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I couldn't agree more. You and I might disagree on the best implementation of a plan to wean America off of its addiction to oil, but I'd like to see the debate start with a serious approach to that ultimate goal.
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Kluge, thanks for seeing what I saw a few months back. The typical American voter has started to lose interest in this election, and have become tired of the negativity a long time ago. I mean, it's now waaaaay past thier 30-second attention span ("Gee, honey. ANOTHER Democratic debate? What's on American Idol?").
As to emphasizing a long term solution for energy independence versus forcing our collective efforts on a Summer band-aid tax fix, you and I may agree more than you think. You see, I believe our reliance on oil, and the fact that we must rely on outside sources to meet the demand, has much greater ramifications to this country than the price of a tank of gas and it's impact to our economy (which is STILL America's #1 strength, IMO)
Let's face it, this country's ability to maintain a steady supply has become our #1 strategic priority (again, IMHO). What has this done? It forces us to "play nice" with some countries that makes most Americans want to swallow down the bile in their throats every time we are forced to "look the other way at the way they do business" (I'm looking right at you, my Saudi "friends"), all the while as they line their pockets with our cash for their product. Our dependence on oil forces us to "pay attention" and intervene in all sector of the world, putting our need for a steady flow of oil over our desire to leave the rest of the world alone to their own messes, and has the added "bonus" of earning international condemnation over our "interference in other's sandboxes". And Ultimately, this current administration's desire for a stable environment in that neck of the woods to ensure a steady oil supply has lead to one of (if not THE) worst foriegn policy decisions in our country's history, and the consequences of that decision will be felt for decades, along with the tragic loss of over 4000 of America's finest treasure.
Trust me, the day they announce on CNN (between the latest news on Miley Cyrus or Brittany Spears) that scientists have discovered a cheap way to produce Nuclear fussion or some other "miracle" energy source is the day I hope our Congress passes a resolution telling the OPEC nations "Make 7 -- Up yours! I hope you learn to eat your own oil, becase we don't need you anymore" A little nasty, but OH So satisfying to dream about.
Do I understand that there are forces at work preventing this? Surely. But a man can dream that one day we will elect a President who will put his (or her
) country's interests over his own chances for election (or re-election). At this point, I'm just not sure any of the three candidates are the one I was hoping for, and are deciding to "pick the low fruit". Sigh.....