Wednesday, July 21, 2010
What About 7 Republicans
In his article “What 7 Republicans Could Do” Thomas L. Friedman from the New York Times makes the argument that that if only seven Republican senators could see past party politics, Congress could pass a serious energy bill that would not only make the world’s environment cleaner, but could also help bring the United States out of the serious depression it is currently in. Friedman’s argument is based on the facts that China in the near future will have almost complete control over clean tech industry, that a slight carbon tax could help bring down the nation deficit, and that the passage of this bill would help the United States become less dependent on foreign fossil fuels. Friedman, a previous Pulitzer Prize winner, bases his argument on basic logic and hard facts about the United States Economy. The passage of this bill would help the U.S. accelerate in the clean tech industry by providing higher standards to be met, which would in turn make us more apt to compete with China. By taxing carbon based fossil fuels it would not only help bring down the national deficit but also provide for more corporate tax cuts, something Republicans see in a favorable light. By becoming less dependent on foreign fossil fuels it would help to cease funding for nations that are not at this time U.S. friendly. Obviously, the passage of this bill would also make the environment cleaner, an issue that will become more and more important as world population continues to skyrocket. Friedman’s argument for the passage of this bill makes sense whether or not you are a Republican or a Democrat. If only those seven could see past party lines and see what is good for us all.
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On his blog, Governing opinions, one of my colleagues wrote an interesting article about an energy bill proposed to the Senate. In it he stated that all it would take would be 7 Republicans, only seven, to come forward, put aside party politics, and vote for it. Such a bill would mean cleaner air for our children, it could “bring down the national deficit”, and would most likely mean that we would not incur more debt to China, who, by the way, already owns 21.9% of our current foreign debt.
ReplyDeleteSo what is stopping these 7 Republicans? Party politics, that is all. It seems that our national system is becoming more polarized. Democrats vote Democratic and Republicans vote Republican. Just look at the recent nomination of Elena Kegan to the Supreme Court. As I have stated previously, she is a sure fit for the roll and yet Republicans are barring her entry because of party politics. If we want to get anything done, we must set aside these differences and belief and vote as one.
It also seems almost masochistic to not vote for an energy bill. Global Warming is happening, there is enough scientific data out there to prove that, and we have begun to feel it as well. Places are flooding that do not normally flood, the heat is higher than it has been in a long time, and there are even droughts across America. Something must be done to stop this at the source: carbon emissions. The proposed bill will set higher efficiency standards, force a percentage of energy to be renewable energy and create a cap on carbon emissions from power plants. All of these need to be done, and better now than later. If this bill does not pass soon, we may have to wait another Presidential election before it can pass and by then who knows how much worse the planet could be? Just breathing produces 2.3 pounds (1 kg) of carbon dioxide per day per person.
Even without taking all the health benefits and planetary benefits, it will also benefit us economically and politically. First of all, if we become one of the leaders in renewable technology, our deficit would decrease, the American dollar will appreciate and our debt to China (the predicted leader in such energy) will not increase. Second of all, it is well known that many places that we get our oil from, such as Saudi Arabia, wish to do America harm. If we were to pass this energy bill we will be that much closer to independence from such hostile countries. Finally, I think the recent oil spill has proven that we are too reliant on oil as it is and that we must find another power source that does not involve possible ecosystem destruction.
Benjamin Seroussi