A Conservative’s Argument for Renewable Energy

Wind Energy is part of a future of renewable energy

I am a political conservative but I am passionate about the United States moving to renewable energy sources.  I think we have to put the long term well being of our nation above our own self centered desires for low energy prices.  Here are my seven arguments for renewable energy.

1.  Even if we have a lot of untapped oil and natural gas reserves, the truth is that eventually they will run out.  So it is better for us to begin moving toward renewable resources now.

2.  Renewable resources will get more efficient and cost effective as we increase demand for these resources.  The market will respond with increasingly better mouse traps.

3.  I am not fully convinced about the issues of Global warming, but if is true, we should be taking steps to reduce carbon emissions and renewable energy sources is one way to to that.

4.  This is an area of technology that we can dominate and create new markets and new wealth in.

5.  We cannot allow our policies and our economy held hostage by threats to supplies of foreign oil whether it is Iran, Venezuela or Saudi Arabia.

6.  Replacing fossil fuel imports with renewable sources will have a positive impact on our balance of trade.

7.  Allowing a small group of oil companies to maintain control over our sources of energy is not to our nation’s benefit.  It is not free enterprise – it is an oligopoly  (–noun the market condition that exists when there are few sellers, as a result of which they can greatly influence price and other market factors) In addition these oligopolies use their enormous wealth to lobby and influence our political leaders.

Photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23065375@N05/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

It’s Not About The Stock Market

I am amazed the Department of Treasury and Wall Street are convinced we are in an economic recovery.  I’m not convinced.  The stock market does not alway act based on actual economic situations but on perceptions.  It’s a game of psychology.

Here is an economic fact:  Deficit Spending of 1.5 trillion in one year will have negative economic consequences.  You are either producing a level of debt that no one wants to buy or you are printing  money.

Unemployment continues to climb with over 10 percent of the population unemployed.  Those figures do not include the number of people unemployed or underemployed.  If that is taken into account I’ve heard the figure is likely closer to 15-16 percent.

Banks are still failing which means the government is still having to spend more money to take care of the FDIC deposit guarantees.

General Motors, even after a massive government bailout is still in trouble losing 1.2 billion dollar sin the last quarter alone.

The dollar is tanking which is making those who own US debt very nervous.

The President and the Congress never seem to see a spending bill that they don’t like.  Pork barrel politics is alive and well and Obama who has promised to slash the deficit is instead spending like no other President in recent history.  By the way – at the levels he’s spending money he cannot continue blaming President Bush.  Obama’s administration has been the poster boy for fiscal irresponsibility.

Are we in recovery?  I don’t think so.