I oppose offshore drilling, pretty much because I believe we are not all on-board for conservation and efficiency.

I think that's a better argument than those concerning alt-fuels.

But what alternatives were you thinking of when you wrote "alternatives to fossil fuels are here, ready, and reliable"?  Are we just talking bicycles and  mass-transit that only a hippie can love?

Who would have thunk it watching "Strangers With Candy"?  Sure he was awesome, but a master of philosophy, politics, and rhetoric?  

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

everything comes down to the fact that nobody -- outside of rarefied energy experts -- believes that alternatives to fossil fuels are here, ready, and reliable. Everything hinges on getting that message out.

The problem there though is that all the focus is on Hydrogen and BioFuels.

We need to move that focus onto Revolutionary Efficiency, and Electricity.

And frankly the only way thats going to happen is when we start getting the real deal onto the roads.

So sadly, we're kinda stuck in limbo for the next year and a half.

-David Ahlport

The Smart FourTwo, and the Aptera for instance.
Or even the Tata Nano.

-David Ahlport

Bicycles and  mass-transit are transportation that "only a hippie can love?"

Great attitude Odo, you show that you are part of the problem instead of being part of the solution.  And guess what, I'm not a hippie, I think they're generally annoying, and I walk, ride my bike, and take public transit.

A far more correct statement is that only those who are so selfish that they don't care about the natural environment could love cars.

Keep on with the theme of simple measures now, transitioning into more capital intensive measures as oil demand reduction stabilizes inflation and revives confidence in the economy.

A gradual decresae in oil demand over many years, that starts now with tire pressure, engine tuneups, biking, carpooling, mass transit use, things that take less investment capital.  Get that steady 5% decrease the first couple of years from these easier measures.

Then keep the steady decrease going as more capital intensive mass production of plugin hybrids, solar systems, ground source heat pumps (replacing heating oil use), and upgrading freight rail kicks in.

Obama could outline a practical plan with steady reduction targets that would allow us all to sacrifice and invest a little at first, then more and more collectively as the economy turns around.

Confidence is the human psychology behind curing recession.  A clear plan that everyone can particpate in would restore that confidence.  It's FDR and the fireside chat telling everyone to pitch in. That same great strategy all over again.

JFKesque?  Well yes, "Ask not what your country can do..."   time people.  Obama has what it takes to get that going.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

Since no one will admit to being a dirty hippie now, might as well use that badge of self-loathing.

The ideals are the same, dirty hippie, anti-war, pro-environment, anti-corporate monopoly, basically a non-violent movement.  

Admitting one embraces non-violence as a cultural movement places one firmly in the dirty hippie camp, like it, admit it, or not.

Non-violence is a courageous path, dissing it is a nervous laugh.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

I have been called a hippie, recently, which is funny because I am still technically a Republican.

(wolvie, irony alert!)

Now that's an expletive!   I'll take dirty hippie over that anytime, hehey.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

Good one, Dr.X

Dr. X,

I don't at all agree that if one embraces non-violence or a pro-environment ideology that one is a hippie.  These ideas were around millennia before hippies existed.  Personally I'm a punk rocker, but that has nothing to do with these ideologies.  And many hippies just want to get high and party, and have no particular politics.  Stereotypes are one thing, but reality is usually quite different.

You, Wolverine?  Well that's a new one, peacenik punk rocker.  What's next, pacifist bikers? Ok then, that's very different, nevermind.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

John,

You live in northern Wisconsin, check out the punk scene in Green Bay, it's supposed to be one of the best in the country.  When you do, you'll find that the propaganda propounded by the corporate media has nothing to do with punks.  Yes, slam dancing is like football to music, but other than that the vast majority of punks I know are very peaceful and non-violent.  The punk look is just a "fuck you" to society, which we hate.