The answer to the billion dollar question

comments from our community

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  Posted by Mark Fri Nov 7, 2008 2:14pm PST

  We need to go smart, but that doesn't mean we can't go BIG. This financial crisis has presented an opportunity for important federal investments in green energy and technology. Why not propose an "energy cost stabilization program", that will keep energy prices within an acceptable but moderately high range? All revenues could be split between investments in domestic clean energy, and an "energy buffer fund" to provide relief in the event of disruptive spikes in energy costs.

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  Posted by Matt R Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:44am PST

  Why not place a tariff on imported oil that must be payed by the exporting country? How about calling back all of the loans to oil producing countries as well. I'm sure Kuwait hasn't paid us back for the service of liberating their country ( they weren't even a 'Most Favored Nation' nor did we have any formal agreement with the US to protect or liberate it's land) We could also place a stop on the next aircraft carrier slated to be built. We have twice as many carrier groups on the seven seas than any other country. We can get by with what we have for a couple of years. How about a new version of war bonds? Call them green bonds. How about a $100.00 surcharge on every gas automobile or truck purchased in the calendar year? When it's all said and done, the Federal Government needs to "prime the pump" with a host of new programs. Making the green sector a priority will only guarantee a more reasonable approach to energy generation, conservation and use as well as an environment that will be safe, clean and beautiful for our children.

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  Posted by robbrian6 Tue Dec 2, 2008 3:46pm PST

  There are three things Mr. Obama must do first: 1. Work with Congress to enact a trillion dollar stabilization package that assists State and Local governments, main street and america's families. 2. Reduce expenditures on the senseless war in Iraq with a responsible troop drawdown to save approximately three to four billion a month. 3. Designate renewable energy alternatives and technologies as THE priority in the arena of reducing global warming. Oil, coal and gas no matter where they are obtained will always be a problem. Mr. Obama would be well advised to declare an efficiency standard that is based on providing public resources, only, for every ton of CO2 reduced per dollar expended. The most efficient based on this standard is ocean energy. Rather than drilling 15K to 20K feet through oceans and into the earths crust use existing technologies to capture ocean energy. Using a scatter gun approach that gives all, non-renewable and renewable alternatives, a share of the very small pie only assures that nothing will work in time to achieve national goals for energy independence.

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