Conversation on Open Letter on Energy to Mr. Obama
Here’s a conversation I’m having with the friend who suggested that I write my “Open Letter on Energy to Mr. Obama.”
Craig: I took your excellent advice. Here you go: http://2greenenergy.com/an-open-letter/32059/.
Friend: Excellent. Well done!
Craig: Thanks. As you know, I view this more as theater than as reality; I feel a bit ashamed to be taking it so seriously. I normally don’t publish stuff like this. But the Republicans really will tear a huge hole through environmental regulation if given the chance.
Friend: I agree. It’s theater. But theater is important. It will probably be more important than elections in the long run.
It is theater that drives public opinion and the only weapon that we have to combat lobbyist strangling. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans do the right or wrong things unless public opinion forces them. Free speech and a gnarly media corps have historically been the only forces to curb greed by both the right and the left. Bloggers like you now exercise a share of that power. Theater is indeed important!
The campaigns (spending an obscene $1-billion each) argue about “Obama’s existing program forward” vs. “Romney’s plan”. Both are completely fictional. We know that no president ever implements the plan articulated during election season. All ideas must be converted into legislation, which happens in the House and Senate. The congressmen and senators—comprised mostly of lightweight lawyers who couldn’t get rich in a law practice—dance to the tunes of the K-street lobbyists. A majority of our so-called lawmakers don’t even know what they are voting for (Citing Nancy Pelosi at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV-05TLiiLU) Further, the laws they create are turned into implementation rules documented by unknown, unelected bureaucrats. There are literally thousands of these people in the government, and most are wined, dined, and bribed by the lobbyists. So ideas from presidents go through that meat grinder where the final product has a totally different form and unexpected consequences. Beyond foreign affairs, presidents have no power other than the “bully-pulpit.” That’s why theater can be more important than elections.
Craig: Excellent point. You’re a smart guy.
I agree with both of you – but what the people really want are details of both candidates proposals. In this regard both of these candidates are equally guilty of not being forthcoming.
Until they do, I can’t see how anyone can vote rationally unless they are already convinced or are die hard Democrats or Republicans>
This is a total waste of money and media time and puts us to shame as far as our forefathers would be concerned.
I’m not a die-hard Democrat or Republican, but in spite of his obvious shortcomings, I see Obama as the better choice. Although this is not relevant to energy, Romney wants to reinstate “don’t ask, don’t tell.” He also shows additional evidence of an inclination to treat people less fairly than Obama does. It’s unclear which of the two would be better on energy issues. I suspect that Romney would be more careless and aggressive on foreign policy.
Romney seemed to become more moderate in the debate compared with how he seemed in his campaign statements. Both candidates seem to base their statements mainly on what would garner the most votes which, unfortunately, is not unusual for politicians. In one respect, it may be reasonable to give the people what they want but if what the people want is based on a lack of accurate information, that is not good.
That picture of Hamlet reminds me of Dracula.