davidkin hollywood

Wednesday, April 3, 2002

NY Times quotes Ari Flescher: Uncertainty over the availability of gasoline, and at what price, "is an issue that Americans confront seemingly every spring after spring after spring, from a variety of circumstances, both international and domestic," Mr. Fleischer said. "It's time to stop focusing on it as a short-term problem, enact a long-term solution so this won't become a repetitive short-term issue." Which, of course, is complete and utter baloney. Drilling domestically for oil is no more a long-term solution to dependency than importing it is. The long-term solution to dependence on foreign oil, is to kick the habit completely or, at the very least, drastically reduce consumption. When California was faced with an energy crisis last year, Vice President Dick Cheney asserted that "conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy." And so what did Californians do to stave off rolling blackouts and rising energy costs? They conserved. They used the air conditioner less, turned off lights in parts of the house, turned off the computer before they left the office for the evening. There are lessons to be learned here. First, is that conservation does work in reducing demand for a commodity, the opinion of VP Dick notwithstanding. Second, that this administration will use anything to justify its irresponsible, unsustainable energy policy, from whiny left coast "virtue," to thousands of dead Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans. That's sickening, but it's really a no-brainer. Look at where most of the top officials come from: oil and energy companies. For whom will they be consulting when they are voted out of office in 2004? Oil and energy companies. Who stands to benefit from their greedy, dirty political games? Oil and energy companies. This isn't an administration for the people, conservative, liberal, compassionate, or otherwise; their interests are clear every time they open their mouths, every time they lay out international policy. It's dirty. What an unfortunate time to be an American.
comment 1:01:04 PM