re: #304 mr.fusion

See, this is what drives me absolutely nuts about the fact that we’re even having an argument about this. And it has nothing to do with the fact that the science is 100% settled. It’s that there’s no reason not to do this. I think if deniers were asked the overwhelming majority of them would agree that it would be extremely beneficial from a national security standpoint to become more energy independent. Of course that usually turns into a fight about turning our land and seas into one giant oil rig…

I think our best chance for coming together on this was September 12, 2001. Had President Bush come out and made the factual case that our dependency on foreign oil contributes mightily to our enemies coffers and asked us all to sacrifice and put together a Manhattan Project like effort for new technologies think of where we would be today.

Instead he asked us to buy duct tape and invaded Iraq.

Meanwhile the cost of gas has risen 60 cents a gallon in the last six months or so. Imagine the outrage had President Obama come out six months ago and proposed a 60 cent increase to the gas tax to go toward R & D. Calls of socialism and job killing would no doubt ensue…but put that money into the pockets of foreign companies and nary a peep.

:sigh:

Reagan, Thatcher especially, and Bush Sr. came out about the importance of this in terms of AGW. The fossil fuel oligarchy is too powerful. As to getting off of foreign oil, Nixon was the first to really scream about it.

Again, the fossil fuel oligarchy was too powerful.