When our nation's political leaders develop energy policy, one would think that top priorities would include defending individual liberty and national security. Sadly, this is not the case. These concerns have taken a backseat to the political agenda of socialistic environmental groups and the apparent sensitivities of caribou.
Democrats have, with the assistance of the left-wing media, sold the public on the hoax of manmade global warming. They have convinced the public that we are destroying our environment and that if we do not change our lifestyles our very lives may be at stake. This is nonsense. Man's contribution to global warming is negligible, and as such, certainly should not be the driving force behind our energy policy.
Behind the hoax is the motivation to get Americans to yield more individual freedom to government control. Consequently, our national security and our individual liberty are being threatened not only by Islamofascism but by the socialistic tendencies of the Democratic Party. Granted, the degree that the two pose a threat vary in degree - Islamofascists want to kill us - Democrats only want to controls us - they both are threats nonetheless.
Our economy thrives on fossil fuels, and this will be the case for the foreseeable future. Fossil fuels, nuclear and hydroelectric power make up 96 percent of our energy use.
If one wants to blame anyone for the high price of gas, one can put the blame solely on the Democratic Party. If not for President Clinton's veto 13 years ago, we would today have 20 billion more gallons of gasoline annually available to the U.S. economy by way of Alaska. Recently 48 out of 49 Democrats, including Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Kent Conrad, D-N.D., voted again to disallow drilling in Alaska. Shamefully, Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., was one of six Republicans to vote against Alaska drilling. Both senators from Alaska voted in favor of drilling.
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Though Democrats will not admit it, they have no interest in increasing oil production. If one reads some of Al Gore's views on the subject you will find him actually advocating for higher energy prices as a means of curbing consumption. If you cut to the chase, energy policy as advocated by the Democrats amounts to energy rationing.
"Cap and trade" schemes mean that not only will you pay extremely high prices for gas, but you will be given a certain amount of "carbon credits" to emit into the environment. In order to emit more "carbon credits" you will have to trade with someone who has more "carbon credits" than they need and hence pay again for energy use.
This is an absolutely absurd direction for our energy policy. One can already feel the effects it is having on our personal freedom in terms of how we spend our money and on our ability to travel. Just think what an impact it will have on our national security.
Iran will soon have nuclear weapons and the missile technology to deliver them. Does anyone doubt that the lunatic Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or one of the other Islamofascists in the Middle East will not sooner rather than later start an altercation with Israel? Does anyone seriously doubt that America will suffer from energy blackmail when we defend Israel? The Democrats' success in keeping this nation from increasing its domestic production of oil has seriously hindered our nation's ability to defend itself.
Politicians are politicians. They have learned the art of talking out of both sides of their mouth. They are slick enough to tell you they favor increasing domestic oil production but at the same time making sure it never happens. Do not fall for this attempt to dodge responsibility. Let them know that until we see results all incumbents are going to be held accountable. This goes as well for those gutless Republicans who back such nonsensical policy. Democracy and capitalism hang in the balance.
Schaible lives in Fargo
