A perfect storm gathering on the horizon... - Reader comments at The New York Sun

Submitted by Glenn Maltais, Aug 13, 2007 19:13

A perfect storm is gathering on the U.S. horizon, and it begs the question, what will our way-of-life look like after the skies clear, should we as a nation not reach political consensus - and fail to act .

The convergence of elements relating to America's dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil represent profound and ominous consequences: expanding extremism abroad, compounded by indifference at home, both being byproducts of our dependence on fossil fuels:

Deeply Entrenched Special Interests
Increasing Air and Water Pollution
Unabated Nuclear Proliferation
Intensifying Effects of Climate Change
Looming Implications of Peak Oil
Deeply Rooted Oil Dependence in Volatile Regions
Escalating Middle East Tension and Conflict
Increasing Global Confrontation over Decreasing Resources
Mounting Environmental Threats via Mountaintop Removal and Oil Exploration
Economic Instability via Rising Energy Costs
Swelling World Population and Industrialization

Each challenge inseparably intertwined with U.S. energy / foreign policies…

Yet, when it comes to the precarious (fossil fuel induced) situation we find ourselves in today, as much as we may want to lay the burden of blame on the doorstep of Capitol Hill and the White House, the real problem lies in our own indifference and failure to hold our past and present leaders accountable.

Perhaps as a nation have we forgotten, democracy is not, nor has it ever been, a spectator sport. In the final analysis...we the people...are response-able!

It is up to US citizens to provide congress with the motive and political cover to do the right thing!

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
The main point in the case of US buying -read paying- to the gouvernemt of Venezueal the inmenses mounts of... [MORE]	Maria	Sep 7, 2007 14:37
The only hope for human survival is to reverse autosprawl. All the other "solutions" are just profiteers fighting over a... [MORE]	socialscientist	Aug 17, 2007 16:16
The comment in your article that "we have 40 years left" (before we run out of oil) should not leave... [MORE]	Michael O'Hara	Aug 15, 2007 23:42
A perfect storm is gathering on the U.S. horizon, and it begs the question, what will our way-of-life look like...	Glenn Maltais	Aug 13, 2007 19:13
We have energy independence in electrical energy and in heating. What we don't have is energy independence in liquid fuels... [MORE]	Sol Shapiro	Aug 13, 2007 18:33
Fuel cells provide base load power and since they are quiet, have a compact footprint and produce power more efficiently... [MORE]	Lisa Lettieri	Aug 13, 2007 11:09
The sooner America and other nations become oil independent, the sooner terrorist financing will stop. It is not necessarily about... [MORE]	Cynical	Aug 13, 2007 09:17