[JasonC]

Sorry, that is just crazy. It presumes the leftists and greens opposing rational policies across the board on this subject are politically unstoppable, when in fact the left is in full retreat. Environmentalist pieties have to be demolished as the political lies they are - something the right has not yet been willing to do, because it sees no reason to hand the left such issues as a weapon, thinks they are bad PR, etc. The left does not have the votes to stop major legislative changes on this subject. Their ideology has gone around the bend far enough that they will not even work with the conservatives whose votes they would need, to do so.

It is purely a matter of political spine among guys on our side, and their calculation of the present state of public opinion and rhetoric. The green position is flimsy, scientifically and as a matter of political alliances. They carry the day in politics because the right is afraid of them, the right is afraid of them largely because of press, the press kowtows without even a pretence of debate because the right does not challenge green BS as the BS it so obviously is.

You come up with a program of environmental regulation that actually makes economic sense and addresses real science but not scaremongering. That acts as your political cover and defense. Then you systematically destroy the greens' regulatory arsenal. You allow new dams to be built. You allow new oil wells to be drilled. You allow new power plants, nuclear included. You regulate real issues like sulphur content of coal but allow new uses of coal when sensible cleaning measures are included. You expedite gas infrastructure held up over pipelines rights and the like. Depreciation and depletion schedules and similar regulatory and tax changes can encourage long term investments in these areas.

The greens had to get the state to systematically block every form of energy investment and development. The state is holding the entire sector back, on purpose. You can make an enourmous difference just by abating this constant interference and pressure in all the wrong directions. If the state wants to see energy development it should stop forbidding energy development and demonizing the entire industry, and instead encourage that industry. Duh.

[SlowBoat407]

Jason, I agree wholeheartedly with everything you've proposed. The problem is, I do question the political will of the people who have the power to make these things happen. I've seen no reason not to, sadly. I think our president has put out a good plan, and I'm solidly behind it. I worry about Congress, though, and their ability to see through the clutter and do what is absolutely right for this country, which is, let the producers produce.