Tom Friedman:Too Much Pork and Too Little Sugar

[barb162]

Too Much Pork and Too Little Sugar
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: August 5, 2005

Wow, I am so relieved that Congress has finally agreed on an energy bill. Now that's out of the way, maybe Congress will focus on solving our energy problem.


Sorry to be so cynical, but an energy bill that doesn't enjoin our auto companies to sharply improve their mileage standards is just not serious. This bill is what the energy expert Gal Luft calls "the sum of all lobbies." While it contains some useful provisions, it also contains massive pork slabs dished out to the vested interests who need them least - like oil companies - and has no overarching strategy to deal with the new world.
snip


Many technologies that could make a difference are already here - from hybrid engines to ethanol. All that is needed is a gasoline tax of $2 a gallon to get consumers and Detroit to change their behavior and adopt them. As Representative Edward Markey noted, auto fuel economy peaked at 26.5 miles per gallon in 1986, and "we've been going backward every since" - even though we have the technology to change that right now. "This is not rocket science," he rightly noted. "It's auto mechanics."
snip

It seems as though only a big crisis will force our country to override all the cynical lobbies and change our energy usage. I thought 9/11 was that crisis. It sure was for me, but not, it seems, for this White House, Congress or many Americans. Do we really have to wait for something bigger in order to get smarter?

[madinmaryland]

1. Conservation and increasing our efficiency is going

to be the only way to end the impending energy crisis. Unfortunately, no one in washington has the desire to approach this issue in this manner.

And Friedman is acknowledging this?

[barb162]

3. did you read what he said about Brazil and how they are solving

the gas problem? Prety good point. I like his 2 buck tax too, simply because this country won't get rid of the gas guzzlers unless forced by some price hurting point where people really start dumping those vehicles.

[madinmaryland]

4. In addition to the tax,

the automakers need to be required to increase the efficiency of their fleets. It worked in the 70's and will work today. Double the current average, and in ten years we will be importing very little oil.

[stray cat]

2. The energy bill is only feeding the energy companies.

Friedman is definitely right.

[Old and In the Way]

5. Shouldn't Conservative's be pro-conservation?

What am I missing here? What it comes to government handouts and energy policy, they are flaming anti-conservatives. (I tried, but couldn't get myself to call them the "L" word).