tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335608988284739903.post5229397188625546622..comments2023-10-26T09:49:51.907-04:00Comments on North Carolina Sierra Club Blog: Happy New Year - now let's get to workTravis Hargetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14723466993435659287noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335608988284739903.post-69955578343689195392009-01-07T09:27:00.000-05:002009-01-07T09:27:00.000-05:00The following brief outlines the ONLY immediate SO...The following brief outlines the ONLY immediate SOLUTION to the energy crisis and global warming.<BR/><BR/> America Wastes over 70% of the Energy it Consumes. Our hedonist energy waste is pervasive and tragic !<BR/>(1) 100's of millions of lights burn unnecessary during the day and night.<BR/>(2) We over heat and over cool our homes, businesses, offices,<BR/> schools, churches, etc..........<BR/>(3) Most Americans do not minimize their driving. Road congestion is horrendous.<BR/>(4) America's obsession with road construction is the ultimate contradiction.<BR/><BR/>The ONLY way to eliminate over demand and energy waste is by using the economic impact of taxing energy. Crude oil needs to be taxed at $200 per barrel(55 gal) and 'offset' by making Federal Income Tax begin at $60k. Only with a substantial and tangible dollar reward/consequence, will Americans care to conserve. Until the price of gas is $7 to $8 per gallon, Americans will not reduce their over consumption and energy waste.<BR/>In the mean time, the USA continues its hedonist energy waste and gives away its economic and political wealth to the Islamic Middle East via OPEC. Know that the Islamic dominated OPEC cartel is glad to allow supply and demand market forces to drive energy prices to $8/gallon.<BR/><BR/>China, India, and other 'developing countries' have just begun to compete for the world's remaining fossil fuel. If global demand for<BR/>energy is not dramatically reduced, World war is inevitable (geopolitical unrest is directly related to global competition for<BR/>energy and natural resources).<BR/><BR/>Ford and General Motors are headed for bankruptcy, which will leave<BR/>100,000,000 Americans unemployed, ruin our economy, and lead to<BR/>anarchy. America can no longer continue to 'do business as usual'.<BR/>Ford and GM must quickly transition to the lucrative business of<BR/>building solar and wind 'energy producers' for the world's 6.7 BILLION people reason$. The world cannot continue to support all the<BR/>automakers. We are running out of petroleum !<BR/>Mass transit must become FREE, SAFE, CLEAN, and CONVENIENT,<BR/>thereby rewarding those who reduce their driving.<BR/><BR/>Global warming continues to increase with our persistent waste and overuse of fossil fuels.<BR/>The incentives necessary to create sustainable and renewable energy supplies can ONLY occur when we implement the economics of TAXING ENERGY.<BR/><BR/>Lowell Michalove,phd lmmicha@gmail.comCONSERVATION MATTERS !https://www.blogger.com/profile/12561718028655416117noreply@blogger.com