Helping Craft the U.S. Energy Policy — Check Out the Mayday PAC

Here’s another discussion I had with a reader who responded to my request for suggestions about new potential courses:

Reader: I know this may be a little out there but have you tried engaging in the determination of public policy?

Craig: I would love to be a part of public policy, though I’m not sure I’m willing to wade through 1000 miles of sewer water to get there.

Here’s something I wrote the other day, commenting on Lawrence Lessig (pictured here) and his plan to remove the corruptive influence of money on U.S. politics, called the Mayday PAC.  I’d sure like to see this succeed, and I support it 100%, but until it does, realize that we’re talking about a cesspool of considerable magnitude here. 

Reader: That’s an interesting perspective, and I’m sure you’re not alone, but I have had impressed upon me in a few instances that knowledgeable people need to be involved in policy creation.  I think we all have been the victim of misguided policy.  One example is the CAFE standards that are set and then re-set later when they are found to be unrealistic.  If you get some time to comment later, I’d like to hear what you see as the major impediments to getting involved in policy creation.  I’m a bit of a newbie there.

Craig: Well, that makes two of us newbies.  In fact, I’m so naive that I somehow think that the phone is going to ring any moment and Ernie Moniz (U.S. Energy Secretary) is going to ask me to come back to Washington and be a part of solving the energy problem.  Could happen.   🙂  In any case, thanks for the flattering suggestion.

To answer your question, I don’t think you have to look much further than the issue of money/corruption discussed above.  Again, check out this piece on the Mayday PAC.