Saturday August 30th, 2008
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State of the Oil Addiction
Posted by alittle on February 1, 2006 - 2:58pm.
“America is addicted to oil,” President Bush pronounced in his State of the Union address last night. He went on to propose an Advanced Energy Initiative that would require a 22 percent boost in clean-energy funding from Congress for next-generation green buildings and vehicles. “We will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants, revolutionary solar and wind technologies, and clean, safe nuclear energy,” he vowed.
The President also trumpeted plans to research better batteries for hybrid and plug-in cars, and invest in the (long-term) promise of fuel cells. He put in a major push for cellulosic ethanol, which he says he wants to make commercially viable within six years. Environmentalists and the media have expressed concern that the presidential pledges may be too vague, unambitious, and offer too little too late.
Photo credit: WhiteHouse.gov
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I have no doubt in my mind that Bush’s words are not coming from as deep a place in him as many of us would like. We all know that Bush’s circle has made billions dollars in oil. Does it even make sense for him to want to cut the “addiction?”
BUT I can’t help but be a little bit happy in that everybody in America heard him acknowledge that THERE IS A PROBLEM. We can now at least have an open dialogue about how to proceed with it from here, since we all agree that there’s an issue, right?
I am a foolish idealist.
...look what happened to him when he told Americans to lower the thermostat to 68 degrees and put on a sweater. I happen to love cardigans, myself. Me, Kurt Cobain, and Jimmy Carter.Oh, and Mister Rogers. The Woolly Minority—and half of us are dead. Oh well. Keep dreaming. We need more young idealists.Do you own a cardigan?
The subject of Jimmy Cardigan breaks my heart. Why is he the subject of so much ridicule?
Maybe somewhat ineffectual in office… But not only did he lead the curb-the-energy-crisis-hooray-for-the-enivronment thing before it was cool (and sacrificed his image for it), but look at what he’s done since. He’s spent his post-presidency BUILDING HOUSES.
Nobody would have blamed you for golfing the years away, Jimmy. You’re a hero.
I know I already put my two cents’ worth in, twice, actually, but I have to add one thing regarding good ol’ Jimmy. The man was so ahead of his time, he put solar panels on the roof of the White House! Does anyone remember? Of course, Ronald Reagan had them removed immediately upon taking office.
And on the subject of solar power, let’s not forget that Bush mocked Gore’s proposed tax breaks for “photovoltaic panels,” a phrase he uttered with apparent contempt, during the presidential debates. Oh well, there’s no shortage of wind power being generated in the White House these days, too bad it has such a noxious odor.
I feel that he is a President whom speaks words with no meaning! In that he will state items that will continue to place a band-aid on what I feel is the many short comings of his term in office! I am aware there are those in the House and Senate that are players in this as well! A case in point, New Orleans,health care(lack), society challenges, social security etc.
foolish but amazing
I don’t know if I can listen to anymore hypocrisy
“and offer too little too late”... so don’t bother?
Considering that more than 70% of our oil is imported from Canada and Mexico, and that less than 2% is imported from Islamic nations, reducing our dependancy has little to do with the terrorist problems this administration enjoys touting.
Even if a 22% boost in energy funding were approved, which it never will be, that is not enough to make a difference.
Why are we not spending our tax dollars on developing alternative fuels like ethanol?
Why are many cities still running gas powered vehicles in their motor fleets?
What incentives do investors have for investing in alternative fuel developement?
Once again we will see Large Oil rewarded for making miniscule gains torwards cleaner burning oil products. I’m not sure how that decreases our dependancy on oil.
No mention of that. Or funding for mass transit. Let’s be honest, we were all just thrilled to hear the man in the bubble acknowledge that there’s a problem. Talk about the soft bigotry of low expectations!