That's it? That's all you got? Gas prices are averaging $2.28, nine of the 10 hottest years on record have occurred since 1995, and what does President Bush offer in his energy bill? He proposes building oil refineries on old military bases, eliminations of some of those messy regulations that keep us from throwing up nuclear plants, and suggestions of drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Karl Rove and Tom Delay must have written this "Gigli" of an energy bill on the back of a napkin during one of Delay's free flights to Korea.
The centerpiece of this plan is pathetic. Building oil refineries on old military bases will take years and does not come close to solving the real problem. America uses oil as if it comes from Idaho, costs nothing, and is good for the planet. Offering to build refineries - years from now - is a political gimmick designed to distract attention from high gas prices. Worse, it is yet another Bush proposal that will be paid for with more deficit spending. However, let us imagine for a second that this energy bill becomes law and that Dubya convinces communities across America to refashion themselves in the image of the less attractive parts of New Jersey. The result: even more consumption of foreign oil, only now we would be refining the Saudi crude.
As for the President's plan to scrap some of the regulations on nuclear plants, I ask you this: if the next nuclear plant were proposed for Medford, would you want more or less checks, inspections, regulations and due diligence? George Bush's answer: less.
One of the few good ideas in the plan is to extend the tax credit for hybrid car owners to those who purchase cars with new, clean(er) diesel technology. Unfortunately, the credit that already exists is scheduled to be phased out after 2006, making Bush's attempt at an eco-friendly energy proposal look pretty empty. After all, why would we want to encourage people to drive cars that use up to two-thirds less gas than conventional cars? I could pull a freshman out of Intro Economics to explain that if we increase the size of the tax credit (instead of ending it), more people will buy hybrids, oil consumption will drop, and so will prices. But apparently common sense, as well as the buck, stops at the door of the Oval Office.
As Americans, we solve our problems through ingenuity, meaning we must invent our way out of this energy crisis. To do so requires a real commitment from our leaders. Apparently though, the Bush administration is so anti-science that they would rather continue writing checks to Fundamentalist Dictators then make a real investment in energy research.
America deserves an energy policy that is built on more then shoddy ideas and hot 'n heavy hand-holding with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. I urge you to write your Senators and President Bush and tell them we want an Energy Bill that is forward thinking, rewards lower fuel consumption, funds important research, actually mentions alternative energy and doesn't coddle oil-rich autocrats.
Aaron Banks is a junior majoring in political science and art history. He is the President-Elect of the Tufts Democrats.
