Bait and Switch: You can’t have your wind energy and drill domestically too
The McCain update this week focused on energy and John McCain’s convoluted plan to “secure our energy future.” His desire to tap into more and more domestic oil sources is further proof to his economic incompetence. Rational individuals respond like electric charges; they follow the path of least resistance. Why change our life when we’re used an oil-powered world? Few will devote the needed resources to development of alternative energy if traditional oil is available and relatively affordable.
The update starts in with McCain’s plan to “save us” with a gas tax holiday (a few dollars saved), expanded oil exploration (good-bye Earth), and energy independence (sounds good, but won’t happen with more oil on the market):
“John McCain understands that high gas prices are squeezing family budgets and putting pressure on all Americans at home and at work. His comprehensive energy plan will provide relief to American families through a gas tax holiday and will secure America’s energy independence for the long-term through the development of alternative sources of energy and expanded oil exploration.”
McCain teases readers with a gorgeous picture of ten wind blades across the American countryside, powering our society with minimal environmental impact. Wind blades are beautiful machines. Sure, they are large and imposing, but their smooth motion and elegant design fit into the traditional land scape, and form a beautiful vista. Their aesthetics are enhanced by their obvious pragmatic benefits. This picture, and others like it, portrays a truly safe and environmentally sound energy policy. But McCain does not want and will not reach a safe or stable solution.
John McCain wants you believe in his efforts for sustainable energy. He flashes pictures and slogans around like the Geico Gecko, but his policies are all silly politics and ultimately ineffective. We need a new focus if Americans want to transform to sustainable and new forms of energy. There will be a transition period, but it cannot be marred with off-shore drilling in America. New drilling will only wet the appetite for more drilling and extinguish any significant desire to legitimately address new energy sources.
It will be expensive to switch from oil to something else. The research and development will require large sums, and the interim period will see high fuel prices. But we must endure those higher prices and slowly adjust our lifestyles if we ever want to break free. Invest in a more fuel efficient car (or if it’s not a good time for a new car, have your current vehicle maintained, including properly inflated tires, start riding your bike (a ridiculous number of trips in America are less than two miles and easily done on a bike), switch out bulbs for CFLs, or buy a reusable water bottle. These are all simple and practical immediate steps.
A second problem with McCain’s “plan” is the well known “Not in my backyard” syndrome: most Americans want new energy sources, but they don’t want to deal with it. (This seems to be a major reason for Florida Governor Charlie Christ’s opposition to off-shore drilling before he flip flopped). While I find wind blades appealing, many do not. And McCain’s picture of wind blades in a perfect situation across our land is unrealistic. They look good as a policy promise, but few want them in sight of their backyard window. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if McCain himself objected to seeing wind mills near his home (which should be in Arizona forever). He’s had bigger problems with this before. Reuters reports on a DNC press release and ad pointing out McCain’s incompatible statements on nuclear power.
Specifically, McCain seems confused on the issue of safe storage and transportation. On the presidential campaign trail (June 2008), he said of Yucca Mountain as a storage site for radioactive waste:
“It’s a, it’s a NIBMY problem. It’s a NIMBY problem. We’ve gotta have the guts and the courage to go ahead and do what other countries are doing and they are reducing the pollution to our environment rather dramatically…”
But in May 2007, McCain said he was uncomfortable with one element of the plan: transportation through his home state of Arizona.
Interviewer: What about the transportation? Would you be comfortable with nuclear waste coming through Arizona on its way, you know going through Phoenix, on its way to uh Yucca Mountain?
McCain (Shaking Head): No, I would not. No, I would not.
As usual, the McCain’s policies are misleading and contradictory. The overall goal of new energy in America, in this case, is one I share with the Senator. But the major elements of his plan and the specific policies are ridiculous; bound for failure with the course of human nature. McCain’s plan for our energy future is the same as if a Hollywood star went to their ultra-exclusive gym for a private training session to lose weight, the trainer said “only eat celery for a week,” and then dropped you in a vat of chocolate, where the only way to get out is to eat all the chocolate, while the celery sits behind an electric razor-wire fence. By the time you eat all the chocolate, the celery will still be extremely difficult to get, and frankly, barely worthwhile.
Tags: "Gas Holiday", Energy, Energy Independence, Flip Flop, Florida, McCain, New Energy, Offshore Drilling, Wind Energy
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