You voted. We listened. And we heard a lot. It was clear that the first issue (of the ones listed in the poll) you want to tackle is “dependence on foreign oil,” but you’re passionate about many other issues as well.
First, we want to address a sentiment we heard LOUD and CLEAR: you want to talk about immigration. And we will. And we'll talk about a lot of other issues here, too. But let’s all agree not to jump to conclusions and to disagree, agreeably.
There will be no special agendas here – every voice is welcome – every opinion to be respected. The last thing we wish to do is stifle debate and discussion about real issues. We'll leave that to the two parties. The issues included in the first poll were based on the findings of a research survey we commissioned weeks ago. We're not out to exclude one issue over another. We'll get to them all.
The Unity08 movement is not like the two parties - that's one of our key strengths. We will not point fingers and accuse each other of some slight or hidden agenda. We're here to focus the country, our leaders, and the parties on the issues that need serious, sober discussion and passionate discourse. Some critics claim we're here to force everyone to "just get along" for the sake of just getting along. Not a chance. We will debate (and frequently disagree on) the solutions to the critical issues with all of the passion our blog contributors can muster - but it will be about the critical issues and not the emotional wedge issues, which the parties manipulate to their own benefit.
We need you to help everyone who participates in these blogs to understand what Unity08 is all about by continuing to encourage and cajole those who would rather just rant and rave to get on board with what we're doing. Enough said?
On with the blogging!
So you want to talk about America's dependence on foreign oil. As a primer, here are a couple of recent commentaries about the subject: One from Thomas Friedman of The New York Times, and the other from Mike Rosen, a commentator from Denver and columnist for The Rocky Mountain News.
Friedman, among other arguments, says (taken from "A Million Manhattan Projects" column found here - subscription only, we're sorry to say):
When you're talking oil, you can't just say, "Let the free market work," because there is no free market in oil: the producers have a cartel, and governments -- like ours -- subsidize oil, so we don't pay the full cost.
If the government would just do a couple of things, the energy start-ups we're seeing today would turn into real products, Mr. Sridhar said. One, the government should institute a carbon tax or gasoline tax that would ensure that the price of gasoline never fell below $3.50 to $4 a gallon, which would make a host of new technologies competitive. Second, the government should set high goals for mileage and CO2 emissions for its own vehicle fleet, as well as high goals for eco-friendly, low-energy electricity generation for every government building -- and then promise to be the first customer for whatever company reaches those high goals.
"The federal government is the single largest consumer of energy in the country," Mr. Sridhar said. "It's time for the government to lead by example and flex a little consumer muscle. It's time for government to use its buying power when buying power."
President Bush remarked the other day how agonizingly tough it is for a president to send young Americans to war. Yet, he's ready to do that, but he's not ready to look Detroit or Congress in the eye and demand that we put in place the fuel-efficiency legislation that will weaken the forces of theocracy and autocracy that are killing our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan — because it might cost Republicans votes or campaign contributions.
This whole thing is a travesty. We can't keep asking young Americans to make the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan if we as a society are not ready to make even the most minimal sacrifice to help them.
On the other hand, Mike Rosen says, (taken from a recent column, "Our silly little 'addiction'" found here):
...the point is that all oil production becomes part of the world supply, and the price of oil is a function of aggregate demand for that finite supply. Changes in the amount supplied or the amount demanded cause the price to go up or down. It doesn't matter where the oil comes from or what it costs to extract it from the ground. So, lower cost producers, like Saudi Arabia, make more profit per unit of oil than higher cost producers like the United States. OPEC doesn't set the price of oil; the world market does that, although OPEC can influence the price by controlling its production.
It's silly to talk about our "addiction" to oil. We're no more addicted to it than we are to food or water. It's a commodity. We use it as an energy source and petrochemical raw material because it's abundant and a better value than other alternatives. We could have horses pull our cars but it wouldn't be as efficient - and you'd have to feed and house them, anyway.
It would be nice to find economical alternatives to petroleum and we no doubt will some day. Perhaps we'll solve the puzzle of nuclear fusion and figure out how to harvest water for its hydrogen power. General Motors and other automakers are working feverishly on developing fuel-cell technology. Conventional nuclear energy is a viable alternative for more power generation right now but environmental extremists have succeeded in sufficiently demonizing it to scare much of the public and politicians away - at least for the time being.
Once upon a time, whale oil was a major energy source and people worried, then, about demand outpacing supply. Petroleum solved that problem - temporarily. In President Bush's State of the Union address he talked about accelerating the pace of technological research into energy alternatives. That's a necessary and obvious remedy.
The history of human progress is the history of solving today's problems with tomorrow's technology. And we will do just that once again. But don't kid yourself about kicking our oil "addiction" or ending our dependency on foreign petroleum any time soon. For inescapable economic reasons, we're stuck with that for the foreseeable future and with all the international political complications that go along with it.
So what say you? Have at it.
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The most important years of our childrens lives are being waste on a schoolbus and sitting at a desk, not getting the specialized attention they need during these critical years. A computer can customize a education package, customizing it for the child individual skills and likes in learning. As the child grows the computer gets better and better, teaching education in half the time it takes today with outdated bureaucracy based education systems.... yes burn down the schoolhouse and park the bus...
Making a profit off the sick and elderly is one of the 3 major violations of basic human social rights in this country. Certain critical social functions cannot be capitalized upon, they are higher education, healthcare, and legal services... because the cost will out run the society because the society has no choice but to pay the price to survive... these cannot be capitalized upon, and if so, with great regulation and limitations.... unlike today where the systems are not only monopolized upon but legislation is controlled by their special interest groups to prevent these reforms that need to be addressed as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court... in direct violation of basic social human rights in this nation... the government better start taking care of the people in the streets before they rebel against the two party system and register as Independents and take all the hot air out of both parties! www.appyp.com/fix_main.html
I thought the discussion was on the electoral college because that was the selected poll question. Am I confused? If so, will someone please explain how the electoral college system works. I basically know, but I think it will help all of us to debate it better if we have a solid explanation of it.
Also, what is this issue about losing Net Neutrality? It sounds pretty onerous, and I also do not have a clear understanding about this issue that the Congress is supposedly voting on this week.
Thanks.
Remember folks! We gotta move forward not backward... the founding fathers had no idea of T.V., radio or the internet - they had no idea and did not protect us or advise us how to move forward ... we gotta make some major decisions ourselves that require big changes for each and everyone of us. A little common sense and we can get through this with flying colors! We must accept high tech reforms for education, national security, legislative and legal process so that we can walk the streets and be free... for more visit www.appyp.com/fix_main.html that's all for today.....
I'd like to see every alternative fuel that can be afforded and mass produced be put into play even if each has a particular place in the states where it is more realistic. It takes very little change in combustion engines to run many of these fuels. After market parts could be readily available for any. I lean toward hydrogen myself for it's being clean (it doesn't have to be coal produced), cheap, and the most abundant. The emission is more fuel.
But, no matter if one of us here were able to sway most of the blog to our way of thinking, how is it decided that it will be the cause of whichever candidate we get?
Will moderators decide the consensis of the bloggers or maybe a poll?
Without it we would elect the kind of executive branch we find in Iran and the West Bank considering how upset the American people are right now. The biggest fear for the establishment is an overthrow by popular vote. That's the purpose of the Electorial College, to prevent those candidates the establishment does not want in the highest office in the land from gaining that office without the support of the republic (money interests).
Jeanette H, I think the debate on electorial college is done on the same page that you see the results of the poll.
http://unity08.com/poll
I was lost too as to where to post on other subjects (this one is on energy). Each debate page has a description of the topic above the posts. I think the page for debating anything not covered is on
http://unity08.com/node/29
Howard Dean was a perfect example of what happens when the (money) party does not want a candidate because the support (money) does not like the peoples choice.... hey, I'm starting to relax lookout! www.appyp.com/fix_main.html
Modern voting machines might help! Not these machines we use today that cannot be verified, open it up big time for tabulation fraud, voting machines whos manufacturer is owned by the CIA (at least that's what I was told!).... whoops!
for posting electoriate comments in the energy forum.....
So why do we ship oil around the world when we have huge untapped oil reserves in Nevada and Utah Southwest? Cuz the Saudi's and moderates in the Middle East want to keep their heads! So start building up the mass transit systems and get that oil out of the Nevada desert and let those heads roll! Just kidding - IF YOU LOWER YOUR PRICES! www.appyp.com/fix_main.html
Most of us probably remember the recent "I have a plan" presidential debates.
"What plan?" is what we asked .. "A plan" is what was answered.
Lets try to avoid that here at Unity okay.
Lets propose specifics, actual nuts and bolts ideas that add up.
Idealy we should be able to propose funding, outcomes ect.
No pie in the sky objectives without stating where the money will come from to pay for them.
Lets be the issues people, but lets have answers and not just raise more questions.
This is the point of dialogue.
Raise an issue, but dont just run away after having blown the smoke. Make your case, critizise others, repeat, rinse twice.
Constructive critisism leads to genuine results.
Hopefully, everyone will accept that we have to become energy independent. But, unless we establish tangible goals then it's all talk. A website dedicated to measuring USA foreign oil comsumption might motivate individuals to take a more active role. For example, the website could show the dependence on foreign oil by Zip Code. We could show per capita measurements such as gasoline consumption, electrical usage (residential vs commercial). You could also list energy generation using non-fossil fuels such as solar, wind, hydro. This could become a national challenge to see which communities are having the most impact.
One of our fellow unity supporters was gracious enough to spend the time and effort to set up a much more functional forum
http://unitysupporters.com/forum/
message crosslinks, categories the works. Its new so try it out. Stop by and thank Jennifer for all the effort and lets get this ball rolling :)
The real power is in the congress where the issues are debated, the money is spent and the laws are codified.
While the office of the presidency is important and powerful it can not function without the blessing of congress. You know, those representatives we send to express our will.
I find that these representatives are now just following the lead of the party bosses rather than the people who thought they would do the right thing.
So I suggest a concentrated effort to make “Unity08” not jest a presidential movement but also a local revolt.
Leave the electoral college alone. I works!
Leave the parochial issues; of marriage, abortions, religious views, flag or symbol burning, and all those little idiosyncrasies individuals think are theirs to champion out of the national agenda.
Ask congress to pass simple laws that address one issue at a time rather that put bogus amendments into them that mean absolutely nothing to the question at hand.
And above all don’t let those in congress surrender their constitutional responsibilities to the President as they did regarding the Iraq war ever again.
Hate the homosexuals. Hate the immigrants. Hate the liberals. Hate the neo-cons. Hate the Muslims. Hate the Iranians. Hate the Sunni's. Hate the Shiites. Hate the Taliban. Hate the poor. Hate the rich. The anti-christ sure has the world united into hate.
Submitted by Anonymous on June 6, 2024 - 10:18am.
Hate the homosexuals. Hate the immigrants. Hate the liberals. Hate the neo-cons. Hate the Muslims. Hate the Iranians. Hate the Sunni's. Hate the Shiites. Hate the Taliban. Hate the poor. Hate the rich. The anti-christ sure has the world united into hate.
I SEE NO REASON NOT THE HATE ALL THE ABOVE. None work in the interest of reasonable people trying and working hard to make the world a better place. The're all cult groups demeaning human kind and promoting their own insane agendas. We should not be tolerant of any of these and we should probably add a few more groups to dislike.
It is human nature to hate, rape and pillage. Only a few hundred years ago we were clubbing each others heads in with rocks... those that did not pick up a rock and help were clubbed as well. The genetics created a race of violent humans... without strict law and order you get human nature... that's just the way it is... thank mother nature... I don't like it anymore than you do.... http://www.appyp.com/fix_main.html
And thats my point Earn. All these groups perhaps with the exception of the homo sexed maybe ARE the rapists, terrorists, pillagers who are clubbing, throwing rocks and bombs, and putting wrenches in the gears of progress. And I disagree with you.. i think most of us go beyond our reptilian genes .. and are decent human beings.. or try to be. Its these groups ( and i could add a few more )that are seeking power and unearned wealth that are screwing up the works.
I agree. We need passion if we are to afix reform. We need to hate corruption, ignorance, violence, religious cults, ideology and scare mongers, those the use wealth to accumulate power, and those that use power to accumalte wealth and all the corrupting influences of our democratic system of government.
I believe you that the omission of the immigration issue from your list was an oversight that you will correct.
But you betray a bias when you indicate that we will be talking here about critical and not emotional issues. One man's emotional may be so BECAUSE it is critical to him.
I understand that, as your title suggests one of the goals of Unity '08 is to bring the country together.
But don't be deceived that our differences are based on misperceptions about each other. One obvious problem you have is that WE are NOT a WE yet. And you're not going to get people there by telling them to KNOCK IT OFF.
Respect should be a focus of this site. Just make sure it goes both ways.
One way you can do this is by not always sending out articles from the usual suspects.
Let us discuss also the articles of those YOU disagree with. If only to get straight WHY, YOU/WE disagree with them.
The GOP thinks these issues are the most important right now:
- Keeping gays from getting married.
- Keeping people from burning flags.
This shows that the GOP agenda is BANKRUPT. They cannot address the issues because they LOSE on all the issues. So they bash gays and propose an amendment to stop flag burning.
I still see no evidence that UNITY is distancing themselves from this GOP insanity. In fact, I have heard that UNITY is run by 2 Republicans in Colorado.
Sorry, I can't trust you guys unless you are willing to distance yourself from the failed policies of the Bush administration and their "Brand W" Republicans on the Hill.
Nomad makes a good point. We all have ideas about what we need as far as energy solutions, but there is no way to say what our group as a whole has decided as a plan. It's becoming too much like watching the senate debate a great issue and time constraints limiting the result to "We agree to decide to discuss"
If someone has a detailed plan they are confident in, post it in outline form. Break it down in allowing voting to each part that may be disputed. The fuels you would consider, the amount of government control over the nuts and bolts, if taxes are involved, if drilling for more oil in new locations, etc.
I'm not an engineer, but we can all understand a plan and vote on it if one is presented. Let's get something started toward a Unity 08 agenda or there isn't a criteria for our candidate to meet.
Why the Congressional harping of the FBI's searching and finding thousands of dollars of payoff money in a congressman's refrigerator?
For years and years Kissinger has been charging corporations for his access to national secrets and neither political party ever raised a finger.
The reporters are dependent on government access and the three branches of government are dependent on gifts, flights, golf courses etc.
If this effort is going to be successful, then it must be reality based, sane, confortational, immune to tolerance and believers in our own experience and our lying eyes. Anything to the contrary will be self-defeating.
Proposals regarding phrases like "political correctness", affirmative action, profiling, and references to rights that have never been codified should not be accepted. Entitlement to a job, free health, free anything, should be taboo.
We must be fair, just, and compassionate, but with a degree of reasonable expectations and equal in application to all. We cant be everything to everybody and cant "ear mark" anything to a special group, whether ethnic, racial, class, or creed. I hear to often "we are all americans, but some of us are more american then others".
I'll oppose any drilling in protected lands. And I'll strongly support and get voters for any plan that simultaneously uses more than one alternative fuel. It can be done without a huge burden on car manufacturing with after market part dealers. Hydrogen has been constantly shot down by oil senators by saying it isn't as clean as previously thought because the electric for separating oxygen and hydrogen has to be produced by coal. The electric can be produced by hydroelectric, wind, solar, or any combo. It's completely possible for people to buy and set up their own personal stations meeting all their needs for under 5 grand using solar panels, tanks, valves, platinum terminals, hoses, and filters. After the intitial purchase, ya just need water and the occasional sunlight. There are wacked out plans on the net, but there are proven plans as well. we just need the parts to alter the computer and injection to our cars or encourage the car manufacturers to build the cars.
I know this isn't a plan. I just want hydrogen to be a major player in whatever comes to the table. Unlimited, clean, cheap, and please .. no mention of the Hindenburgh to shoot it down like was done on the Senate floor without anyone calling it the point rediculous. Fill a large balloon with gasoline and you get the same result.
Nomad suggested a format I don't like.
Try the wiki format you reach by clicking on my name.
Or click here: http://unity08ws.wikispaces.com
On my unprotected pages you can discuss without charge and with less fuss than anywhere else.
john.gelles@gmail.com
http://www.tiea.us
Debate however or whatever y'all like, but bring decisions and plans to this site for votes and ammendments. We can't have hundreds of blogs making decisions that aren't locked to a base that has been TV advertizing growing it's base. The result would be 15 different parties with just enough votes to warrant a VH1 interview. The makers of this site have announced they are updating the format to do exactly what we've all suggested.
In my view, we need to get away from special interests telling our lawmakers how to vote and govern. Lobbyists are running more of our government both at the state level and the congress of our United States. We need to reform the political system and perhaps public campaign financing is a start. Politicians spend too much time on fundraising to solidify their place at the trough. They come to Washington (or their state houses) with perhaps good intentions to change things but in order to get anything done or have any influence they have to promise their votes to the imcumbant powers. The idea of "serving" the constituents who elected them is not uppermost in their minds. Hopefully Unity 08 can change some of this
http://connectedness.blogspot.com/
I like what you have to say. I support your thinking. I hope we all can make a difference.
Just for the record I love gasoline. My current pick-up has a 400hp 396 big block in it and gets 8mpg.
I tried as an individual many years ago to get the California DMV and South Coast Air Quality Management Board to give me a waiver for several vehicles that I owned. All were high, horse power V8’s and all of them were low (Gasoline) to zero (LP) emission vehicles. The answer from these two government agencies was always the same. You have to have the original manufacturer’s equipment on the vehicle when it is tested or the vehicle will fail.
Unfortunately unless congress changes the current laws to reflect what is tested and not sold, it will be another 10 years before you will see your Hydrogen cars. Maybe the new ethanol blends will take off. Maybe then with 100% ethanol I can legally drive a truck with a near zero emissions, 1500hp, duel turbo charged, fuel injected big block.
The revolving door from industry to government and then back to industry is creating the 'perfect corporate state'. Corporate executives should not be allowed to 'regulate' industries in which they have a vested interest. Campaign contributions should be limited to earned income and/or public financing. The ability to use wealth derived from capitial gains assures that those with the capital will continue to control America.
I think the government should cap interest rates charged by banks who loan people money, including credit cards, payday loan companies, etc. as discussed in The Two-Income Trap: Why Middle-Class Mothers and Fathers Are Going Broke -- by Elizabeth Warren, Amelia Warren Tyagi.
We ought not to burn up our oil. We ought to switch to all the forms of green renewable fuel, especially sunlight, wind, wave, tide and nuclear power, including hydrogen fuel storage systems— that may not be an original energy source— but serve to deliver energy created by other fuels.
But to change to so radical a replacement for oil (and gas) as rapidly as possible would cost at least as much as all the money we can conceivably afford.
So the issues are— should the nation risk the attempt to change? — should the movement (or any political party) risk making so radical a proposal?
I, of course, say yes. I remember the shortages of rubber, aluminum, ships, planes, tanks, aviation fuel, and trained fighting men we faced in 1942. We solved the shortage with all the brain power we had, all the resources, and far more money than anyone knew existed.
The money helped motivate the brain and muscle power necessary to accomplish the tasks. It came not from genius of the order needed by the Manhattan project: it came from bankers and accountants unafraid to think clearly about wages, prices, cash, credit, law and accounting. It came because it had to—if we were not become slaves of an insane foreign tyranny.
Things are somewhat different now. The middle class that benefitted from organized labor before Taft Hartley, today has no clear champion. The war against actual slavery under German and Japanese masters is today a war against wage slavery that has over decades taken root at home.
We are centrists to the degree that we know neither socialism nor crony capitalism are the answer to our prayers.
But we must be willing to empower leaders of the great middle class who will fix wages that equate with liberty and prices that cover costs plus a reasonable return.
The governance of the economy must protect us against monopoly and also against cut throat competition.
Our great universities must clone many smaller versions of themselves, put all their knowledge on line and in digital media and, in return, be given contracts to protect them from economic ruin because they have educated a whole nation to dig itself out of the ditch.
Unity08 has rivals, like Moveon.org and the organized political parties. They must reach out to each other to join forces in creating brain trusts that rival the talent we had when we lived our finest hours from 1942 to 1945.
It was in that time, before so much of the profits from war returned the old guard to power to wreck the social contract we now must resurrect.
On Jamuary 11, 1944, common sense reached its height with President Roosevelt's Second Bill of Rights.
It spelled out a future we must claim today or be doomed to fight among ourselves until catastrophe comes our way.
You may Google your way to the bill or see it at http://www.fdrheritage.org/bill_of_rights.htm or http://www.tiea.us/2nd-bill
Long term I see hydrogen & new atomic tech. that does not produce the high radioactive waste. Short term each region of the country has resources to tap. Example, off stream storage for water to farmers in mid west which would enhance the aquifier in southern states and allow crp land to be productive again. Dual purpose crops.
I believe the thechnology is already there to make us independent of foreign oil, but it is being suppressed. Who is doing it? "FOLLOW THE MONEY".
Dependency on foreign oil is not the biggest issue. First isssue is having politicians that don't pander to special interest. Politicians that speak clearly about their positions. Politicians that deal with reality and not theory. Politicians that are disciplined and promote discipline.
I have a feeling ethenol will be growing soon. Nascar is the biggest sport in the country and is going corn. Not only will it remind people it's out there, but that you can still drive fast on corn. I've never been a fan, but we might all owe the sport alot in years to come.
We need an actual plan open for tweeking and proposal for vote. I am not qualified to do more than discuss and vote on the points I'll understand. Are there anyone here that can write an actual plan for energy? This is one issue and we are gonna be just sounding off till 2024 before reaching a conclusion on one issue.
Without some new momentum, I'm tempted to wait, choose between two parties in 2024 or do a write in vote for John Stewart (D) and Dennis Miller (R). I watch the Senate on CSpan alot just to scare myself and I still respect the point of view of two comedians more than anyone considered qualified.
we can quickly solve oil by cutting our usage and watch the market plummet we dont need goverment on this simple one. where we do need them is stop spending more than you take in, stop raping social security, stop illegal immigration, stop porking every bill out. these are the immediate problems i see where goverment is stinking the place up. thanks dave
I understand the desire of people to not fragment "the Unity Party" forums into a million tiny websites. On the other hand have you considered the goal of 20 million people participating in an online convention? What possible meaning can "platform planks" have if the many diverse groups who disagree on fundamental issues don't get a say and don't have a place to say it until they start voting and the elected ticket swerves wildly away from the managed and scripted outcome? To win the real election we'll need at *least* 34% of *all voters* (assuming the Dems and Repubs take 33% each and the electoral college basically goes with the popular vote). That's *got* to include some of "the base" of the main parties...
I don't see how the centrist/unity/bipartisan thing can succeed unless the Unity Party contains within itself... no unless it *encourages the participation of* people with vast disagreements on most things except the need for unity and civility. Vast disagreements implies "different fora for different factions"...
I'd prefer to see people "vote with their feet" and find various independent sites, some of them simple variations on a theme, until the best handful become clear winners. Rather than plead for such a solution I just offered some alternatives (a web forum, a wiki, and some mailing lists so far). If any are just pointless I'll take them down a month from now when such becomes clear. I'm linking to a wiki that competes with mine on my main page exactly so that people can easily compare them, vote with their feet, and have the stuff that isn't good taken down.
Honestly, in the fist day that I've had a page up and somewhat advertised not much is taking off except the UnitySupporters Forum which seems to be useful and certainly reads better than this forum does. (In furtherance of this, I just scanned this to try to "gist" some themes and started threads on those themes as "Energy Topics" with links back to this site... you might want to check 'em out.)
So all I'm asking for is some tolerance with experimentation at the *grassroots* level. And that means competing websites, for a while at least.
If you'd like to talk to me directly I can be reached at "jennifer for unity" (minus the spaces and this) {AT} "google's actual domain".
I'll propose a plan. Vote yes or no or ammend pieces. Add your thoughts.
I chose hydrogen for my plan because my plan needs no trucks, is cheap, promotes education, and creates jobs.
It's a turn key solar powered hydrogen producing station and distribution station in one site, with materials paid by tax, built by students with government inspection, and sold to would be small business owners.
Here's how it works.
--------------------------
The government pays for all materials, land, phone, water and electric hookup for a site that produces hydrogen, using solar power and sells the fuel on site. The only overhead in such a business is water, electric (which is possible to be replaced by solar energy), phone, and employees.
The plan will start with 2 sites in 2 moderate-highly populated cities. If it proves a success, more will be built until business people decide they are willing to take over without government intervention.
Once the building plan is complete, the number of students and teachers are decided for each site. Masonry, carpentry, welding, chemistry, elctricians, etc. The making of hydrogen does not take that much space. The tanks themselves will be the the largest piece, masswise, other than the building with the cashiers.
Each student chosen who contributes throughout the building process has earned themselves a free ride or the monotary equivalent. The teacher is given a hydrogen powered car. The government and the school share the deed.
Once the site is complete, it is auctioned to anyone willing to sign that the site will remain a hydrogen site for at least 2 years. It's a gamble for the owner, but it has to be that way to keep the site from being turned into a rental property. The government is refunded the cost of the site, minus the payment to the teachers and students. The profit is awarded to the school, tax free.
To start a market, the same student plan can be utilized to build 200 cars to be auctioned in each location or use tax benefits to auto manufacturers to build them without interference.
Either way, the government steps back (other than to inspect) from capitalizing on a product after the sale.
This can be done in a matter of months of passing if it is taken seriously. The government (meaning we tax payers) is only out the cost of maybe 20 hydro cars, a few well-earned scholarships, and a few less jobless people.
---------------
So whadda ya think? Doable? Crazy? Policy? or Got any changes, additions? Omitions?
Jennifer, I didn't mean I thought you're setting up other websites was a bad idea. Actually until we can find some agreement somewhere on issues that we can actually vote on, I'd say what you are doing is great. I just wanted whatever is decided as a plan on your site or others to return for votes here so everyone who has joined Unity 08 can speak with one voice when it comes to voting in a new president.
I agree with Chris June 6,2006 9:38 AM totally. The power is in Congress who passes laws, gives money, etc for this country to run. I say lets let us start there and right away because if the GOP keeps up this stupid ageneda were not going anyplace except down. How many of you agree with Chris? Log in it can be the first step to bring back Congress to the average citizen. Then we need to poll all Congress where they stand on just these issues. I'm sure it makes some peoples blood boil to see someone burn our flag but it is not what keeps our Country ours. We have to understand that what we agree on is going to make some very angry Corporation put their all against us. We need to get laws passed that will take out the big money in politics. November is a short time away lets see if we can muster enough people to run on getting rid of big money in politics first or am I dreaming?
I realize that we have option to post items using the name "anonymous." I wonder if that is a good idea.
Most serious idea exchange media do not publish anonymous contributions. IF a person wants to be taken seriously and be responsible for their ideas, then why do they not use their names.
This is especially important during the formative stages of Unity08 where we have to build trust and responsibility for our ideas.
So I would suggest the delection of the option to post anonymously.
Jennifer and others see the need for collaboration that is not possible yet on this forum.
At http://unity08ws.wikispaces.com if we get many collaborators, there can be many discussions all linked to each other.
In this way, small groups of writers can perfect a version of their solution that readily links to other collaborating groups with different solutions.
I have had this parallel forum up for a week and so far no collaborators. There is something the matter: do people want to get away from the center? or is it that no one wants to do more than vent?
john.gelles@gmail.com
indexed-savings@sbcglobal.net
http://unity08ws.wikispaces.com
http://tiea.us
http://tiea.us/jgmirror
Energy Policy:
Four Related Points:
1. Technology: We should not succumb to the myth that all our problems will be solved by technology. We are still waiting for technology to solve the problems of global warming, the depletion of fish populations and the return of Cod, the social problems of urbanization, the demographic issues, etc. etc. Technology deals with a small fraction of our major issues. Today’s technology is living off of yesterday’s science, and we are investing less today than we did yesterday in pure research. THAT is the serious issue that needs attention == Support for theoretical research
2. Electrical Energy: The energy that produces the electricity that runs industry, keeps our cities and their inhabitants alive, well and comfortable will increasingly be supplied by nuclear energy. The old problem with waste is on the verge of solution. The issue here is building our uranium reserves; China may be ahead of us.
3. Transportation Energy: Oil may have already hits its PEAK, and geologists are pretty well agreed. So once we are on the downward slop of using our reserves, short to mid term efforts will be made to extract from shale (at higher cost) etc. There is no doubt that oil is a finite resource and we will depend increasingly on lower grade crude, at a higher cost. Demands for oil for transportation will force most governments to subsidize the price in one way or another and provide incentives for manufacturers to produce more efficient and alternative engines. Short and mid term we need to push for more public transportation.
4. Foreign Policy and the dollar: Oil has been driving much of our foreign policy since WW II. It has formed our relationships in the mid-east and makes our dealings with the Saudis dangerous. For a while it looked like a great coup to have oil priced with the dollar as the sole exchange. We need to be prepared to have that change as China increases its ownership of the US debt, and has higher energy demands, the EU achieves greater independence from the US and the movement for a kind of mixed Pan Arab currency gains ground. The bottom line is that we need to strengthen the dollar through reducing our massive trade imbalance and debt.
Try finding a copy of Lindsey Williams book "The Energy-Non Crisis".
Or read it online at:
http://www.reformation.org/energy-non-crisis.html
This game has been played out before, back in the late 70's, and they will continue to do it again until we demand a change.
The 'alternative fuel' option seems to me to be a bit misleading. Few people seem aware that the price of a gallon of ehtanol is higher than that of a gallon of gas and yet the mileage one can obtain from such a gallon is much less than that from gasoline. This seems to be a fact that Detroit neglects to advertise.
A high duty is placed on importing ethanol. This insures that companies (principally Archer Daniels Midland, a huge political contributor) will reap large profits from selling ehtanol, along as providing additional income to sugar beet farmers, much as is the case for the high cost of sugar in the U.S.
One can open up the alternative fuel debate by increasing the capability of hybrid cars to obtain electricity to recharge their batteries. This will put greater demands on the nation's electrical grid but, managed intelligently, by avoidance of peak power periods, this could help decrease oil demand. Even slight reductions in demand can have a sizable impact on price, because price is in part driven by sentiment, and perception that the tank (amount in storage) is getting fuller instead of heading toward empty will change the sentiment.
Yes, increased demand for electricity, if it supplants oil, will put a strain on the power grid. One possible vision of the future is to use a greatly enhanced power grid to distribute power rather than fuel to hydrogen refueling stations. Hyrdrogen is produced by electrolysis of water. The advantages of such a system is that the electrical and water infrastructure already exists. This is much safer than shipping liquid hydrogen on our roadways.
Another visionary concept is to upgrade the power transmission infrastructure by making some of it integral to the roadway construction. Power can then be drawn by induction. This could greatly increase the range of electric cars as they could draw power along certain interstates.
People get trapped into what they know, whether it is good or bad, and forget sometimes that things never remain the same. Before the motor car, New York was ankle-deep in horse manure. That can't have been too pleasant. Nowadays we have smog, traffic jams, crowded airports subject to flight delays. If we find these things unpleasant, why not dare to think there are better ways, and push for funding the necessary r & d to realize these goals?
While fuel cost are on the rise, I am split in the cause and actions that should be taken.
First of all the majority of the price hike is not in the hands of our government per say, but in the hands of the corporate leaders of the fuel companies themselves. Monopoly in the fuel market is the vast cause of increasing price. While I still do not believe we should in fact depend on other countries for our fuel for seperate reasons, breaking the ties that bind, America was and is still a super power and we need to get America back on track, economicaly as well. Alternate fuels are sometimes more costly, but there are other options than electric and ethanol out there in research now. We should find what works best for America, Ethanol although more costly benefits the American farming industry as well as our independence. There is the H2O option in research, there are so many ways that America can get back to bettering America, cleaner air, renewable resources, look at all the options before this topic is even truly addressed.
They are discussing this issue with Greenspan on CSpan now and he is talking up cellulosic a great deal. From at least the economic perspective, I doubt we could take advise from a better guy. He is also talking about ethanol and further study of liquified natural gas.