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.

Solar Christmas Lights Advantages Part 1

My Solar Christmas Light Decorations

Solar Christmas lights have several advantages over more traditional incandescent holiday lights.  For several years I have wanted to decorate my fence down near the main road.  Unfortunately, the closest available electric outlet is nearly 150 yards away.  It was out of the question to string extension chords from the house down the hill to the fence.

I first heard about solar powered Christmas lights last year.  They were the perfect solution to my problem.  However, they were difficult to find.  I ended up trying several retailers like Target and Wal-Mart with no luck.  I finally found one Home Depot that had three sets.  I grabbed them and also purchased a set of solar spotlights.

I strung the lights along with garland along the fence, and put a wreath on the fence post which I illuminated with the solar powered spotlights.   While I was limited because of the limited number of sets available,  I was pleased with the results.

I didn’t know that they were readily available online and come in varieties of types and shapes.  There is a lot more information on solar Christmas lights available here.

Solar powered lights unfortunately cannot be connected into one string.  So I strung one set, then set the solar panel for the next set starting where the first ended.  Then I set the final one.

We had a number of cloudy days and I was worried that there wouldn’t be enough sunlight to charge the batteries.  Even in cloudy conditions, the lights ran several hours.

So one of the big advantages of solar Christmas lights is that you can use them anywhere that you have decent exposure to the sun.

Solar Energy Solutions

House has solar panels on their awning

I am politically conservative.  I am, however disturbed by the leaning in most from my camp when it comes to energy.  Whether or not you believe in global warming, the fact is that it makes sense for the long term success of the United States to have an energy policy that moves us away from fossil fuels which will run out some day and are polluting.  We need a real renewable energy policy.

If  for no other reason, it makes sense for us to move to sources of energy that our opponents around the world cannot threaten.

That’s why I am a supporter of solar energy.  Frankly, I also like the idea of it being done on smaller scales – on houses and businesses rather than electric utilities that will just keep finding ways to charge people more.

I really think solar energy is important for our future.  Why don’t you check out solar energy solutions for your home.

Triage Technology With A Star Trek Twist

Great story of Trek Tech today!
Triage Technology With A Star Trek Twist

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Changes the Republican Party Should Make

GOP Logo

As the 2010 election cycle begins to approach, Republicans have to do some soul searching about what we stand for as a party.  I am a Republican.   I don’t apologize about that.  But continuing the same path won’t work either.   It’s time for Republicans to take a good look at themselves and make some changes.

One thing we must continue standing firm for is less spending and low taxes.  That’s a bread and butter issue for Republicans that we lost sight of.  We must also stand for a strong defense.  That doesn’t mean the Pentagon gets every new toy they want, but wwe have to make sure that our nation remains able to defend itself.

What does the Republican Party need to do?

1.  We must advocate partnerships between Government, Business, Community Groups and NGOs in order to tackle issues facing us.  How can we best improve education, without breaking the bank?  What can we do about healthcare?  We need to develop partnerships and work together for the best possible solutions to these issues.   We need to be a party of compassion without taking the nation toward socialism.  I believe with cooperation, and some out of the box thinking by some bright people, we can find solutions to problem and help people who are hurting.

2.  The Republican Party must come up with constructive ideas for handling the Social Security issue.  How’s this, everyone who works past age 70 and not drawing social security can earn as much as they want tax free.

3.  We as Republicans  must get out of bed with big business.  Conglomerates and major corporations have no loyalty to the United States.  They don’t care about how many American workers they displace.  All they care about is bottom line.  Many of them would sell out the United States in a heart beat if there were profit in it.  Having companies that are laying off workers but still giving CEOs large bonuses and letting him or her fly corporate jets is not good for the nation and it’s really bad for the Republican party to associate with.  The old saying “what’s good for business is good for america” is not true.  As we have seen some businesses MUST be regulated because they are “too big to fail.”  It they can’t be disciplined by the marketplace then government must intervene.  Olygopolies are not conducive to free enterprise.

4.  We are still the party of free enterprise.  Some of the large corporations actually diminish competition.  It’s time for us to put more effort into improving opportunities for medium and smaller businesses.

5.   Stand firm for life.  This is a moral issue for many Republicans and the Republican party should stand firm on this.

6.  A real energy policy and not one that keeps going back to oil exploration, nuclear energy production.  The fact is none of these are real long term solutions.  Our energy policy should advance clean energy solutions, like wind and solar in meaningful ways.

7.    Offer a vision of the future.  Ronald Reagan didn’t win in 1980 because he ran a negative campaign against Jimmy Carter.  In fact he really didn’t have to.  Ronald Reagan knew what he stood for and communicated his vision of America in extraordinary ways.  That was McCain’s failure.  He had no vision articulated.  We must be a party with a vision and we cannot go digging up visions of the past.  We must give the country something to look forward to.

I hope that Republican candidates don’t come out parroting the same lines as always.  Witness John McCain.  That’s what happens.  We need bold leadership and bold vision for all Americans.

Associated Press story biased

I am tired of the media claiming that they are unbiased purveyors of news and information.  They are not.  They are biased and their reporting reflects it.  End the mainstream media “honest journalism” myth now.   I sent an email to the Associated Press today concerning their use of terminology showing their bias.

To whom it may Concern:

The associated press has violated its own standards. Your standards on your website clearly states:

That means we abhor inaccuracies, carelessness, bias or distortions. It means we will not knowingly introduce false information into material intended for publication or broadcast; nor will we alter photo or image content. Quotations must be accurate, and precise.

Dame amid the abortion controversy, your writer stated:Notre commencement address at Obama’sHowever, in an article by Steven R. Hurst this morning that appeared on Yahoo news concerning President

A storm blew up immediately after Notre Dame invited Obama to address Sunday’s commencement exercises. It still rages, with anti-abortion activists promising to disrupt the president’s appearance, where he was to receive an honorary degree. (emphasis added)

Why do you insist on painting those who are Pro-Life by using negative terminology that they have rejected?  You do not do the same thing to those on the other side of the issue. You do not call them anti-life, you don’t even refer to them as pro-abortion.

The only time you use each side’s preferred lable is when you quote the gallup organization’s poll. So you do in fact include your bias in your articles.

I do not expect you to have the courage to address this. But I will be posting it on my blog. People in the media don’t understand why much of America doesn’t trust them. This is another example.