Demand More of U.S. Automakers

I've gotten into the habit of flipping over to CSPAN every time Bush holds a press conference. Today while the mainstream media was covering his briefing, I watched the House Committee on Energy & Commerce session on Gasoline Prices, Supply, and Specifications. Amazingly, committee chair Rep. Joe Barton (R) Texas responded to comments by Mark Cooper (Director, Consumer Federation of America, Research) regarding the need for increased research, development, implementation, and integration of renewable and sustainable non-fossil fuel energy sources by suggesting he had not addressed the need for increased oil refining capacity in the U.S. market. He also questioned why Cooper was not advocating exploration and drilling in ANWAR and other areas to increase U.S. oil sources.

When will elected officials stop pandering to lobbyists and realize there is a finite amount of fossil fuel available? Not only are fossil fuel emmisions directly responsible for increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, we are, as a country effectively passing on the opportunity to lead the world into a better, healthier, and less damaging future. The business of energy has been focused for so long on fossil fuels they seem to have not only lost the ability to comprehend any other technology, they have lost the ability to be competitive in ways other than "tightening the market" by reducing capacity.

What happened to American ingenuity? Has the executive class really gotten so lazy they can only see what's directly in front of them? They should see this opportunity for what it is: the chance to be innovative. We've already fallen behind Brazil in the ethanol race, can we stand by and watch from the sidelines as other "third world" countries make leaps and bounds in the alternative energy market?

We as consumers have the power whether we realize it or not. Instead of continuing to buy vehicles with low fuel efficiency standards that operate solely on gasoline, we should demand that U.S. automakers make vehicles available without waiting for government legislation.

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