other sailors on this starship we call earth.

Or am I just being silly?

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