Change We Do Need At The Price Of Cooperation

On his blog, Governing Opinions, one of my colleagues wrote an interesting article about an energy bill proposed to the Senate. In it he stated that all it would take would be 7 Republicans, only seven, to come forward, put aside party politics, and vote for it. Such a bill would mean cleaner air for our children, it could “bring down the national deficit”, and would most likely mean that we would not incur more debt to China, who, by the way, already owns 21.9% of our current foreign debt.

So what is stopping these 7 Republicans? Party politics, that is all. It seems that our national system is becoming more polarized. Democrats vote Democratic and Republicans vote Republican. Just look at the recent nomination of Elena Kegan to the Supreme Court. As I have stated previously, she is a sure fit for the roll and yet Republicans are barring her entry because of party politics. If we want to get anything done, we must set aside these differences and belief and vote as one.
It also seems almost masochistic to not vote for an energy bill. Global Warming is happening, there is enough scientific data out there to prove that, and we have begun to feel it as well. Places are flooding that do not normally flood, the heat is higher than it has been in a long time, and there are even droughts across America. Something must be done to stop this at the source: carbon emissions. The proposed bill will set higher efficiency standards, force a percentage of energy to be renewable energy and create a cap on carbon emissions from power plants. All of these need to be done, and better now than later. If this bill does not pass soon, we may have to wait another Presidential election before it can pass and by then who knows how much worse the planet could be? Just breathing produces 2.3 pounds (1 kg) of carbon dioxide per day per person.

Even without taking all the health benefits and planetary benefits, it will also benefit us economically and politically. First of all, if we become one of the leaders in renewable technology, our deficit would decrease, the American dollar will appreciate and our debt to China (the predicted leader in such energy) will not increase. Second of all, it is well known that many places that we get our oil from, such as Saudi Arabia, wish to do America harm. If we were to pass this energy bill we will be that much closer to independence from such hostile countries. Finally, I think the recent oil spill has proven that we are too reliant on oil as it is and that we must find another power source that does not involve possible ecosystem destruction.

Benjamin Seroussi