America
is in crisis, an energy crisis, and no one seems to be paying serious
attention to the crisis, least of all our politicians.
While in this season of “the politics of change” -- the useless word
that is no more than a campaign jingle spouted most notably by the new
kid on the block and the likely next president of the United States,
Senator Barack Obama -- in Washington, D.C. it remains politics as
usual.
The price of oil has skyrocketed, Americans are forgoing proper meals in
order to be able to afford the gas that fuels their automobiles that
transport them to work, and our two presidential candidates are arguing
over whether to suspend a 30 cents a gallon gas tax for the summer
driving season.
Are they kidding?
On Capitol Hill whenever the price of gas makes the news and the
politicians worry about their reelection chances, Congress holds
hearings, trotting out the CEOs of the big oil companies, hearings of which
nothing ever comes. But the politicians think that we, the citizens of
America, should feel better for Congress’ efforts to at least humiliate
the oil company executives before the American public.
Humiliation of the gaseous CEO’s whose unwillingness to become a
solution to our energy problems is unconscionable, doesn’t put food on
the plates of our children or properly nourish our fixed income senior
citizens.
But American’s allow this theater to continue and utter not a word to
their representatives. It is clear that the malaise of resignation has
settled over our country. Whatever discomfort is thrown at Middle
America, they accept.
Americans
say that they want change and seem to be rallying around the change
candidate. Yet they seem resigned to the high price of gas, the
ridiculous cost of food, the subprime mortgage crisis, the day to day loss of the value of their homes
and whatever other discomfort is sent their way.
American's
acceptance of their lot in life seems nearly pathological. Do Americans
not realize that change is more than a word? Do they not understand it
is they who must change, not the politicians, if the problems of
our society are to be solved?
The blame for the problems on Capital Hill cannot rest solely with
Congress if the citizens adapt a laissez-faire attitude and
simply sit back and allow Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Harry Reid
to get away with their inaction on the energy crisis…the housing crisis…the
mortgage crisis…the food crisis…the stalemate between our two party’s
that has stalled the energy of our government.
It is incumbent upon; it is the responsibility of every American to
insist that their voice be heard. They must demand change from our
politicians. Demand is an active verb, and without action on the parts
of citizens – not calling out our politicians, but shouting out our
politicians – we will never see the necessary change this country must
have in order to sustain.
This nation was not built on inaction or on soliloquy of grandeur by our
politicians. This country was built on people willing to endure great
suffering in the name of their ideals, the betterment of their lives and
the legacy they left for their children. When necessary, Americans
rallied, they picked up their arms, the scientists went to their labs,
our doctors found their cures.
We have sent a man to the moon, landed a
probe on Mars, and yet we can’t solve our energy crisis?
I believe in America. I believe strongly in Americans. We can do better.
So let’s start with Americans raising their voices and shouting out the
politicians. No more jingles from our candidates, no more jive. Let’s
have both Senator McCain and Senator Obama show they mean what they say
and say what they mean and they will do whatever they must to enact
change.
I propose that for the month of July both presidential candidates
agree to a put a moratorium on campaigning. No appearances, no ads, no
interviews. Both Senators will return to their day jobs – the jobs we
hired them to do for us, the jobs they are paid great money for and
given great healthcare benefits for, unlike the mainstream of America –
and together both men will lead in the bipartisan effort to come up with
a comprehensive energy bill which they will have ready to place on the
desk of President Bush by the first of August.
The bill will include among other things (1) a permit to allow off-shore
oil drilling, (2) repeal the duty drawback
for ethanol and jet fuel., (3) address the
issue of the five years it takes to get a permit to build nuclear
plants, (4) tackle the issue of the windfall oil profits tax, (5)
eliminate all oil subsidies for the oil companies (6) earmark the
funding to advance technology on alternative fuel sources (7) earmark
the funding to come up with alternative car engines.
By the same token all American citizens will do their part in seeing
this proposal come to fruition by writing their representatives and
demanding immediate action and by sending a copy of this proposal to
everyone they know in order to make this proposal a reality.
Here’s fuel for thought: Forwarding an email or writing your
representative doesn’t take a lot of energy.
Just action.
Action speaks louder than words.