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Column: Time to Learn the Drill on Energy Independence by KT McFarland
Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:00:00
I am a lifelong Republican. Last year, I ran for the U.S. Senate from New York. I did so not because I figured I could beat Hillary Clinton, but to offer voters an alternate vision for the Republican Party.
Why? Because most people don’t think Republicans stand for anything anymore. Our national leadership has been so preoccupied with social issues, most of which they’re against—that they’ve failed to be for anything—other than the war in Iraq.
Republicans need to believe in something again—not just for the sake of our own souls, but in order to attract a new generation. If not, we should face up to the fact that the Republican Party in the Northeast will be as good as dead within a decade.
Old timers keep repeating the Reagan mantra of low taxes, less government and strong national security. Those are great and remain the core principles that attracted us to the Republican Party in the first place. But they need to adapt to the realities of the 21st century to remain relevant.
I propose making energy independence our new guiding principle. Energy independence is a triple play that merges national security, economic prosperity and environmental stewardship—all of which are very Republican issues.
First, energy independence is a national security issue. Right now Americans are funding both sides of the war on terror. Until we get free of Middle East oil, we will never win that war. Every time you fill up your tank and shudder when you see how much it costs, shudder again because some of those dollars are going to the Middle East countries that fund al-Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas. You might as well make out a check to Terrorism Incorporated.
Most of the oil-rich Middle East countries don’t have any other industries—Iran doesn’t even refine its own oil. Their oil companies are mostly state-owned and the profits subsidize housing, food and fuel costs for their citizens—and pay for terrorists. Take away their oil revenues and they’ll have a hard enough time paying for the subsidies. They won’t have money left over to pay for weapons or terrorists. And they will have some very unhappy citizens who might take regime change into their own hands.
Second, energy independence is an economic issue.
Today, Boston is an economic boomtown where high tech companies have replaced the factories and farmland. Today, upstate New York still has empty factories and struggling farms. We missed the computer/internet boom, and it’s too late to scramble on that bandwagon.
But just as high tech has been the engine of growth for American business for the last 20 years, energy tech will be the engine of growth for the next 20 years. America needs to drive that engine.
A decade from now you’ll wake up to the smell of coffee brewed by wind-powered electricity, shower with water heated by your rooftop solar panels, get in your hybrid ethanol car, and head to an office heated by clean coal. Well, the companies that invent these products will be even richer than the guys who founded Google. I’d rather these companies be in America than in China, or Russia or—God forbid—France. It would be an added bonus if they were in Upstate New York.
Energy independence should be a no-brainer issue for Republicans. Let the free market—not big government—solve our energy crisis. Use government to set strict standards and then get government out of the way and unleash the ingenuity and inventiveness of the American people.
Finally, energy independence might just save the planet. We all know the climate is changing. All the experts agree. As long as we know man causes at least some of it, we should try to fix what we can and concentrate on developing renewable and clean energies.
Some Republicans, including, I am ashamed to say, much of our national leadership, continue to stick their heads in the sand and reinforce policies that perpetuate and even increase our addiction to foreign oil and fossil fuels. They make dumb jokes about tree huggers.
Well, grow up guys: Whether you like it or not, energy independence and renewable energy are going to happen. The companies that develop the technologies will enjoy a generation of prosperity. The countries that make the products will be beholden to no one, and the world will come knocking politely at their doors. And the political party that champions them—not just with idle words but with deeds—will dominate American politics for a generation.
Kathleen Troia “KT” McFarland served in national security positions in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations. Her column will appear monthly in The Capitol.
Why? Because most people don’t think Republicans stand for anything anymore. Our national leadership has been so preoccupied with social issues, most of which they’re against—that they’ve failed to be for anything—other than the war in Iraq.
Republicans need to believe in something again—not just for the sake of our own souls, but in order to attract a new generation. If not, we should face up to the fact that the Republican Party in the Northeast will be as good as dead within a decade.
Old timers keep repeating the Reagan mantra of low taxes, less government and strong national security. Those are great and remain the core principles that attracted us to the Republican Party in the first place. But they need to adapt to the realities of the 21st century to remain relevant.
I propose making energy independence our new guiding principle. Energy independence is a triple play that merges national security, economic prosperity and environmental stewardship—all of which are very Republican issues.
First, energy independence is a national security issue. Right now Americans are funding both sides of the war on terror. Until we get free of Middle East oil, we will never win that war. Every time you fill up your tank and shudder when you see how much it costs, shudder again because some of those dollars are going to the Middle East countries that fund al-Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas. You might as well make out a check to Terrorism Incorporated.
Most of the oil-rich Middle East countries don’t have any other industries—Iran doesn’t even refine its own oil. Their oil companies are mostly state-owned and the profits subsidize housing, food and fuel costs for their citizens—and pay for terrorists. Take away their oil revenues and they’ll have a hard enough time paying for the subsidies. They won’t have money left over to pay for weapons or terrorists. And they will have some very unhappy citizens who might take regime change into their own hands.
Second, energy independence is an economic issue.
Today, Boston is an economic boomtown where high tech companies have replaced the factories and farmland. Today, upstate New York still has empty factories and struggling farms. We missed the computer/internet boom, and it’s too late to scramble on that bandwagon.
But just as high tech has been the engine of growth for American business for the last 20 years, energy tech will be the engine of growth for the next 20 years. America needs to drive that engine.
A decade from now you’ll wake up to the smell of coffee brewed by wind-powered electricity, shower with water heated by your rooftop solar panels, get in your hybrid ethanol car, and head to an office heated by clean coal. Well, the companies that invent these products will be even richer than the guys who founded Google. I’d rather these companies be in America than in China, or Russia or—God forbid—France. It would be an added bonus if they were in Upstate New York.
Energy independence should be a no-brainer issue for Republicans. Let the free market—not big government—solve our energy crisis. Use government to set strict standards and then get government out of the way and unleash the ingenuity and inventiveness of the American people.
Finally, energy independence might just save the planet. We all know the climate is changing. All the experts agree. As long as we know man causes at least some of it, we should try to fix what we can and concentrate on developing renewable and clean energies.
Some Republicans, including, I am ashamed to say, much of our national leadership, continue to stick their heads in the sand and reinforce policies that perpetuate and even increase our addiction to foreign oil and fossil fuels. They make dumb jokes about tree huggers.
Well, grow up guys: Whether you like it or not, energy independence and renewable energy are going to happen. The companies that develop the technologies will enjoy a generation of prosperity. The countries that make the products will be beholden to no one, and the world will come knocking politely at their doors. And the political party that champions them—not just with idle words but with deeds—will dominate American politics for a generation.
Kathleen Troia “KT” McFarland served in national security positions in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations. Her column will appear monthly in The Capitol.
