We have choices to make and the longer we wait the fewer our choices will become. The choices we have available now are few still. The first thing we need is for the government to lead, follow or get out of the way. We need to set free the wild horse that is American innovation, ingenuity and profit motive. What we don’t need is to nationalize our efforts to pursue the energy we need. A vulnerable populace is a populace that is likely to ask for help from the ever present monolith of the state. The state as I will discuss later is the last and most dire choice we may be forced to make.
The airplane was not invented by the state, the automobile was not invented by the state, the internet was not created by an act of Congress nor was the power of the atom declared by the findings of the Supreme Court. Citizens who recognized an obstacle and overcame it- these are the people who brought us our modern world. That is our best last hope- that we the people of the United States of America will be able to use the tools and opportunities we have been afforded either by blood sweat and tears or divine providence to yet again change the world.
How can the government lead? The first thing it could do is to focus our efforts toward a series of achievable goals and then do everything in its power to remove the obstacles it may have placed in the way. Though energy independence is the ultimate goal and an excellent sound bite it is nothing without intermediate goals. If it must tax and it must spend our money (a subject deserving of its own derision) then it must focus our money into the research and development of energy technologies. Not just the most popular politically or even the most environmentally friendly- but where we can get the most effective use of our money. In other words they should focus our dollars on the technologies that get the best dollar to energy unit ratio achievable.
How can the government follow? They should be responsive to their constituents. Instead of adhering to some suicidal ideological mind set they should realize that we the people gave them their job. The people are demanding more energy and they should follow our demands. Clear the way and let us work in our own self interests.
How can the government get out of the way? The government can immediately remove the obstacles preventing the development of oil sands, oil drilling and nuclear power. We the people do not care about your partisan view of reality. Though some with vested interest in the power of the state would like to continue and expand the power of the state- the rest of us rather enjoy our freedom. When the government removes the possibility of progress and development it is in effect causing us injury.
If through willing ignorance and rancorous partisanship the government is unwilling to follow the will of the American people and we are unable to develop our way out of this current situation- we have only one choice. We would be forced to take what is needed through the use of military force- if the situation is allowed to deteriorate. No doubt at that point America would not be the only player on the field. We would be taking the field against Russia and China as well. This would be the last and most desperate bid- as well as the most undesirable and perhaps in the opinions of some the most despicable.
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