It's about the solutions...

I just read a statement titled "Republicans unveil energy agenda".  It ends with this -

"American families and small businesses deserve better. And with the energy agenda we have outlined, House Republicans are prepared to provide the change America deserves."  The problem is, while the article is a grand statement of policy, and a repudiation in general of Democratic policies (Rah, Rah!), it isn't an outline of anything.  There isn't one solid proposal.  Even worse, it isn't even new material.  When I was a debater in 1979, and our topic was "Resolved, that the United States should establish a comprehensive energy plan to significantly reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources", I saw these exact same statements from government figures (except for the stat about refineries).  That was 29 years ago!  The key quoted text at the top reads "Republicans are committed to a comprehensive energy policy that will boost supplies of all forms of energy right here at home to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, protect us against blackmail by foreign dictators, create American jobs and grow our economy."  I don't even know how to respond.  Does anyone feel that this is a stunning relevation?  Holy cow!

The answer lies in explaining to our elected officials and candidates that we're not interested in big policy outlines, comprehensive plans, bi-partisan buy-in, or any other buzz words and multi-page documents that don't mean anything.  Pick a common sense solution, just one, that will accomplish something, and propose it in Congress.  If you keep it simple, people (rather than being first and above all a Democrat or Republican) will vote for it.  The way to secure the future of the GOP is to become the party supporting those simple, workable, solutions.  When Ronald Reagan heard that he was being called the "Great Communicator", he rejected the name.  he replied that he was simply a communicator of great of great ideas.  We've been fighting the same battle here for thirty years or longer.  It's time to get to work.  Want some examples?

The government tells me to drive a smaller car or, back in the day, turn my thermostat down.  We have 225 tactical naval vessels and only 80 are nuclear.  Why do we have 145 ships sucking down diesel?

Why aren't military bases and government installations energy self-sufficient?

If those bases had wind and solar power, "on-base vehicles" could all be electric.

There's more, but you get the idea.  Each item would help, and create a permanent reduction in costs.  It would also create a market for solar panels.  That just might make them affordable for you and I.  They would also be leading by example.

For more details, read this  -  http://northconservative.com/EnergyProposal.doc

Ask anyone who proposes an energy plan... "What, exactly, will you do?"

Steve Smith