A wasted opportunity indeed!
Posted : August 5, 2005 at 3:51 pm [America/Los_Angeles]
Yes, we are financing both sides in the war on terrorism: our soldiers and the fascist terrorists. George Bush’s failure, on the morning after 9/11, to call on Americans to accept a gasoline tax to curb our oil imports was one of the greatest wasted opportunities in U.S. history.
— Thomas Friedman, “Too Much Pork and Too Little Sugar”
I must confess that I was not wise enough to notice this “missed opportunity” thingie on the morning of September 12th, 2001 either. However, I am glad Tom did. And he wrote about it soon after the 9-11 tragedy. And frankly, I could not be more in agreement with him on this issue. And Lord knows this is not a Republican stand or a Democratic stand. If anything, it’s a Common-sense stand!
I really don’t know how many more barrels of oil remain that can can be squeezed out of the “existing” and “yet-to-be-found” oil fields. I am sure we’ve enough. For now, that is. However, it’s not an infinte source. This we all agree upon. Chevron is running an ad which states that while it took us more than a hundred years to consume 1 trillion barrels of oil, we will consume the next trillion in less than 30 years! And if we do take 30 years to consume the next trillion, how long will it be before we burn up the next trillion? Surely not 30 years. Oh, and why do I have a strong feeling that as these things unfold, today’s $60 dollar price for a barrel of oil would most certainly look stinking cheap. What am I missing here? Which part of this argument is just plain wrong? Enlighten me, and I will be the first in line to buy a Humvee. Ofcourse, there’s the environmental pollution thing too to worry about.
So, Mr. Lou Dobbs, in case you’re tuned-in to my blog, here’s an idea: How about starting a series on the Energy Crisis issue on your Lou Dobbs Tonight show on CNN?. I think you’ve done enough to highlight the Illegal Immigration Crisis. And rightfully so, I might hastily add. However, I think It’s time to move on to something new, an issue that truly deserves as much serious debate, if not more, in this country and indeed around the whole world.
- Anand
Category: Our world
2 Comments
Do you not remember how bad the economy was back then? A tax-hike like that would have really killed the average American.
Erik
Posted by: Erik Weibust at August 8, 2005 @ 7:07 am
Erik:
Bottomline, I am not convinced that the current administration is understanding the severity of the problem. Yes, an energy bill was signed today with much fanfare. Does it go far enough? I think you know my answer..;-)
On the subject of tax hike to rally the nation to fund a concerted research to find alternative sources of energy, I am not convinced that a tax-hike after 9-11 would have necessarily been a bad thing. Temporarily, yes. However, let’s not forget that at that time, this country was more united than it ever has been. Everyone would have accepted the decision (and the “sacrifice” involved) if it meant a more secure future in the long run. More importantly, I think in the long run it would have made this economy more resilient to the happenings in Saudi Arabia.
Let’s put it this way - Chevron and Exxon Mobil will not fund these alternative sources of energy anymore than Philip Morris will fund an alternative to cigarettes. And we need the best brains of this country to jump on the Energy Crisis case sooner rather than later. Give these guys incentives and tax breaks!! Involve folks from China, Russia, India and any other nation that is interested. Make this a concerted “global” effort. It will create jobs. More importantly, it makes perfect business sense.
Ofcourse, there’s no need to be an alarmist. All is not lost. Not yet, that is. President Bush has plenty of time to steer the national debate away from Social Security and Private accounts and back to National Security, his pet subject I might hastily add. Fortunately for all of us, this time around “National Security” would not involve taking this country to another “preemptive” war. It would however involve plenty of hard work and creative out-of-the-box thinking, loads of patience and sacrifice and last but not least, bold decision-making from its leaders.
- Anand
Posted by: Anand Sharma at August 8, 2005 @ 2:48 pm