Energy independence? I won't hold my breath
January 8th 2007 04:06
With the recent death of former President Gerald R. Ford, the nation was reminded again of America's addiction to foreign oil. In his 1975 State of the Union address, he said:
and...
Needless to say, President Ford's vision of energy independence didn't happen. Now, 32 years later, we are still dangerously dependent on oil from other countries. Had we taken action when Ford was in office, we would be in great shape now. We still don't have viable alternatives to oil and we still import a large amount of our oil from countries in the Middle East. In addition to that, several of the oil-producing countries sponsor or harbor terrorists, so we can't be as tough with them as we need to be. And we are at their mercy when they make threats of cutting off or reducing their oil exports.
It is inexcusable that our "leaders" -- President after President, Congress after Congress -- have refused to take the necessary action to protect our country from the risks associated with dependence on foreign oil.
I wish, for the good of the country, our current President and Congress would review President Ford's vision for energy independence and honor his life and service by adapting his vision and adopting it as a top priority for 2007. No more lip service. The time for action is now. If they don't take action, someone will be writing similar words to these in another 32 years -- if we can even live that much longer in our current situation.
This is what I wish -- but I won't hold my breath.
I am proposing a program which will begin to restore our country's surplus capacity in total energy. In this way, we will be able to assure ourselves reliable and adequate energy and help foster a new world energy stability for other major consuming nations.
and...
First, we must reduce oil imports by 1 million barrels per day by the end of this year and by 2 million barrels per day by the end of 1977.
Second, we must end vulnerability to economic disruption by foreign suppliers by 1985.
Third, we must develop our energy technology and resources so that the United States has the ability to supply a significant share of the energy needs of the free world by the end of this century.
Second, we must end vulnerability to economic disruption by foreign suppliers by 1985.
Third, we must develop our energy technology and resources so that the United States has the ability to supply a significant share of the energy needs of the free world by the end of this century.
Needless to say, President Ford's vision of energy independence didn't happen. Now, 32 years later, we are still dangerously dependent on oil from other countries. Had we taken action when Ford was in office, we would be in great shape now. We still don't have viable alternatives to oil and we still import a large amount of our oil from countries in the Middle East. In addition to that, several of the oil-producing countries sponsor or harbor terrorists, so we can't be as tough with them as we need to be. And we are at their mercy when they make threats of cutting off or reducing their oil exports.
It is inexcusable that our "leaders" -- President after President, Congress after Congress -- have refused to take the necessary action to protect our country from the risks associated with dependence on foreign oil.
I wish, for the good of the country, our current President and Congress would review President Ford's vision for energy independence and honor his life and service by adapting his vision and adopting it as a top priority for 2007. No more lip service. The time for action is now. If they don't take action, someone will be writing similar words to these in another 32 years -- if we can even live that much longer in our current situation.
This is what I wish -- but I won't hold my breath.
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