Open Letter To Congress: Reform Energy

What affects our environment, our national security, our economy and our health? Energy use.  For me, it is the top political and social issue because the need for reform seems blatantly obvious and undebatable by any honest, unbiased person. Which, by the way, I am - as I am not employed by or related to anyone would would benefit from massive energy reform, especially what I am begging for here in my letter which I've now sent to both of my US Senators and my US Congressman:

I believe that government investment in renewable energy is necessary and very sadly and very long overdue. I am writing to encourage you to bring Energy Reform to the forefront of our national attention during the 2008 election season and obviously well beyond that as well.  I am not a Democrat, however I cannot understand why your Party would not choose to completely own this issue.  If you did, I would consider becoming a Democrat.

Energy Reform has four critical advantages, some of which are rarely brought to the attention of the public:

• It would reduce our dependence on foreign energy, thereby eliminating much of our interests in the Middle East, thereby improving our national security problems.
• It would clean up our environment, thereby reducing many chronic health problems.
• It would create a new major sector in our economy.  If done right, the US could one day become an exporter of energy products. Imagine that?
• Obviously, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to man made Global Warming (something I would know very little about if I depended on only the Democratic Party to inform me).

I would like to see significant changes, such as:

• A phased in tax increase on the use of all non-renewable energies, while offsetting that tax with sharp tax rebates on the use of and development of renewable energy.
• Government car fleets becoming 100% hybrid, comprised of cars made by US companies. This would set an example for our communities and spur the development of hybrid technology in our country.  There can be no reason why government vehicles should not be hybrid.
• Government funded programs to provide solar energy to individual residences at prices comparable to regular electric and heat costs.  Over time, this would reduce the cost of solar energy to the point where all homes can use it.

I fear that the longer we continue to wait to take serious strides toward revamping our energy policy, the more costly, not less costly, it will be for US businesses and travelers.  Please let me know why any of these suggestions are either wrong or impractical.  If you cannot, I expect to see serious action very soon.

My hope is that if you agree with part or all of this, that you will send this to your Congressional Representatives as well. It's time we take action on issues that affect everyone and issues that can actually be solved. Don't let the 2008 campaign be about someone's stance on abortion is, or how religious they are, or how much they spend for a haircut. If we let this happen, we will again get the government we deserve.

Comments

[granny]

Nice work George! Really nice. Thanks ~