The title of this entry is from a Larisa Alexandrovna article on Huffingtonpost.com - You Want Courage? Are You Willing to Support It? Her article is about the new movie War Inc. by John Cusack. She cites evidence of "a distinct stench of blacklisting."
There are parallels between the lack of a sustainable U.S. energy policy and the statement -- You Want Courage? Are you willing to support it?
Back in the 1970's President Jimmy Carter recognized and communicated the need for the U.S. to create a sustainable energy policy. Excerpts from his televised energy policy speech on April 18, 1977:
"Tonight I want to have an unpleasant talk with you about a problem unprecedented in our history. With the exception of preventing war, this is the greatest challenge our country will face during our lifetimes. The energy crisis has not yet overwhelmed us, but it will if we do not act quickly.
"We must not be selfish or timid if we hope to have a decent world for our children and grandchildren. We simply must balance our demand for energy with our rapidly shrinking resources. By acting now, we can control our future instead of letting the future control us. Two days from now, I will present my energy proposals to the Congress. Its members will be my partners and they have already given me a great deal of valuable advice. Many of these proposals will be unpopular. Some will cause you to put up with inconveniences and to make sacrifices."
Unfortunately his (correct) 'moral equivalent of war' statement and wearing a sweater because the thermostat was lowered didn't work and have been derided. Oh, what a different place we would be in if we had listened to him and acted. I suggest that there were many that recognized he was on the right track but didn't support his efforts.
Similarly in 1993 President Clinton and VP Gore attempted to pass a BTU tax. Their primary error - it wasn't a tax shift, it was a revenue raiser for the federal government.
The energy and environmental problems we face today are much, much worse. It will take courage and tons of communication for federal representatives to successfully support and enact a phased-in, federal tax shift from income to non-renewable energy. Please support them.
