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- #21
I would like to see several things done to our energy policies. The first is the understanding that energy is for everyone in the US not just those who can afford it. With that being said we need to look to our government to keep the energy playing field equal for all, while ensuring that everyone can afford it.
*Secondly, I think that we need to nationalize our energy sector.
*After that we start constructing solar fields, and wind farms in all available areas.
*In the mean time we will have to open up the national oil reserves to stabalize prices.
*We must open up drilling until the alternative energy sources start producing and then we can scale back the oil drilling.
*I believe we must remove energy from the stock markets completely. Our lives depend on energy and the access to it. We wouldn't consider buying and selling air, so nor should we consider buying and selling energy.
*Power plants should be moved off the oil standard or at least limited in the ammount they use per year. Thus making them have to use alternative forms of energy.
*Oil is used in the making of plastics and other items. I would propose a mandatory recycling policy on all oil based products.
*We also need to adjust our foreign policy to reflect our new energy policy. The price and supply of oil should be included in every treaty we sign. There should be a provision for oil exporting countries that they supply us with oil at a reduced rate or free depending on what they want, ie. military aid.
I already know I will be labled a socialist for these views, but looking at where we are right now, I believe this to be the only solution to our problem. We need to take a holistic approach to our energy policies. Half assing it and letting big businesses and politics set energy policy is not working. If it was to be nationalized then the discussion would be over with and we could move forward to something that works.
Not only would you be labeled a socialist, but you would be a socialist in thinking everybody is entitled to whatever energy they need and the federal government should control the means of production and provide them with it. So let's break that theory down into manageable bites.
Energy is no different from air as being a necessity of life? Really?
Our first settlers in America had no sources of energy other than their own backs, a few beasts of burden, and fire to provide light, warmth, and heat for cooking their food. Millions of people even now live their entire life without any other energy than fire to keep them warm and cook their food and whatever use they can make of their own labor and livestock.
So given that energy is not an unalienable right, but is a component of prosperity, liberty, and the pursuit of happeness, I can't agree that the government be given or allowed power to allot whatever energy it determines each person should have any more than the government should allocate the food, housing, transportation, or access to communications, etc. that each person or group should be allowed to have.
I further believe that the free market will provide more energy for everybody than the government ever would on its best day or in its best week, let alone year or decade.
So you had a good argument, but unfortunately, in my opinion, it is deeply flawed and won't fly.