THE ENTERPRISE--Independence Day special
Normally on a National Holiday weekend like Independence Day, I write an uplifting edition of THE ENTERPRISE. But this is not a normal year. As oil prices skyrocket, the dollar plummets, the stock market sinks and our national pride sinks with it, we, as Americans are faced with looking in a mirror at what we have become. A nation of non-doers, a nation of nay-sayers, a nation of wimps and wusses, and all the other derogatory terms I can imagine--and I am ashamed.
YOU RECOGNIZE THE CHARACTER
Movies are not real life, but their stories and characters often portray real life with startling clarity. We have all seen the movies where the smooth, slippery "climber" finds a way to blame others, distance himself from awkward situations and generally "talk his way out of everything bad." In the movies, such people eventually (usually) are exposed at the end. I wonder what real life will be like.
—A black father--keep him out of pictures.
—A white grandmother who uses racial epithets, "throw her under the bus."
—A role model and inspirational pastor whose radical behavior frightens many and astounds others--denounce him.
—A financier who helps buy a house he can't afford, and later is tried and convicted for misdeeds--denounce him too--sadly, as not the man I knew.
—Positions that sound so noble and lofty--like using public finance and debating face to face in town halls suddenly become undesirable in a flood of money and a "front runner" spot against a competent, knowledgeable old pro.
I could go on. It is truly frightening that those who are mesmerized by his rhetoric do not see the shifting, shading, and slippery candidate.
THE ANSWER SEEMS TO BE: "CHANGE THE SUBJECT AND ATTACK THE OPPONENT"
Here is where his backers denounce his opponent. But I say to you--WAIT A MINUTE--we aren't talking about the old war hero. We are talking about the smooth "wunderkind."
I don't know what prepares a man for being President of the United States. Perhaps being shot down and persevering through an unimaginable 5+ years of torture in a POW camp doesn't. But it does show COURAGE. Perhaps refusing early release, to insist that he not go until his cohorts go doesn't, but it does show CHARACTER. Perhaps being a member of Congress, a leader in his party in spite of some contrarian views, and a bi-partisan legislator able to broker deals that involve both parties doesn't either. But it does show COMPETENCE. Those three characteristics: Courage, Character and Competence have always been the marks of a leader to me.
And finally, perhaps being attacked by a retired general who was valedictorian at West Point, a Rhodes scholar, and a wounded VietNam vet himself doesn' t either. But remaining composed and reserved in the face of such an attack belies the old war hero's reputed fiery temper. But that also doesn't necessarily qualify him either--at least not by itself.
THE TELLING QUESTIONS ARE THESE TWO:
A first term Senator from Chicago, with some typically shady Chicago ties to crooks, influence peddlers and radicals doesn't prepare anyone either. Being a community organizer, politically astute and very intelligent might qualify someone. Being incredibly glib and articulate, and able to mesmerize huge audiences is certainly a valuable talent for a leader. But that alone doesn't qualify him either. The glibness and wonderful way with words is useless when tough decisions--the kind with no right answer--only less wrongs a facing him. We wonder how he will handle those.
THAT MAKES ME ASK: WILL HE "THROW AMERICA UNDER THE BUS" WHEN IT BECOMES TOO HOT IN THE TOUGHEST JOB IN THE LAND? I don't know. Do you?
AND WHICH OF THESE CANDIDATES WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE "AT YOUR BACK IN A FOXHOLE", OR IN FRONT OF YOU "FACING A HOSTILE ENEMY?" I know. Do you?
THESE ARE ISSUES THAT TROUBLE ME GREATLY ON THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND
ANOTHER ISSUE IS OUR APPARENT "KATRINA-LIKE VICTIM" BEHAVIOR IN THE FACE OF HIGH GAS PRICES
Europe has long paid far more than we are now paying for gas. We have lived the charmed life--and now it is over. Either we take charge of our own destiny or we look for someone to blame—Big Oil, the current President and VP, OPEC, rogue states like Iran and Venezuela. But whoever we choose to "throw under the bus," the problem is still ours, and or leaders are either lying, paralyzed into inactivity by partisan politics or lack the common-sense that God gave them and that our forefathers put to such good use.
IF WE CAN PUT A MAN ON THE MOON, WE CAN DO THIS--AND WE MUST!
Few things are more important to America's future than its energy supply. Nearly everything else depends on energy to operate. Being (largely) energy independent could very well be a global competitive advantage in the next 2-3 decades, and is certainly a National Security imperative probably long before that. Can't anyone in the seats of power in our government see this?
Are they all so preoccupied with equivocating, slipping and sliding into reelection that they are afraid to take a stand and do something so important and so bold?
VICTOR DAVIS HANSON CALLS US OUT—WITH FRIGHTENING CLARITY
Victor Davis Hanson is a learned student of our social behavior. The next few paragraphs are the conclusion of his Op Ed I read in today's Columbs Dispatch. He is commenting on our "do nothing Congress" and our national malaise of doing nothing because everything we consider, offends someone, some zealous special interest group or some outspoken "talking head." What a shame--no what a disaster for the United States of America. Consider his words carefully on this Independence Day weekend.
--taken from Victor Davis Hanson's Op Ed "A timid nation loses ground, and it's us"
The causes of this paralysis are clear. Action entails risks and consequences. Mere thinking doesn't. In our litigious society, as soon as someone finally does something, someone else can become wealthy by finding some fault in it. Meanwhile, a less fussy, more confident world abroad drills, and builds nuclear plants, refineries, dams and canals to feed and fuel millions who want what we take for granted.
In our present comfort, Americans don't seem to understand nature. We believe that our climate-controlled homes, comfortable offices and easy air and car travel are just like grass or trees; apparently they should sprout up on their own for our benefit.
Americans also harp about the faults of prior generations. We would never make their blunders -- even as we don't seem to mind using the power plants, bridges and buildings that they handed down to us.
Finally, high technology and the good life have turned us into utopians, fussy perfectionists who demand heaven on Earth. Anytime a sound proposal seems short of perfect, we consider it not good, rather than good enough.
Hamlet asked, "To be, or not to be: that is the question." In our growing shortages of infrastructure, food, fuel and water, we've already answered that: "Not to be!"
REPEATING LAST WEEK'S CONCLUSION:
THERE ARE JUST THREE ENERGY "ANSWERS:" USE LESS; FIND MORE; FIND DIFFERENT KINDS—CONCURRENTLY
Three approaches are mandatory. No one of them is sufficient to all the needs. Why can't our governmental leaders see this? Or can they, but it doesn't serve their political agendas to admit and act on it? CONSERVATION (Near term greatest effect); EXPLORATION/DRILLING/EXPANSION (Mid-term large effect); and INNOVATION/ALTERNATIVE SOURCES (Longer term solution is a combination of parts of these three.)
* Most immediate impact items.
NOW: Conservation (largest short term effect, also helps mid, & long term)
--*Fuel efficient vehicles, homes, offices, factories, stores and cities, (street lights on highways where not needed, flood lights on signs, etc) etc.—NOW
--*Reduce usage on transportation, unnecessary lighting (Christmas lights), excessive cooling & heating, etc. —NOW and Future
--*Use more fuel efficient products and practices (high mileage cars, programmable thermostats, CFLs, etc) —NOW and Future--more of them...
--*Timers to turn off lights in unoccupied offices, public places, and ultimately in homes (provide tax incentives to install them)
--When stores, offices, plants, etc. close for the day, mandate that the lights be turned off within 1-2 hours.
(Companies can Install motion sensors to reactive lights for safety, if people are still moving about.)
(Lights can be turned back o--and off-for cleaning crews, but they don't need to keep burning electricity for an entire evening)
SOON: Exploration/Expansion of Oil (short & mid-long term)
--*ANWR Drilling (mid-term, starting immediately)
--*Offshore Drilling & Usage of Current Lease Rights elsewhere (short term--starting immediately)
--Shale oil Development (mid-long term)
--Refinery Construction & Expansion of Existing Capacity (short and mid-term)
--*Standardization: Reduce to two Octane levels--87 & 91, and one formulation nationally--no state variations.
--Simplify processing & help relieve refinery capacity issues--without any refitting of gas station pumps, transport, storage, etc.
(Anyone who wants higher octane for higher performance vehicles can buy cans of octane-booster additives.)
NEXT: Innovation & Action (mid-to-long term)
--Nuclear proven alternative source, with least risks) Federally mandated storage sites to be built NOW in 3 US states/areas:
West: Nevada: South: Texas: North: Wyoming/Montana/Dakotas based on geographical and geological analysis.
--Solar (largest source, usable in certain environments, with simpler--mirror based--plants)
--Hydroelectric and Tidal (using gravity)
--Geothermal (selectively usable at premium installation cost)
--Wind (Selectively usable for certain locations)
--Renewable (Cellulosic ethanol, re-growable raw material, etc.)
--Clean Coal (Only when the best alternative for a location, cost, speed, etc.)
--Assign Federal funding for mandated bike paths to be added parallel to any highway on which construction/repair work is being done, and connected to form a pedestrian, cyclist pathway to all major office and shopping centers from major residential and transportation centers.
What follows is part of an email I received from a correspondent. I have modified it to shorten it, and changed a little wording. I am putting it here because it so dramatically illustrates the foolishness that pervades American policy. Read it and weep. I did. Then send it to your Congressman, your Senators, and anyone else you know in a position of influence. It is all we can do.
Hoping that America's Independence is not lost in the coming decade, I remain your humble scribe,
John
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Special Section on ANWR
DRILLING ANWR PER SE, ISN'T THE ISSUE--BUT IT REVEALS A LOT ABOUT THE DECEPTION GOING ON--AND IT IS SYMBOLIC OF THE RESISTANCE TO 'DOING ANYTHING!"
Drilling in ANWR won't solve America's energy dependence on OPEC and radical leaders like Chavez (Venezuela) or Ahmadinejad (Iran). But it might very well dampen the impact of speculators, driving the price of oil up unrealistically. Plus, the more foreign oil we buy, the more money we send them to use for their radical intentions--against the USA. If you know all about ANWR, stop reading and delete this. But if you don't, read the words and look at the pictures.
FIRST… do you know what ANWR is?
ANWR = Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Now, some pictorial comparisons and information about ANWR and oil drilling.
And some perspective…
NOTE WHERE THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA IS…
(it's in the 'ANWR Coastal Plain')
THIS IS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS, LIBERALS AND 'GREENS' SHOW YOU WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT ANWR
…and they are right… these ARE photographs of parts of ANWR
ISN'T ANWR BEAUTIFUL?
WHY SHOULD WE DRILL HERE (AND DESTROY) THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE
WELL… THAT'S NOT EXACTLY THE TRUTH ABOUT WHERE THE DRILLING WILL BE.
Do you remember the map? The map showed that the proposed drilling area is in the ANWR Coastal Plain
Do those photographs look like a coastal plain to you?
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
???????
THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE…
THAT IS NOT WHERE ANYONE WANTS TO DRILL!
THIS IS WHAT THE PROPOSED EXPLORATION AREA ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE
IN THE WINTER
IN THE SUMMER
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE AREA WHERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DRILLING IS VERY TINY PART OF WHAT IS A BARREN WASTELAND.
OH… AND THE CONCERN ABOUT THE EFFECT ON THE LOCAL WILDLIFE…
HERE IS A PHOTO (SHOT DURING THE SUMMER) OF THE 'DEPLETED WILDLIFE' SITUATION CREATED BY DRILLING AROUND PRUDHOE BAY*…
DO YOU THINK THAT THE CARIBOU REALLY OBJECT TO THE DRILLING?
*NOTE: The Prudhoe bay area accounts for 17% of U.S. domestic oil production
NOW, WHY ARE THE POLITICIANS WHO ARE BLOCKING THE DRILLING, DISTORTING THE TRUTH ABOUT ANWR?
MOST LIKELY TO FURTHER THEIR OWN AGENDAS, OR TO RESPOND TO EXTREME SPECIAL INTERESTS—VOCAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS
(Maybe they'd like to go LIVE in ANWR if it's so wonderful.)
INSTEAD OF SOLVING AMERICA'S PROBLEMS, OUR OBSTRUCTIONIST LEADERS ARE MAKING THEM WORSE.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW,
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
ASK YOUR POLITICIANS IF THEY FAVOR DRILLING IN ANWR AND LISTEN FOR ANY LIES, THE DISTORTIONS AND/OR EXCUSES? WATCH THEM SQUIRM OUT OF PAST ENERGY POLICY POSITIONS, TOO.
AND IF, (OR WHEN), THEY GIVE THE WRONG ANSWER, VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE OR DON'T VOTE THEM BACK INTO OFFICE.
YOU CAN HELP BY SENDING THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW…
SO THAT THEY WILL SEE THE TRUTH AND THE DISTORTIONS
AND TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE INDEPENDENCE DAY STAND FOR ANOTHER KIND OF INDEPENDENCE—FROM ENEMIES OF THE USA FOR OUR ENERGY NEEDS.
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