An Open Letter on Energy to Mr. Obama
After Wednesday night’s debate, I became one of literally millions wishing to give U.S. President Barack Obama advice, and, for that reason, I certainly do not believe that what I’m about to write has any particular importance. Having said that, here’s a brief “open letter.”
Mr. President:
A great number of us who viewed your debate on October 3rd were astonished that you were either unwilling or unable to defend yourself vis-à-vis America’s energy policy, and thus I offer a few “talking points” for your consideration on the subject:
Every major nation on Earth is making significant investments in energy efficiency and clean energy, as this is the industry that will define leadership and success in the 21st Century. Here, I mean “success” in every meaningful sense of the word: technological, economic, social, moral, and ultimately, military. Supporting a measured but steady migration away from fossil fuels is a clear winner across every single dimension. If in the context of the upcoming debates you choose to stress economic success over the others, I can understand that given the circumstances. But any way one looks at it, embracing clean energy is the single most pragmatic thing that anyone who loves this great country can do.
The United States needs to make investments from the public sector, while encouraging them in the private sector. To the degree we do not, we are actively rushing towards a new status as a kind of underling in the international community. These are the moments, unfolding over the next few years, in which we will either stand up and play a key role, as we did in every important industry throughout the 20th Century, or fall gradually into irrelevance. Yes, we could be crushed under the weight of the Republican demagogues in their last-ditch desperation to win in this election, and their subsequent eradication of every bit of progress this country has made over the last 50 years in terms of environmental protection and stewardship.
By the way, it’s clear to almost everyone that these “demagogues” are the pawns of the large interests in traditional energy, and you know this very well. How candid you wish to be on this point is a matter of judgment. Whatever you do, you mustn’t be tepid in your discussions of the subsidies for the oil companies. This is an evil and blatantly corrupt practice, and we all know it – even most Republicans. The Senators who voted to retain the subsidies last March received, per capita, five times the amount of campaign contributions from the oil companies as did those brave and honest enough to vote against them. If you’re looking for the most obvious example of malfeasance in government, you needn’t search any further. All you’re earning by mincing words here is the bitter disappointment of your supporters who are counting on you for leadership, not some kind of cringing diplomacy. Whatever words you choose, you need to be proud and bold, not weak and defensive, about what we’ve done and where we need to go as a nation.
As you’re well aware, the economists who have no axe to grind here point to an extremely bright future in terms of green jobs. Do not allow your opponent to get away with the idea that a sustainable approach to energy and transportation is a job-killer. The precise opposite is true; you know it, and you’re more than able to defend this critical point.
Mr. President, it my hope that before the next debate, you will take a few deep breaths and think back on this letter. Then go in and nail this. An anxious nation as well as people all over the world are watching, counting on you to come through as the leader you have the potential to be.
Best regards and good luck,
Craig Shields
Mr. Romney shamelessly downplayed our government’s fossil subsidies, quoting a number far smaller than the reality.
As far as Mr. Romney’s claims of “$90 billion” in Obama’s green subsidies, and his accusation that Obama’s results were to “pick losers,” are both utterly groundless:
http://news.yahoo.com/romney-zinger-obama-backs-green-energy-losers-061300060.html
Mr. Obama needs to firmly call Mr. Romney out on these (and other) prevarications.
We may not look forward to anything remotely resembling a progressive utopia under another four years of our current president. He has proven that he needs to be pushed hard in the proper direction by We the People on many issues, and that he leans imprudently wrong-ward on a host of others.
However, the nation will suffer immeasurably more by a return to the leadership of a party that has failed again and again for decades to practically forward the founding purposes of government – these are to “form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity…”
The plain historical record of GOP elements in our US Congress, in our statehouses, in our courts, and in our White House (whenever they occupy that building) has proven the Party of Greed to be the enemy of sound government and of the Public Commons, and so their leadership in these arenas is forfeit.
They need to get behind solutions or get out of the way.
I have tried through the U.S. consulate where I live in Canada to convey a message to the president, or at least to the reelection committee, about a project I’ve been working on for decades described on http://www.ev-motion.com, which the first U.S. patent 8256553 was issued last month. I happen to have a university backed viability study demonstrating that the president could create those mentioned 12 million jobs with that project alone, and before the end of his next term of government. Not only that, could also keep his promise about the million EVs. on the road within a few years, plus creating a system to store and commercialize electricity at the same time and make history on fixing the economy, environmental issues, sustainability, energy independence and reduce military spending dramatically. Obviously the message never got to him…too bad Mr. President. I think the bad guys could win this (We all hope not)
Sides are drawn and no one will change their minds, but here are a couple of facts.
Both parties are corrupt and should be thrown out.
Obama had majorities in both the Senate and House for his first two years…why didn’t they pass a law to exclude the oil company tax breaks? Because they are all in the pockets of the oil companies…so don’t blame the Republicans…look in the mirror!
You will never make alternative energy work when it is more expensive than status quo! This is basic economics. The Fed can’t just spend blindly to create supply without doing something to create demand. That is why so many of these companies failed. Obama should have increased the Fed tax on gasoline by $1/gal with $0.50/gal increase for next 8 years. He should have done this for dirty coal generated electricity, too. Make alt energy equal or less and you will have demand. These taxes collected could be used to pay for the alt energy R&D, mass transit, infrastructure rebuilding and revitalization of our cities, rather than borrowing the money from China and burying ourselves in debt.
Lastly, Obama has shown NO leadership to bring this country together, in fact he has split this country up like no President ever has. What I found particularly striking was Romney’s statement that Obamacare was passed by simple majority trickery with no Republican support, while he in MA had had almost full support from both parties for his healthcare I…that’s Leadership!
I also think, even as an owner of a stalled EV product, that the US has incredible vast resources of oil and natural gas which we need to tap to dig our way out of debt, create jobs (which we have done in spades in ND) and be financially strong…you can’t turn your back on the wealth we have in natural resources.
I think it is the Republicans who, very intentionally, have split the country. THEY need to look in the mirror! I have watched as they have projected on to President Obama their own intents and strategies. I’m very tired of letting them get away with it and pretending that what they say is either truthful or relevant.
Richard, I was actually tracking you pretty well until your last paragraph. We NEED to turn our backs on fossil fuel for so many reasons. It needs to be a National obsession…the world is watching what we do. We need leadership that is not beholdant to traditional energy to get the job done.
This is my personal comment and does not reflect the views of the CAFE Foundation or any other entity.
We must go forward with green energy, regardless of any partisan opposition. We’re all aware of the corruption that attends “clean coal”, big oil, and other fossil fuel beneficiaries. They make fortunes off their cheap energy, but externalize the true costs.
The American people pay for the health problems that come from burning fossil fuels. We have a hard time getting industry to even put necessary scrubbers on smoke stacks. We pay for the soldiers, sailors and airmen who defend the land and sea lanes that allow the transport of oil to us. We pay for the environmental damages wrought by pollution, mining, erosion, and fouling of land and water.
Why do we continue to subsidize these corporate bad citizens? Please use your position and prominence to fight for the people and for future generations. You’re doing the right thing in subsidizing the energy sources of the future. Stand up for these excellent choices. The American people will back you.
Craig,
You are right, he DOES know….
Folks, here is a man that has found himself in a stalemate, indentured to the same fossil fuel, corporate owners of our country as the other party invited to the debates. Nothing will change until we stop listening to the bickering retoric and vote for a real candidate that is not owned by the corporate overloards.
Yeh, I know, the fear of the other, more evil keeps you playing the game on thier terms. How much worse does it need to get? Time is of the essence, Check out ” The green new deal” for real answers to the real problems that we face. Restore democracy before it is too late.
We live in a democracy. That means we can have our own voices and we do that through elections for Congress. When politicans disagree, it is because they are supposed to representing their constituents, mainly you and I. So when we threw out a lot of Democrats at mid-term election, it says people were not satisfied with what was going on. Don’t blame the Republicans, blame the Democrats & Obama and their lack of leadeership to bring this country together. Compromise has always been our way of working together – good or bad – it must be done because everyone has a say.
Lastly, producing more oil and natural gas and selling it on the World market is a way to pay for all the things we want in this country. Taxing status quo energy will tip the balance and people will move to more alternative energy. Our country is $15T is debt! We need to produce and sell oil and natural gas to dig ourselves out. This is not a bad thing but part of a transition that we need to take advantage of. We must do both. Any politicans out there want to increase taxes on energy cost status quo?? Didn’t think so. We are in a whole lot of trouble.
Richard, You are a wise man. I look forward to reading more of your future posts. Good job trying to speak the truth to these people who operate their lives and try to control ours using a flawed Utopian mindset.
There is an interesting comparison of the president’s and the governor’s energy positions here:
http://www.solarfeeds.com/the-official-obama-vs-romney-energy-policy-breakdown/
thank you, Craig. Have you posted this on the White House and Campaign websites? You should! It’s very clear and to the point. I, too, cringed when Obama let Romney slide on his lie that clean energy subsidies are more than fossils. and “I love coal!”?? I mean, really.
Thanks very much. Yes, I sent it. And yes, that was an outrageous display.