Getting It Right Matters, 2

It really does matter if we "get it right". I dont think we can overemphasize the importance of it. What if, for instance, long ago when President Carter tried to get the nation to embrace a huge initiative to develop alternative, safe and clean energy we would have "gotten it right" and supported him? What a difference that would have made for our day.

Why didn't we "get it right" then? I have the memory that what happened was a huge diversion caused exactly by the folks who had the most to lose if we would have "gotten it right." The large energy companies, heavily invested in oil, caused the price of oil to go out of sight and contribute to high inflation which, along with the October Surprise, engineered by these same folks, knocked Carter off the stage and brought on President Reagan who never again mentioned the subject. Still today, many honor the memory of Reagan. Reagan got it wrong!!! And still today we pay the price for it.

Just think what a huge difference it would have made if we had gotten it right and listened to and followed President Carter. Think of what would not have happened because we we would not have needed foreign oil so much, energy addicts that we are - the US interventions in Middle Easter and oil rich nations, the resulting development of terrorist networks resisting the "westernization.", the incredible economic, military and political damage of Afghanistan/Iraq. We would have less Global warming, more freedom, and a stronger economy because the new safe, clean and green energy would have created huge multiple business development opportunities that actually would be producing something that only a few companies in the hands of relatively few stockholders are proding now - the indispensible energy that we need for every aspect of life.

Excuse me, but are we absolutely so stupid that we get the most basic thing in life wrong - hello, sun and wind - no wars needed to harness the energy. No need to sell off the nation to China, Saudia Arabia, Venezuela, etc. so that we can guzzle gas.

But, no one wants to admit that we got it wrong.....in spades.. So, we are still only timidly getting into the whole arena of developing new energy sources. We are getting it wrong again. It is new energy sources - especially solar and wind that are in the national security interest and the road to economic recovery. $700 billion not for banks, not for war, but for solar and wind development. The new energy companies that would emerge actually employ real people who invest in the stock markets, pay taxes and need services - what a great idea: improve the economy by having bailouts creat jobs that contribute to the peace of the world.

Alternative energy tax incentives is not enough. We need a huge national effort to encourage production and research. This would be "getting it right." for us and for the world.

It will not happen, of course. Because if soon to be President Obama actually thinks about doing this, the vested interests will make sure we get diverted away by ...well, whatever they convince us puts our lives in immediate danger - maybe a war, maybe inflation, maybe another terrorist attack. Whatever it takes to keep us stupid.

It really does make a difference to "get it right."