So if you don’t believe in global warming…
Today, on the eve of the American midterm elections, President Bush invented a new justification for the war in Iraq. While speaking in Florida, he said:
“You can imagine a world in which these extremists and radicals got control of energy resources, and then you can imagine them saying ‘we’re gonna pull a bunch of oil off the market to run your price of oil up…unless you do the following:’”
So…he’s just told us that we in the United States are seriously vulnerable to energy blackmail. A hostile country in the middle east (who shall remain nameless but it’s got four letters and starts with “I”) could threaten our economic security by withholding oil. We get about 12% of the oil we consume from the Mideast. Maybe that doesn’t sound like all that much, but in a world where demand is about to outstrip supply, a drop in supply could have a huge impact on fuel prices. If you don’t remember the 1973 oil crisis, go back and check out the gas lines sometime.
The solution, of course, is to work to wean ourselves from foreign oil. It not only helps to secure the US economy from external manipulation, it’s also a great first step towards reducing our carbon impact and reducing the potential for global warming. A 12% drop in oil consumption is certainly achievable. I bet most Americans would consider acquiring a higher mileage car if gas prices doubled or tripled.
On the other hand, if your political livelihood depended on donations from oil companies, you might not be so enthusiastic about improving American energy independence.
So please vote. If the Republicans keep the Senate this time around, James Inhofe will continue to chair the Senate Environment committee. This is the guy who compares those of us who are warning about global warming to Nazis.
Please vote.