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Dems' Energy Answer: Snake Oil
Investor's Business Daily ^ | Nov. 24, 2006 | IBD

Posted on 11/24/2006 8:57:28 PM PST by FairOpinion

Energy Policy: Soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to put energy independence at the top of next year's agenda, but his party is pushing the same solutions that have failed for decades to make a dent in oil imports.

Energy independence can hardly be described as a new idea. In 1973 President Nixon created Project Independence, predicting that by 1980 the U.S. would "not be dependent on any other country for the energy we need." In the late 1970s President Carter launched the National Energy Plan, calling independence "the moral equivalent of war."

Today, Washington spends more than $3 billion a year on renewable and alternative energy programs, clean coal technology, energy research and the like, according to the Government Accountability Office. Yet all these Big Government efforts have failed to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

In fact, the opposite has occurred. In 1970, imports accounted for about 20% of the country's oil supply; today, they account for 60%.

So what do Harry Reid and his fellow Democrats offer to turn the country's dependency around? More of the same.

(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: congress; democrats; economy; energy; energyindependence; government; oil
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The first thing we need to do is drill in and around the US, such as ANWR and off shore, to cut our dependence on foreign oil.

In parallel, we should build lots and lots of nuclear reactors to generate energy. France fills 80% of their energy need with nuclear energy, so why can't we? Are the French smarter than we are?

1 posted on 11/24/2006 8:57:29 PM PST by FairOpinion
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To: FairOpinion

I'd like to see more development in the area of oil shale.


2 posted on 11/24/2006 9:01:09 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: FairOpinion
Local paper had an editorial that made me want to jump. Called for a permanent ban on ALL offshore drilling, because they said even though the risk of a spill is small, why take the chance for a "temporary" benefit? Said the REAL solution is conservation and renewable energy resources.

It's frightening. We are an enormous superpower with 300 million people, importing most of our energy from volatile regions, and they are pretending we don't need more oil and hey, we'll just "conserve". I am so tired of watching half this nation try to commit suicide in plain sight.

3 posted on 11/24/2006 9:03:32 PM PST by Williams
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To: kinoxi

"oil shale."


I agree. At the current oil prices, exploring that would definitely make sense.

The Dems want to push us to "conserve" ourselves into an economic depression.


4 posted on 11/24/2006 9:04:15 PM PST by FairOpinion
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To: kinoxi

Meanwhile, nuclear power is staring at us right in the face like a hot chick at a bar.


5 posted on 11/24/2006 9:07:27 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Why can't Republicans stand up to Democrats like they do to terrorists?)
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To: FairOpinion
I've read a few recent articles that placed the extraction costs of oil from shale at below market levels. It was in Canada though.
The freeworld has an 'energy noose' around it's neck right now. This is an inherently unstable situation IMO.
6 posted on 11/24/2006 9:10:09 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: FairOpinion

Yes, I agree 100%!

But the Democrat answer will be to tax the consumer into less consumption. You watch, the far left in this party will propose this. They too apply supply side economics, only in reverse.


7 posted on 11/24/2006 9:11:13 PM PST by Red6 (Weird thoughts -)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Nuclear is an obvious solution. Leftist (anti-American), sheeple (still think they're dying from three mile island), and general 'sky is falling' fear mongers seem to be able to drum up enough imagery and opposition to keep this underdeveloped in this country.
8 posted on 11/24/2006 9:14:01 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: FairOpinion
In the late 1970s President Carter launched the National Energy Plan, calling independence "the moral equivalent of war."

Otherwise known as MEOW.

9 posted on 11/24/2006 9:14:20 PM PST by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: FairOpinion
also let not forget all the moonbat theories the fish carburetor, that allows cars to get 100mpg, killed off by big oil. Also the car that runs on water, also killed off by big oil. Also cold fusion, again killed off by big oil. If anyone can think of anymore, I would be interested.
10 posted on 11/24/2006 9:16:45 PM PST by nyconse
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To: FairOpinion

If I wanted an answer for anything, I sure wouldn't go to a Democrat. They are totally responsible for our dependence on foreign oil!


11 posted on 11/24/2006 9:19:44 PM PST by TheLion
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To: Williams

I am so tired of watching half this nation try to commit suicide in plain sight.

I wouldn't mind if they would keep the rest of us out of it. Maybe a two state solution wouldn't be so bad.


12 posted on 11/24/2006 9:21:24 PM PST by freedomfiter2
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To: freedomfiter2

I'm retiring to Guam!


13 posted on 11/24/2006 9:22:05 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Why can't Republicans stand up to Democrats like they do to terrorists?)
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To: FairOpinion

Ditto that. Seems pretty simple to me. We drilled the snot out of Beaumont, TX and Long Beach, CA 100 years ago. Today the enviros and libs are against anything related to energy other than ethanol, Which has proven to be impractical. The Swimmer is even against wind power. And I'm sure Gore would be against solar power because it would draw more of the sun's rays towards Earth.


14 posted on 11/24/2006 9:22:08 PM PST by Cobra64 (Why is the War on Terror being managed by the DEFENSE Department?)
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To: FairOpinion

Don't faint, but for the first time... I completely agree with you on this!!! (don't get too used to it, however)


15 posted on 11/24/2006 9:23:02 PM PST by SierraWasp (GovernMental EnvironMentalism... America's establishment of it's unconstitutional State Religion!!!)
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To: FairOpinion

Snake oil? Bogus Bill is a snake oil archetype right out of the midwest 150 years ago, with tamborine-pounding wife hillary, usually just one step ahead of the local sheriff. The real answer here guys is SELF RELIANCE, letting OTHERS solve your energy problems always leads to disaster, the best helping hand you've got is right there at the end of your own arm...


16 posted on 11/24/2006 9:30:13 PM PST by timer
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To: kinoxi

How come the MSM does not perform its fundamental job and inform the public about certain recurring policy issues, with a perspective? (Of course I know why.)

The NY and L.A. Times and their sisters-in-arms frequently produce a beautiful color spread of a complicated item, like a submarine, but they won't ever print supply a simple list of the percentage that the top 1%, 10% and 50% of tax payers pay.

How come we never hear that this "racist country" now has had more Africans immigrate here AFTER slavery than were brought here originally. Why is that?

That's why the first thing out of people when you mention nuclear power is, "What about the dangers...what about the deaths at Three Mile Island?"

Of course there have been only about 50 deaths due to nuclear power, most from older Russian plants and none at Three Mile Island.

Plus, the amount of deaths by wind mills will soon EXCEED those caused by nuclear! (Bet we won't hear about that stat.) Not to mention the thousands of deaths attributed to hydro and coal and oil, etc.


17 posted on 11/24/2006 9:33:33 PM PST by Sneakyuser (Sneakyuses.com)
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To: Sneakyuser
“The secret is to keep busy,” Mrs. Gross said of becoming a centenarian. “If you slow down, you’re finished. I still volunteer, I do a lot of reading, and I don’t like to gossip.”

Coal seems to be the most lethal form of power generation. How many deaths for coal? I'd estimate tens of thousands of lives lost at least. Just on the mining end.
18 posted on 11/24/2006 9:39:34 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: kinoxi

Wrong quote. :) The 101 yr old in the parade.


19 posted on 11/24/2006 9:40:19 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: SierraWasp

If you would actually read my posts, you'd find to your total amazement that you agree with me on a lot of things -- even CA related ones.


20 posted on 11/24/2006 9:40:37 PM PST by FairOpinion
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