This is why Patrick is so compelling in his argument. We need to take a revolutionary approach to the entrenched powers that would keep carbon based energy sources cheap enough to keep using. Our current ‘Commander in Chief’s’ policy reversal on offshore drilling is just this type of opiate that would slow the inexorable rise in carbon based energy while keeping the drain on our nations financial resources intact until we, like Britain 100 years ago, slip into the dark twilight of an empire exhausted.

I say reject it until the next congress. Get off the juice? Yes we can!

This is why Patrick is so compelling in his argument. We need to take a revolutionary approach to the entrenched powers that would keep carbon based energy sources cheap enough to keep using. Our current ‘Commander in Chief’s’ policy reversal on offshore drilling is just this type of opiate that would slow the inexorable rise in carbon based energy while keeping the drain on our nations financial resources intact until we, like Britain 100 years ago, slip into the dark twilight of an empire exhausted.

I say reject it until the next congress. Get off the juice? Yes we can!

I think this thermal solar / parabolic solution is key. While it won’t necessarily have the best impact on transportation, it can indirectly. If we move to electric or fuel cell solutions for transportation, there will still need to be a source of energy to charge or fill these technologies. That is where solar (and wind) comes in to play.

Personally, I’ve been coming to envisage this parabolic solar energy as an effective means to power magnetic bullet trains. I haven’t thought it out thoroughly, but it would be expected that they only ran from something like 11am to 6pm (under solar power). It would take roughly 16 hours under current systems to travel by bullet train from coast to coast (U.S.A). This could mean a trip across the country may take 2 days. This is perfectly reasonable to me. Sorry I don’t have more details on this possibility. It’s merely a daydream at the moment.

Hmmmm. I think some legislation limiting governmental travel would be in order. They waste way too much of our tax dollars on fuel (esp. jet). Come on! We ARE in the 21st century. We have the technology to allow international communication without requiring face-to-face diplomacy.

This may be a long fight, but I’m there with you! We have to fight for our right…. to FREEDOM!!!

I think this thermal solar / parabolic solution is key. While it won’t necessarily have the best impact on transportation, it can indirectly. If we move to electric or fuel cell solutions for transportation, there will still need to be a source of energy to charge or fill these technologies. That is where solar (and wind) comes in to play.

Personally, I’ve been coming to envisage this parabolic solar energy as an effective means to power magnetic bullet trains. I haven’t thought it out thoroughly, but it would be expected that they only ran from something like 11am to 6pm (under solar power). It would take roughly 16 hours under current systems to travel by bullet train from coast to coast (U.S.A). This could mean a trip across the country may take 2 days. This is perfectly reasonable to me. Sorry I don’t have more details on this possibility. It’s merely a daydream at the moment.

Hmmmm. I think some legislation limiting governmental travel would be in order. They waste way too much of our tax dollars on fuel (esp. jet). Come on! We ARE in the 21st century. We have the technology to allow international communication without requiring face-to-face diplomacy.

This may be a long fight, but I’m there with you! We have to fight for our right…. to FREEDOM!!!

Sure it’s a cop-out on the insane oil/coal subsidies but it’s progress. Sometimes taking a few small steps adds up.

Here’s how I see it: even if we keep wasting money on Big Oil/Big Coal subsidies, at least we will make progress on the expansion of our clean energy sources. I personally would love to see a separate bill which removes the Big Oil/Coal subsidies and advertisements by groups supporting the bill explaining to the fiscal conservatives where their money is going. If the retraction is glomped on to a green energy bill, we lose the argument about saving money. If the green energy bill passes and the de-subsidization bill fails, the green energy will eventually overtake oil/coal; I know it’s not fast enough but at least it’ll move forward.

Cop-out, yes. Potential partial progress? Also yes. I say go for it.

Believe me, I am more than simply frustrated about oil/coal/oil-war spending, especially when supposed fiscal conservatives dear to me simply deny the existence of the subsidies. We MUST make green energy progress regardless of whether we continue to waste money on oil/coal. Let’s let the lawmakers address them as two separate issues so we can clearly argue for one on it’s merit and against the other on the waste/insanity/corporate-socialism without cross-chatter.

Bill